System and method for real-time apnea/hypopnea detection using an implantable medical system
First Claim
1. A method for detecting the onset of an episode of reduced respiration within a patient using an implantable medical device, the method comprising:
- generating a moving threshold based on recent respiration cycles;
accumulating a sum of the differences between amplitudes of new respiration cycles and the moving threshold; and
detecting the onset of an episode of reduced breathing based upon the accumulated differences.
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Abstract
Techniques are provided for detecting the onset of an episode of apnea/hypopnea substantially in real-time. A moving threshold is generated based on recent respiration cycles and differences are accumulated between amplitudes of new respiration cycles and the moving threshold. Apnea/hypopnea is then detected based upon a comparison of the accumulated differences against a fixed threshold. The technique exploits the fact that many episodes of hypopnea begin with a sharp drop in respiration and many episodes of apnea are preceded by a sharp drop in respiration. By accumulating differences between new respiration amplitudes and a short term moving average, any sharp drop in respiration is thereby promptly detected. In many cases, by the time the amplitudes of individual respiration cycles drop to levels directly indicative of apnea/hypopnea, the episode of apnea/hypopnea will have already been detected based upon the sudden sharp drop in respiration amplitude and therapy will have already been initiated.
158 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for detecting the onset of an episode of reduced respiration within a patient using an implantable medical device, the method comprising:
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generating a moving threshold based on recent respiration cycles; accumulating a sum of the differences between amplitudes of new respiration cycles and the moving threshold; and detecting the onset of an episode of reduced breathing based upon the accumulated differences. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for detecting an episode of substantially reduced respiration within a patient using an implantable medical device, the system comprising:
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circuitry operative to receive signals representative of amplitudes of respiration cycles; and a detection unit operative to detect an episode of reduced respiration based upon an accumulating a sum of the differences between amplitudes of new respiration cycles and a moving threshold generated based on the amplitudes of previous respiration cycles.
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34. A system for detecting an episode of substantially reduced respiration within a patient using an implantable medical device, the system comprising:
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means for detecting amplitudes of respiration cycles; means for generating a moving threshold based on amplitudes of recent respiration cycles; means for accumulating a sum of the differences between amplitudes of new respiration cycles and the moving threshold; and means for detecting the onset of an episode of substantially reduced breathing based upon the accumulated differences.
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Specification