System and method for monitoring periodic breathing associated with heart failure

• US 7,896,813 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Erickson, Mark K., Sowelam, Sameh, Nicolaescu, Ioana, Markowitz, H. Toby
• Primary Examiner(s): Mallari; Patricia C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Toth; Karen E
• Application Number:
  US11/278,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20070239055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 600/483, 600/484, 600529-543
• US Class Current: 600/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring in a patient includes producing sensor signals representative of a physiologic parameter associated with respiration. A periodic breathing cycle is detected based on the sensor signals. An output is produced as a function of the cycle length.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring a patient, the device comprising:

an input for receiving sensor signals representative of one or more physiologic parameters associated with respiration;

signal conditioning circuitry in communication with the input to condition the sensor signals; and

a data processor in communication with the signal conditioning circuitry, the data processor programmed to;

receive the conditioned sensor signals and detect breathing cycles as a function of the conditioned sensor signals, a breathing cycle comprising a cycle of hyperpnea followed by apnea;

determine cycle lengths of the detected breathing cycles;

determine regularity of the cycle lengths; and

determine whether the breathing cycles are indicative of central sleep apnea based upon the determined regularity of the cycle lengths.

2. The device of claim 1, and further comprising:

communication circuitry in communication with the data processor to communicate the output to a remote system.

3. The device of claim 1, and further comprising:

one or more sensors for detecting the one or more physiologic parameters associated with respiration and producing the sensor signals representative of the physiologic parameters.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the device includes a plurality of sensors capable of sensing different physiologic parameters associated with respiration and the data processor is further programmed to validate the presence of central sleep apnea as a function of sensor signals generated by the plurality of sensors.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the data processor is programmed to determine whether the breathing cycle lengths are within a specified proximity of one or more reference cycle lengths.

6. A method for monitoring progression of heart failure in a patient using an implanted device, the method comprising:

monitoring sensor signals representative of a physiologic parameter associated with respiration using the implanted device;

detecting breathing cycles based on the sensor signals using the implanted device, a breathing cycle comprising a cycle of hyperpnea followed by apnea;

determining cycle lengths as a function of the breathing cycles using the implanted device;

determining regularity of the cycle lengths; and

producing an output associated with a heart disease state of the patient using the implanted device as a function of the determined regularity of the cycle lengths.

7. The method of claim 6, and further comprising:

communicating the output to a remote system.

8. The method of claim 6, and further comprising:

comparing the cycle lengths to a historical cycle length.

9. The method of claim 8, and further comprising:

communicating the output to a healthcare provider if the cycle lengths exceed the historical cycle length by a specified amount.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensor signals are produced by one or more sensors located outside the patient.

11. The method of claim 6, where the sensor signals are produced by one or more implantable sensors.

12. The method of claim 6, and further comprising:

determining whether the patient is asleep.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the output comprises a treatment recommendation.