Patent · US Expired

System and method for real-time apnea/hypopnea detection using an implantable medical system

US7371220B1 · kind B1 · utility

129Cited by
28References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 30, 2004
Grant dateMay 13, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 12, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/7239
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Techniques are provided for detecting the onset of an episode of apnea/hypopnea substantially in real-time. A moving threshold is generated based on recent respiration cycles and differences are accumulated between amplitudes of new respiration cycles and the moving threshold. Apnea/hypopnea is then detected based upon a comparison of the accumulated differences against a fixed threshold. The technique exploits the fact that many episodes of hypopnea begin with a sharp drop in respiration and many episodes of apnea are preceded by a sharp drop in respiration. By accumulating differences between new respiration amplitudes and a short term moving average, any sharp drop in respiration is thereby promptly detected. In many cases, by the time the amplitudes of individual respiration cycles drop to levels directly indicative of apnea/hypopnea, the episode of apnea/hypopnea will have already been detected based upon the sudden sharp drop in respiration amplitude and therapy will have already been initiated.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.