Device and method for nonclinical monitoring of breathing during sleep, control of CPAP treatment and preventing apnea

• US 6,398,739 B1
• Filed: 08/02/1999
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Colin E., Lynch, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Application Number:
  US09/365,643
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 128/204.13, 128/204.14, 128/207.18, 128/205.23, 128/205.25, 600/483, 600/484, 600/529, 600/532, 600/586, 600/533
• US Class Current: 600/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0024 with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0036 in the breathing tube and used in both inspiratory and expiratory phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/18 Rapid eye-movements [REM]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user

Abstract

Patient may operate a CPAP system to deliver appropriate airway pressure home. A patient'"'"'s apnea problem can be diagnosed at home without supervision with a CPAP device which delivers a continuously minimum appropriate pressure for substantially the entire period of therapy.

Claims

1. An apparatus useful in the diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing of a subject, said apparatus comprising:

a therapeutic CPAP device to monitor the subject;

means for monitoring at least one respiratory parameter of said subject while sleeping substantially unsupervised in a non-clinical setting; and

means for converting said monitored at least one respiratory parameter into a signal indicative of the parameter being monitored, said means for monitoring being adapted for placement proximate to the nose of the subject.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a means for recording said monitored signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a means to process said signal indicative of said respiratory parameter to provide at least one index useful in the diagnosis of said sleep disordered breathing.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said index includes one or more of the number of apneic episodes, the number of hypopnoeas and their duration and time of occurrence.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a further means to process said signal indicative of said respiratory parameter to provide a recording substantially in real time.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said respiratory parameter monitored is a snoring sound.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said respiratory parameter monitored is a snoring pattern.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said respiratory parameter is selected from the group consisting of rate of breathing, inhaled air volume, exhaled air volume, inhaled air flow rate, exhaled air flow rate, snoring sound, snoring pattern, and combinations thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a means for monitoring such that said respiratory parameter may be monitored over at least one period of sleep by said subject.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said monitoring means is a microphone.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said non-clinical setting is said subject'"'"'s home.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of respiratory parameters monitored.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein there are a plurality of monitoring means used to monitor said plurality of respiratory parameters.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said monitoring means is fitted to a nasal mask adapted to be worn by said subject.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said monitoring means is fitted to the exterior of said mask.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said monitoring means is fitted to the interior of said mask.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein a sensor capable of measuring a respiratory parameter is fitted to said mask.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said sensor is adapted to provide a signal to a filter or an amplifier to enhance the quality of a monitored sound.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a sensor capable of measuring a respiratory parameter, said sensor located in a flow generator housing which provides breathable gas to said subject.

20. A method useful in the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing of a subject, said method comprising:

monitoring at least one respiratory parameter of said subject with a therapeutic CPAP device while said subject is sleeping substantially unsupervised in a non-clinical setting, said monitoring means providing a signal indicative of the parameter being monitored; and

monitoring at least one respiratory parameter of said subject using said monitoring means.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising recording said signal.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising processing said signal indicative of said respiratory parameter to provide at least one index useful in the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising processing said signal indicative of said respiratory parameter to provide a recording in real time.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein said respiratory parameter monitored is a snoring sound.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein said respiratory parameter monitored is a snoring pattern.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein said monitored respiratory parameter is selected from the group consisting of rate of breathing, inhaled air volume, exhaled air volume, inhaled air flow rate, exhaled air flow rate, snoring sound, snoring pattern, and combinations thereof.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein said respiratory parameter is monitored over at least one period of sleep by said subject.

28. The method of claim 20 wherein said non-clinical setting is said subject'"'"'s home.

29. An apparatus useful in the diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing of a subject, said apparatus comprising:

a therapeutic CPAP device configured to monitor the subject;

a respiratory monitor associated with said therapeutic CPAP device and configured to monitor at least one respiratory parameter of said subject while sleeping substantially unsupervised in a non-clinical setting; and

a processor associated with said monitor and configured to convert said monitored at least one respiratory parameter into a signal indicative of the parameter being monitored, said respiratory monitor being adapted for placement proximate to the nose of the subject.