Method and apparatus useful in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea of a patient

• US 7,141,021 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• 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 Edward, Lynch, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/186,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20050283089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 600/529, 600/29, 600/300, 600/26, 600/531, 600/532
• 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

Patients may operate a CAP system to deliver appropriate airway pressure at their 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 apnea of a patient, said apparatus being configured for non-clinical use to monitor the breathing of a patient and comprising an apparatus for monitoring at least one respiratory parameter of said patient while sleeping substantially unsupervised in a non-clinical setting, said monitoring apparatus being in communication with a nasal mask and the monitoring providing a signal indicative of the respiratory parameter being monitored;

and means to process said signal indicative of said respiratory parameter.

2. An apparatus useful in the diagnosis of sleep apnea of a patient, said apparatus being configured for non-clinical use to monitor the breathing of a patient and comprising means for monitoring at least one respiratory parameter of said patient while sleeping substantially unsupervised in a non-clinical setting, said means for monitoring being in communication with a nasal mask and the monitoring providing a signal indicative of the parameter being monitored;

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

3. An apparatus useful in the diagnosis of sleep apnea of a patient, said apparatus being configured for non-clinical use to monitor the breathing of a patient and comprising means for monitoring at least one respiratory parameter of said patient while sleeping substantially unsupervised in a non-clinical setting, said means for monitoring being in communication with a nasal mask and the monitoring providing a signal indicative of the parameter being monitored, and means for processing said signal to generate an index that provides a sleep disorders clinical professional information in a form to be useful in the diagnosis of sleep apnea without the requirement for clinical sleep supervision.

4. An apparatus useful in the diagnosis of sleep apnea of a patient, said apparatus being configured for non-clinical use to monitor the breathing of a patient and comprising means for monitoring at least one respiratory parameter of said patient while sleeping substantially unsupervised in a non-clinical setting, said means for monitoring being in communication with a nasal mask and said monitoring providing a signal of the parameter being monitored;

and means for monitoring a non-respiratory parameter.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said non-respiratory parameter includes pulse oximetry or ECG measurement.