Multiple sensors for sleep apnea with probability indication for sleep diagnosis and means for automatic activation of alert or therapy

• US 20060241708A1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Boute, Willem
• Application Number:
  US11/112,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20060241708A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/17
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/36 Detecting PQ interval, PR interval or QT interval
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36521 the parameter being derived from measurement of an electrical impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36557 controlled by chemical substances in blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36585 controlled by two or more physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39622 Pacing therapy

Abstract

An apparatus and method for detecting respiratory disturbances based on multiple physiological parameters are provided. The method includes sensing one or more physiological signals, deriving from the sensed signals multiple physiological parameters that change during a respiratory disturbance, computing a probability that the respiratory disturbance is present using the multiple physiological parameters, and detecting the respiratory disturbance if the probability exceeds a predetermined threshold. In some embodiments, the method further includes generating an alert signal or other report in response to a respiratory disturbance detection. In other embodiments, the method further includes triggering the delivery of a therapy in response to a respiratory disturbance detection.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

sensing a plurality of physiological signals;

deriving a plurality of physiological parameters from the sensed signals;

computing a probability of a respiratory disturbance from the physiological parameters; and

detecting a respiratory disturbance when the computed probability exceeds a predefined detection threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the physiological signals comprise a cardiac electrical signal, a respiration signal, and a blood oxygen saturation signal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the physiological parameters comprise a heart rate variability, a Q-T interval variability, a respiration rate, a respiration depth, a minute ventilation, and a blood oxygen saturation.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein computing a probability of a respiratory disturbance comprises computing a weighted sum of a heart rate variability, a Q-T interval variability, a respiration rate, a respiration depth, a minute ventilation, and a blood oxygen saturation.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein computing a probability of a respiratory disturbance comprises determining a logical value for one or more of the physiological parameters by comparing the derived physiological parameter value to a predetermined threshold value.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the respiratory disturbance is sleep apnea.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a response to the detected respiratory disturbance.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the response comprises delivering a therapy.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein delivering a therapy comprises delivering atrial overdrive pacing.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the response comprises reporting the detected respiratory disturbance.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

determining a sleep state indicator; and

providing the response to the detected respiratory disturbance when the sleep state indicator is positive for detecting a sleeping state.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a sleep state for use in computing the probability of a respiratory disturbance.

14. The system of claim 11 further comprising a therapy delivery module controlled by the response module.

15. The system of claim 11 further comprising an alert module controlled by the response module.

16. The system of claim 11 further comprising a communications module controlled by the response module.

13. A system, comprising:

a physiological sensor;

a processor for deriving a physiological parameter from a signal received from the physiological sensor and for computing a probability of a respiratory disturbance from the physiological parameter; and

a response module for controlling a response to a respiratory disturbance detection signal generated by the processor when the computed probability exceeds a detection threshold.

17. A system, comprising:

means for sensing a plurality of physiological signals;

means for deriving a plurality of physiological parameters from the signals;

means for computing a probability of a respiratory disturbance from the plurality of physiological parameters;

means for detecting a respiratory disturbance episode using the computed probability; and

means for responding to the detected respiratory episode.

18. A computer readable medium for storing a set of instructions which when implemented in a system cause the system to:

sense a plurality of physiological signals;

derived a plurality of physiological parameters from the sensed signals;

compute a probability of a respiratory disturbance using the physiological parameters; and

detect the respiratory disturbance when the computed probability crosses a predetermined detection threshold.