Sleep apnea risk evaluation

US6811538B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ares Medical, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Philip R. Westbrook · Carlsbad, US
• Daniel J. Levendowski · Carlsbad, US
• Milenko Cvetinovic · Vista, US
• Chris Berka · Carlsbad, US
• Yury Furman · Los Angeles, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 28, 2001
• Grant date: Nov 2, 2004
• Expiry date: Jul 10, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S128/923
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In a technique for collecting and analyzing physiological signals to detect sleep apnea, a small light-weight physiological monitoring system, affixed to a patient's forehead, detects and records the pulse, oximetry, snoring sounds, and head position of a patient to detect a respiratory event, such as sleep apnea. The physiological monitoring system may contain several sensors including a pulse oximeter to detect oximetry and pulse rate, a microphone to detect snoring sounds, and a position sensor to detect head position. The physiological monitoring system also can contain a memory to store or record the signals monitored by the mentioned sensors and a power source. The physiological monitoring system may be held in place by a single elastic strap, thereby enabling a patient to use the system without the assistance of trained technicians.