Method and apparatus for determining conditions of biological tissues
First Claim
1. Apparatus for monitoring airway patency, the apparatus including:
- a sound generator for applying a sound signal in the audible frequency spectrum to an airway;
a detector for detecting the sound signal after it has traveled through at least a portion of the airway; and
an analyser for monitoring airway patency based on variations in the detected sound signal, wherein the analyser determines patency based on a variation in the profile of a response signal determined from said detected signal and compares characteristics of the response signal in at least two regions to determine patency.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Airway monitoring apparatus 30 includes a driver 6 for applying sound in the audible frequency range to the airway of a subject and a detector 7 for monitoring the response of the airway, e.g. by detecting transmitted sound signal components and/or reflected sound signal components. Variations in the detected sound signal, e.g. energy, due to attenuation of the signal, give an indication of the state of the airway, e.g. airway patency, and can be used to monitor sleep-disordered breathing events, such as apnea and hypopnea, and to provide a breathing event index, e.g. AHI. The apparatus may provide servo-control for a respiratory assist device, such as a positive airway pressure device, so as to provide an appropriate pressure level setting. It may allow for home use of such devices and for home titration. It may also assist in discriminating central and obstructive breathing events, and in providing a measure of airway resistance.
103 Citations
47 Claims
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1. Apparatus for monitoring airway patency, the apparatus including:
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a sound generator for applying a sound signal in the audible frequency spectrum to an airway; a detector for detecting the sound signal after it has traveled through at least a portion of the airway; and an analyser for monitoring airway patency based on variations in the detected sound signal, wherein the analyser determines patency based on a variation in the profile of a response signal determined from said detected signal and compares characteristics of the response signal in at least two regions to determine patency. - 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, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. Apparatus for determining airway resistance, the apparatus including:
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a sound generator for applying a sound signal in the audible frequency spectrum to an airway; a detector for detecting a response to the applied sound signal; and an analyser for determining airway resistance based on the detected response wherein the analyser determines airway resistance based on a variation in the profile of a response signal determined from said detected signal and compares characteristics of the response signal in at least two regions to determine airway resistance.
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44. Apparatus for monitoring airway patency, the apparatus including:
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a sound generator for applying a sound signal in the audible frequency spectrum to at least a portion of an airway, the airway portion having an end proximal to the sound generator and an end distal from the sound generator; a detector for detecting a resulting sound signal at said distal end of said airway portion; and an analyser for determining patency for the airway portion based on the detected signal, wherein the analyser determines patency based on a variation in the profile of a response signal determined from said detected resulting sound signal and compares characteristics of the response signal in at least two regions to determine patency.
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45. Apparatus for monitoring airway patency, the apparatus including:
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a sound generator for applying a sound signal in the audible frequency spectrum to at least a portion of an airway, the airway portion having an end proximal to the sound generator and an end distal from the sound generator; a detector for detecting a resulting sound signal at said proximal end of said airway portion, said sound signal including components of said applied sound signal that are reflected back to said proximal end of said airway; and an analyser for determining patency for the airway portion based on the detected signal, wherein the analyser determines patency based on a variation in the profile of a response signal determined from said detected signal and compares characteristics of the response signal in at least two regions to determine patency.
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46. Apparatus for monitoring a state of an airway, the apparatus including:
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a sound generator for applying a sound signal in the audible frequency spectrum to an airway; a detector for detecting the sound signal after it has travelled through at least a portion of the airway; and an analyser for monitoring the state of the airway based on variations in the detected sound signal wherein the analyser determines the state of the airway based on a variation in the profile of a response signal determined from said detected signal and compares characteristics of the response signal in at least two regions.
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47. An apparatus for determining characteristics of biological tissues, the apparatus including:
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a sound generating device which generates a sound; a recording device which records the sound after it has travelled from one position of the biological tissue, through the tissue and to another position of the tissue; and an analysis device which determines characteristics of the sound that has travelled through the tissue, wherein the analysis device determines the characteristics of the biological tissues based on a variation in the profile of a response signal determined from said detected signal and compares characteristics of the response signal in at least two regions to determine the characteristics of the biological tissues.
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Specification