Device and method for measuring sleep apneas

• US 20110218409A1
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kugler, Andreas, Ladstaetter, Ulrich, Stihler, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US12/932,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20110218409A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise

Abstract

A device is implemented as a functional patch, for measuring sleep apneas, which device includes: an acoustic sensor for measuring respiration and snoring noises; an optical sensor for measuring a saturation of oxygen in the blood of a human; and an adhesive patch which carries the acoustic sensor and the optical sensor. Analysis of the measuring signals and display of the sleep apneas are alternately performed in the functional patch or in an external unit, to which the data are transmitted wirelessly.

Claims

1. A device for measuring sleep apneas comprising:

an acoustic sensor for measuring respiration and snoring noises;

an optical sensor for measuring a saturation of oxygen in the blood of a human; and

an adhesive patch which carries the acoustic sensor and the optical sensor.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a voltage supply unit.

3. The device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a detection unit.

4. The device as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

an information transmission unit.

5. The device as recited in claim 4, wherein the acoustic sensor and the optical sensor are embedded in a film.

6. The device as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

a storage unit for storing measured values.

7. The device as recited in claim 6, wherein the information transmission unit has a display unit.

8. The device as recited in claim 7, wherein the display unit has a display screen.

9. The device as recited in claim 7, wherein the display unit has a traffic signal display having three colors.

10. The device as recited in claim 5, wherein the information transmission unit has a transmitting unit for transmitting measured values to an external receiving unit.

11. The device as recited in claim 9, wherein the information transmission unit has an RFID chip and an RFID antenna.

12. A method for measuring sleep apneas using an acoustic sensor and an optical sensor, comprising:

a) performing an optical calibration measurement;

b) performing first optical measurement of first measured values at a first wavelength to ascertain a blood oxygen concentration;

c) performing second measurement of second measured values at a second wavelength to ascertain a blood oxygen concentration;

d) performing an acoustic measurement of third measured values to ascertain a respiration; and

e) transmitting the measured values or values of the blood oxygen concentration and values of the respiration;

wherein the method steps a) through d) are performed in arbitrary sequence.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the values of the blood oxygen concentration and the values of the respiration are stored.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the values of the blood oxygen concentration and the respiration are transmitted to a display unit.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the values of the blood oxygen concentration are ascertained from the first and second measured values and the values of the respiration are ascertained from the third measured values.