Method and apparatus for detection and treatment of respiratory disorder by implantable device
First Claim
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1. A method for identifying a respiratory disorder in a patient using a device implanted in the patient, comprising:
- sensing patient sounds,analyzing frequency and amplitude of the patient sounds to determine airflow,measuring said patient'"'"'s transthoracic impedance to determine thoracic movement, andidentifying the respiratory disorder to distinguish central apnea and obstructive apnea based upon the determined airflow and determined thoracic movement;
said device implanted in the patient including a microphone to sense patient sounds, a processor to analyze the frequency and amplitude of the sensed patient sounds to determine airflow, and an impedance detector to detect transthoracic impedance by
1) emitting high frequency electrical pulses to traverse the transthoracic cavity, and
2) calculating instantaneous transthoracic impedance across said transthoracic cavity.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for detection and treatment of respiratory disorders using implanted devices are described. In one form, afferent nerves are electrically or electro-mechanically stimulated to increase the tone of upper airway muscles. Detection of respiratory disorders is carried out using electrodes implanted in sub-pectoral regions. Open and closed airway apneas are distinguished using a combination of acoustic detectors and electrical transducers.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for identifying a respiratory disorder in a patient using a device implanted in the patient, comprising:
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sensing patient sounds, analyzing frequency and amplitude of the patient sounds to determine airflow, measuring said patient'"'"'s transthoracic impedance to determine thoracic movement, and identifying the respiratory disorder to distinguish central apnea and obstructive apnea based upon the determined airflow and determined thoracic movement; said device implanted in the patient including a microphone to sense patient sounds, a processor to analyze the frequency and amplitude of the sensed patient sounds to determine airflow, and an impedance detector to detect transthoracic impedance by
1) emitting high frequency electrical pulses to traverse the transthoracic cavity, and
2) calculating instantaneous transthoracic impedance across said transthoracic cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An implantable apparatus for determining the presence of sleep disordered breathing in a patient, comprising:
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an impedance detector configured to detect transthoracic impedance by
1) emitting high frequency electrical pulses to traverse the transthoracic cavity, and
2) calculating instantaneous transthoracic impedance across said transthoracic cavity,a microphone configured to capture signals representing patient sounds, and a processor configured to determine the presence of sleep disordered breathing; wherein said processor determines the presence of sleep disordered breathing by analyzing said patient-sound signals for frequency and amplitude to determine airflow, measuring said patient'"'"'s transthoracic impedance to determine thoracic movement, determining the sleep disordered breathing to distinguish central apnea and obstructive apnea based upon the determined airflow and the patient'"'"'s determined thoracic movement. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for identifying a respiratory disorder in a patient using a device coupled to the patient, comprising:
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receiving signals associated with patient sounds, analyzing frequency and amplitude of the signals to determine airflow, measuring said patient'"'"'s transthoracic impedance to determine thoracic movement, and determining the respiratory disorder to distinguish central apnea and obstructive apnea based upon the determined airflow and the determined thoracic movement; said device coupled to the patient including a microphone for receiving signals representative of patient sounds, a processor to determine airflow based on the frequency and amplitude of patient sounds, and an impedance detector to detect transthoracic impedance by
1) emitting high frequency electrical pulses to traverse the transthoracic cavity and
2) calculating instantaneous transthoracic impedance across said transthoracic cavity. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for determining sleep disordered breathing in a patient comprising:
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an impedance detector configured to detect transthoracic impedance by
1) emitting high frequency electrical pulses to traverse the transthoracic cavity, and
2) calculating instantaneous transthoracic impedance across said transthoracic cavity,a microphone configured to receive signals representing patient sounds, and a processor configured to process said signals to determine airflow based on frequency and amplitude of the patient sounds, the processor being configured to determine thoracic movement based on the transthoracic impedance; wherein said device is configured to determine the sleep disordered breathing to distinguish central apnea and obstructive apnea based upon the patient'"'"'s determined thoracic movement and the determined airflow. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification