Method and apparatus for the non-invasive detection of particular sleep-state conditions by monitoring the peripheral vascular system
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring an individual for the occurrence of a particular sleep state condition of the individual, comprising:
- applying an external probe to an external surface at a peripheral body location on the individual'"'"'s body for monitoring the peripheral vascular bed volume of the individual at said peripheral body location while applying a predetermined pressure field to the distal end of said peripheral body location, including its distal-most extremity, effective to prevent the occurrence of venous pooling within said peripheral body location, and thereby to produce an output from the probe corresponding to changes in the peripheral arterial bed volume at said peripheral body location;
while the individual is in a sleep state, utilizing said probe to detect;
(a) changes in the peripheral vascular bed volume of the individual at said peripheral body location, (b) amplitude changes in the probe output or time changes in the time course of the response pattern of the probe output, and (c) changes in the individual'"'"'s pulse rate or amplitude, and to produce outputs corresponding to such changes;
and determining the sleep state condition of the individual according to such changes detected by said external probe.
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for monitoring the sleep state condition of an individual by using an external probe applied to a peripheral body location, such as the individual'"'"'s finger or toe, for detecting changes in the peripheral vascular bed volume of the individual. A predetermined pressure field is applied to the distal end of the peripheral body location, including its distal-most extremity, to prevent the occurrence of venous pooling within and distal to the peripheral body location. The probe produces an output corresponding to changes in the peripheral arterial bed volume at the peripheral body location, which output provides an indication of the sleep state condition of the individual. Such information is useful in diagnosing and/or in treating, a number of sleep disorders as well as other conditions, such as impotence, diabetes, and various disorders in children.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring an individual for the occurrence of a particular sleep state condition of the individual, comprising:
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applying an external probe to an external surface at a peripheral body location on the individual'"'"'s body for monitoring the peripheral vascular bed volume of the individual at said peripheral body location while applying a predetermined pressure field to the distal end of said peripheral body location, including its distal-most extremity, effective to prevent the occurrence of venous pooling within said peripheral body location, and thereby to produce an output from the probe corresponding to changes in the peripheral arterial bed volume at said peripheral body location; while the individual is in a sleep state, utilizing said probe to detect;
(a) changes in the peripheral vascular bed volume of the individual at said peripheral body location, (b) amplitude changes in the probe output or time changes in the time course of the response pattern of the probe output, and (c) changes in the individual'"'"'s pulse rate or amplitude, and to produce outputs corresponding to such changes;and determining the sleep state condition of the individual according to such changes detected by said external probe. - 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)
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29. Apparatus for monitoring an individual to detect the occurrence of a particular condition during the sleep state of the individual, comprising:
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an external probe to be applied to an external surface at a peripheral body location on the individual'"'"'s body for monitoring (a) changes in the peripheral vascular bed volume of the individual at said peripheral body location, (b) amplitude changes in the probe output or changes in the time course of the response pattern of the probe output, and (c) changes in the individual'"'"'s pulse rate and amplitude, and for producing outputs corresponding thereto; said external probe including a pressure applicator for applying a predetermined pressure field to the distal end of said peripheral body location including its distal-most extremity to prevent the occurrence of venous pooling and thereby to produce an output signal from the probe corresponding to changes in the peripheral arterial bed volume at said peripheral body location; and a processor for processing said outputs from the probe and for producing a signal indicating said particular sleep state condition when a predetermined change in the outputs of said probe is detected. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification