Diagnostics and treatment of sleep apnea

• US 7,540,843 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2005
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University Antwerpen
• Original Assignee: University Antwerpen
• Inventors: De Backer, Wilfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, II; Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Natnithithadha; Navin
• Application Number:
  US11/576,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20070255161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 600529-543, 600/300, 600/301, 600/484, 600/407, 600/410, 600/411, 600/437, 600/587, 600/593, 128920-925, 128/204.23
• US Class Current: 600/538
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/00 Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes stimulating the respiratory movement by mechanical, pneumatic or electrical means, iron lungs combined with gas breathing means A61H31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0006 with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/021 operated by electrical means A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks

Abstract

Methods of diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea by taking measurements from a subject suffering from sleep apnea are disclosed. The methods include modelling the air flow through the upper airway of a subject suffering from sleep apnea.

Claims

1. A method for determining a treatment of obstructive sleep apnea that lowers the Apnea Index for a subject suffering from the same comprising:

measuring flow and pressure in the subject at particular locations in the throat to obtain flow and pressure data;

obtaining a computer-generated structural model of the upper airway of the subject;

modeling by a computer the air flow through the model of the upper airway of the subject using the flow and pressure data obtained from the subject;

determining treatments which lead to an increase in flow pressure at the narrowest cross-section thereby reducing the Apnea Index.

2. The method according to claim 1 comprising the step of measuring the flow and pressure at the palatopharynx, oropharynx, and/or hypopharynx of said subject during an apnea episode.

3. The method according to claim 1 comprising the step of obtaining a three-dimensional image of the upper airway of said subject.

4. The method according to claim 3 comprising the step of generating a two dimensional model from said image, comprising a sagittal plane along the central axis of the upper airway.

5. The method according to claim 1 comprising the step of obtaining a two-dimensional image of the upper airway of said subject, comprising a sagittal plane along the central axis of the upper airway.

6. The method according to claim 5 comprising the step of generating a two dimensional model from said image, comprising a sagittal plane along the central axis of the upper airway.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the airflow is modeled using a computation fluid dynamic (CFD) code 2 analysis.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising determining fluid-structure interactions.

9. The method according to claim 1 comprising implementing a CFD code 1 analysis.

10. A method for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in a subject suffering from the same comprising:

measuring flow and pressure in the subject at particular locations in the throat to obtain flow and pressure data;

obtaining a model of the upper airway of the subject by magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography or computer tomography;

modeling the air flow through the upper airway of the subject using the flow and pressure data obtained from the subject;

determining treatments which lead to an increase in flow pressure at the narrowest cross-section thereby reducing the Apnea Index; and

administrating at least one of said treatments to the subject, wherein the treatment is selected from a mandibular advancement device (MAD), surgery, or a combination thereof.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said treatment comprises providing positive airway pressure.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said positive airway pressure is provided at the narrowest cross-section.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said positive airway pressure is provided with a mandibular device.