Snoring detection system and method

• US 7,532,934 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Siejko, Krzysztof J., Stahmann, Jeffrey E., Hartley, Jesse W., Hatlestad, John D., Lee, Kent, Ni, Quan
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): MALAMUD, DEBORAH LESLIE
• Application Number:
  US10/943,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20050065560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 607/42, 607/17
• US Class Current: 607/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0809 by impedance pneumography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/026 specially adapted for predicting, e.g. for determining an information representative of a flow limitation during a ventilation cycle by using a root square technique or a regression analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 Motion, e.g. physical activity

Abstract

Systems and methods provide for detecting snoring, and for determining the presence of sleep disordered breathing using detected snoring. Snoring indicative signals generated by one or more patient-internal or external sensors are detected. The presence of sleep disordered breathing is algorithmically determined, patient-internally or externally, using the snoring signals. Algorithmically determining presence of sleep disordered breathing may include computing a snoring index developed from the detected snoring. Sleep apnea may be detected using the snoring index. Sleep apnea may be verified using internal or external sensors. A positive airway pressure device may operate cooperatively to verify and treat sleep disordered breathing.

Claims

1. A method of detecting snoring in a patient, comprising:

generating a signal modulated by snoring using a sensor mechanically coupled to an external respiration therapy device; and

detecting snoring based on the generated signal, wherein at least one of generating the signal and detecting snoring is performed using a component disposed in or on a cardiac rhythm management device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting snoring is performed implantably.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising computing a snoring index developed from the detected snoring.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting snoring comprises detecting snoring using circuitry disposed in or on the cardiac rhythm management device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering a therapy to mitigate the detected snoring.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting sleep disordered breathing based on the detected snoring.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising delivering a therapy to treat the detected disordered breathing.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising predicting sleep disordered breathing based on the detected snoring.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising delivering a therapy to treat the predicted disordered breathing.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating one or both of sleepiness or hypertension based on the detected snoring.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting information related to the detected snoring to a patient-external device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying information related to the detected snoring.

13. A system for detecting snoring in a patient, comprising:

a sensor configured to generate a signal modulated by snoring, the sensor disposed within or on an external respiration therapy device; and

a processor configured to detect snoring using the snoring signal, wherein at least one of the sensor and the processor comprises a component disposed in or on a cardiac rhythm management device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises one or more of an accelerometer, a subsonic sensor, or a vibration sensor.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises one or both of a microphone or a pressure transducer.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises a respiration sensor.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a display device configured to display information related to the detected snoring.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising a diagnostics unit configured to characterize one or more disorders based on the detected snoring.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to compute a snoring index based on the detected snoring.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor is mechanically coupled to a respiratory mask.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is disposed within or on an external respiratory therapy device.

22. The system of claim 13, further comprising a disordered breathing detector coupled to the processor and configured to predict or detect disordered breathing based on the detected snoring.

23. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a disordered breathing detector coupled to the processor and configured to predict or detect disordered breathing based on the detected snoring; and

a therapy unit configured to deliver a therapy to treat the predicted or detected disordered breathing.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the therapy unit comprises an external respiration therapy device.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the therapy unit comprises a cardiac pulse generator.