Device and method for detecting and recording snoring

• US 5,989,193 A
• Filed: 02/19/1998
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Somed Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Somed Pty Limited
• Inventors: Sullivan, Colin Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARMOR II, CHARLES ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/952,615
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 600/483, 600/484, 600/529, 600/532, 600/533, 600/534, 600/538, 600/586
• US Class Current: 600/534
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00

Abstract

A device and method for detecting and recording the snoring of a patient. The device comprises a piezoelectric sensor, placed below a sleeping patient on a mattress, which generates signals representative of the sub-audible vibrations of the patient'"'"'s airway which are present during a snore. The signals generated by the sensor can be amplified by an amplifier and processed by a signal processing circuit. The sensor can also generate signals representative of the patient'"'"'s breathing cycle and general movement of the patient. The signal processing circuit can be adapted to discriminate the signals generated by the sensor and then output these signals for analysis. The output can be used to determine the presence of snoring by the patient and the snoring pattern can also be used to detect episodes of obstructive sleep apnea.

Claims

1. A device for detecting the snoring of a patient comprising signal processing means having signal receiving means to receive electrical signals generated by one of a pressure and acceleration detector, the detector being adapted to detect both sub-audible vibrations of a patient'"'"'s airway which are present during a snore and the patient'"'"'s breathing cycle, and generate a first electrical signal representative of the sub-audible vibrations and a second electrical signal representative of the patient'"'"'s breathing cycle.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the sub-audible vibrations have a frequency in a range of about 10-100 Hz.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the device includes an output means for producing an output indicative of the sub-audible vibrations of the patient'"'"'s airway.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the breathing cycle has a frequency greater than about 0 Hz and not exceeding about 2 Hz.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the device includes an output means for producing an output indicative of the sub-audible vibrations and the patient'"'"'s breathing cycle.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the detector is capable of generating a third electrical signal representing of movement of the patient.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the device includes output means for producing an output indicative of the sub-audible vibrations of the airway, the patient'"'"'s breathing cycle and the movement of the patient.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the signal processing means includes a comparator means for comparing an occurrence of the first electrical signal with the second and third electrical signals and produces an output indicative of the comparison.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the detector is selected from the group consisting of a pressure detector comprising a piezoelectric transducer and an accelerometer comprising an integrated circuit containing a floating piezoelectric transducer.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the piezoelectric transducer is a piezoelectric synthetic plastics material.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the piezoelectric synthetic plastics material is polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF).

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the piezoelectric transducer is located above or below a mattress on which the patient can sleep.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the signal processing means further includes a comparator means for comparing an occurrence of the first electrical signal with the second electrical signal and produces an output indicative of the comparison.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the signal processing means analyses the first and second electrical signals for an occurrence of signals characteristic of episodes of obstructive sleep apnea.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the device includes means for removing unwanted signals.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the signal receiving means is arranged to receive signals from at least one sound transducer located near the patient.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the signal processing means includes means for utilizing the signals received from the sound transducer to remove unwanted signals produced by the detector.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of producing an output indicative of the sub-audible vibrations of the patient'"'"'s airway.

18. A method for detecting the snoring of a patient comprising the steps of placing a pressure or acceleration detector in position relative to a patient for a period of time while the patient is asleep, the detector being adapted to detect both sub-audible vibrations of a patient'"'"'s airway which are present during a snore and the patient'"'"'s breathing cycle, and producing from the detector a first electrical signal representative of the sub-audible vibrations and a second electrical signal representative of the patient'"'"'s breathing cycle.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of producing an output indicative of the sub-audible vibrations of the patient'"'"'s airway and the patient'"'"'s breathing cycle.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of producing from the detector a third electrical signal representative of movement of the patient.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of producing an output indicative of the sub-audible vibrations of the patient'"'"'s airway, the patient'"'"'s breathing cycle and the movement of the patient.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein the first and second electrical signals are compared to produce an output from the comparison that confirms or precludes the detection of snoring by the detector.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the output is used to control the operation of a continuous positive airway pressure device.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein the first and second electrical signals are analysed for episodes of signals characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea.

26. The method of claim 18 wherein the first electrical signal is produced throughout the sleeping time of the patient.