System and method of detecting sleep disorders
US9368016B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 12, 2013 |
| Grant date | Jun 14, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 12, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B1/02
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus for detecting sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, includes a housing insertable into an ear canal of a subject. A sensor disposed within the housing measures a position of the subject's head relative to an axis of gravity. A transducer is responsive to the sensor and is capable of creating a stimulus detectable by the subject under certain conditions. In various embodiments, a controller receives signals corresponding to a pitch angle and a roll angle of the subject's head measured by the sensor, determines if the pitch and roll angles correspond to a sleep apnea inducing position, and causes the transducer to generate a stimulus upon determining that the subject's head is in the sleep apnea inducing position more than a predetermined threshold number of times. Various parameters of the stimulus may be modified with successive stimulus generation until a non-sleep apnea inducing position is detected.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.