System and Method for Monitoring Periodic Breathing Associated with Heart Failure

• US 20070239055A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Erickson, Mark, Sowelam, Sameh, Nicolaescu, Ioana, Markowitz, H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,896,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 detecting periodic breathing, 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 sensor signal conditioning circuitry, the data processor configured to produce an output as a function of the conditioned sensor signals.

2. The device of claim 1 and further comprising:

communication circuitry 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 configure to produce the output as a function of sensor signals generated by the plurality of sensors.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the one or more sensors provides a signal indicative of inspiration and of expiration.

6. 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 configured to;

receive the conditioned sensor signals and detect a periodic breathing cycle as a function of the conditioned sensor signals;

determine whether the periodic breathing cycle is indicative of periodic breathing;

compute a cycle length of the periodic breathing cycle; and

compute an output as a function of the cycle length.

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

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

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

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

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the device includes a plurality of sensors capable of sensing different physiologic parameters associated with respiration and the data process is configure to produce the validated central sleep apnea as a function of sensor signals generated by the plurality of sensors.

10. A method for monitoring a condition of a patient, the method comprising:

producing sensor signals representative of a physiologic parameter associated with respiration;

detecting a periodic breathing cycle based on the sensor signals;

determining whether the periodic breathing cycle is indicative of periodic breathing;

determining a cycle length of the periodic breathing cycle; and

if the periodic breathing cycle is indicative of periodic breathing, computing an output as a function of the cycle length.

11. The method of claim 10, and further comprising:

determining whether the patient is asleep.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the output comprises a statistical output associated with the cycle length.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the output comprises an indication of a change in a heart failure disease state of the patient.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the output comprises a treatment recommendation.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein determining whether the periodic breathing cycle is indicative of periodic breathing comprises:

comparing the periodic breathing cycle length to one or more reference cycle lengths and determining whether the periodic breathing cycle length is within a specified proximity of the one or more reference cycle lengths.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein determining whether the periodic breathing cycle is indicative of periodic breathing comprises:

determining that the periodic breathing cycle is indicative of central sleep apnea and not obstructive sleep apnea.

17. The method of claim 10, and further comprising:

transmitting the output to a remote system.

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

19. The method of claim 10, where the sensor signals are produced by one or more implantable sensors.

20. A method for monitoring progression of heart failure in a patient, the method comprising:

monitoring sensor signals representative of a physiologic parameter associated with respiration;

detecting periodic breathing cycles based on the sensor signals;

processing the periodic breathing cycles to validate that the periodic breathing cycles are indicative of periodic breathing;

determining a cycle length as a function of the periodic breathing cycles; and

producing an output associated with a heart disease state of the patient as a function of the cycle length.

21. The method of claim 20, and further comprising:

communicating the output to a remote system.

22. The method of claim 20, and further comprising:

comparing the cycle length to a historical cycle length.

23. The method of claim 22, and further comprising:

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