163 results about "Breathing disorders" patented technology

A sleep quality assessment approach involves collecting data based on detected physiological or non-physiological patient conditions. At least one of detecting patient conditions and collecting data is performed using an implantable device. Sleep quality may be evaluated using the collected data by an imlantable or patient-external sleep quality processor. One approach to sleep quality evaluation involves computing one or more summary metrics based on occurrences of movement disorders or breathing disorders during sleep.

Methods and systems involve coordinating therapies used for treating disordered breathing. Disordered breathing therapies may include cardiac electrical stimulation therapy and external respiratory therapy as well as other therapies for treating disordered breathing in a patient. The therapies delivered to the patient may be coordinated to enhance effectiveness of the therapy, to reduce therapy interactions, to improve patient sleep, or to achieve other therapeutic goals.

A device and method are provided for managing the treatment of a patient with respiratory disorders or symptoms. Respiratory parameters are sensed and recorded and communicated to an external device to provide information to a patient and / or provider for further treatment or diagnosis. Also respiratory disorders such as apnea or hypoventilation may be treated by electrically stimulating the diaphragm muscle or phrenic nerve in response to a sensed respiratory parameter or characteristic.

A device is disclosed for treating sleep and breathing disorders of a patient, along with the method of using the device. The device includes a processor for receiving sensor inputs, processing the received sensor inputs, and generating commands through output devices. A first sensor is positionable for receiving breathing sound information emitted from one of the mouth and nose of a patient. The second sensor is positionable on a patient for receiving breathing sounds information from a patient's chest cavity. A third sensor is positionable for receiving information relating to the amount of chest expansion of a patient. A first output device is provided that is capable of providing an auditory signal to a patient. A second output device is capable of providing an electrical signal to a muscle group of a patient that simulates a human touching event. The first, second and third sensors, and the first and second output devices are operatively coupled to the processor to permit the processor to receive information input from the sensors, process the input information to the detect the existence of a sleep-breathing disorder event, and to generate command to at least one of the first and second output devices. The command is capable of directing the at least one output device to provide a series of progressively intrusive stimuli designed to condition the patient to terminate the sleep breathing disorder event, and ultimately, return to a more normal sleep pattern.

A device and method for sensing breathing disorders, irregularities or insufficiencies is provided. One aspect includes sensing a precursor to an onset of a breathing disorder or episode of a breathing disorder and responding to sensing the precursor. Another aspect includes responding to treat the breathing disorder before manifestation of the disorder. Another aspect includes identifying a likelihood of a breathing disorder and responding using the likelihood and other information indicating onset or occurrence of a breathing disorder.

A method and apparatus for treating a breathing disorder and, more particularly, a method and apparatus for providing a pressurized air flow to an airway of a patient to treat congestive heart failure in combination with Cheyne-Stokes respiration and / or sleep apnea or other breathing disorders. A positive airway pressure ventilator is utilized in combination with an algorithm that adjusts IPAP and EPAP in order to counter a Cheyne-Stokes breathing pattern. Cheyne-Stokes respiration is detected by monitoring a peak flow of the patient.

The present invention relates to a device and method for monitoring for sleep disordered breathing or other types of disordered breathing such as Cheyne-Stokes breathing. More specifically, a device and method for detecting disordered breathing is provided that monitors a physiological parameter, which becomes cyclical due to apnea-hyperpnea (or arousal) alternation and provides the basis for the determination of a number of breathing disorder metrics.

Methods and systems involve monitoring one or more patient conditions using a monitoring device that is fully or partially implantable. Feedback information is developed based on the monitored conditions and is provided to a device delivering therapy to treat sleep disordered breathing. Components of the monitoring device are disposed within an implantable housing that is separate from the housing of the therapy device. The therapy device may comprise a housing that is implantable or patient-external. The feedback information may be used to adjust the sleep disordered breathing therapy.

A device and method for magnetic stimulation of muscles for the diagnosis and relief of a breathing disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea. Magnetic stimulation is used to stimulate muscles which serve to stabilize the upper airway of an individual whose nocturnal apneic events are related to diminished muscle tone. A sensor monitors a physiologic characteristic of the patient, a coil is energized to stimulate the appropriate muscles associated with the upper airway, a power supply provides power for energizing the coil, and a control system controls the application of power to the coil based on the output of the sensor. Diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea is accomplished by measuring the subject's compliance in the presence and absence of the magnetic stimulation of the upper airway muscles. The smaller the difference between these two compliance levels, the more likely that patient suffers from obstructive sleep apnea.

A lead system, coupled to an implantable device, is configured for subcutaneous, non-intrathoracic placement relative to a patient's heart. Cardiac activity detection circuitry is coupled to the lead system and configured to detect cardiac rhythms. Disordered breathing detection circuitry is coupled to the lead system and configured to detect disordered breathing. One or both of cardiac therapy circuitry and disordered breathing therapy circuitry may be coupled to the lead system and configured to delivery therapies to treat disordered breathing. Such therapies include cardiac pacing, diaphragmatic pacing, and hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapies. A patient-external respiratory device, such as a positive airway pressure device, may be configured to deliver a disordered breathing therapy. One or more of a patient-internal drug delivery device, a patient-external drug delivery device, or a gas therapy device may be employed to treat disordered breathing.

An algorithm for measuring the breathing of a patient for diagnosing breathing disorders and for controlling a breathing aid device for treating a patient. Sensors record pressure and flow rates of air delivered to a patient. The data is statistically manipulated to find the start of a breath, the end of a breath, the duration of a breath, the shape of a breath, the volume of a breath, the breathing rates, flow rates, snoring index, flattening index, and other useful data to diagnose and treat a patient. The data is used to diagnose the condition of a patient and to control a breathing aide device for treating a patient at the most optimal pressures and flow rates for the patient's condition. Inspiration and expiration data are tracked separately and compared throughout the algorithm as a check the accuracy of the data manipulation by the algorithm.

An implantable medical device for treating breathing disorders such as central sleep apnea wherein stimulation is provided to the phrenic never through a transvenous lead system with the stimulation beginning after inspiration to extend the duration of a breath and to hold the diaphragm in a contracted condition.

A stimulation device is provided that stimulates breathing to manipulate blood gas concentrations such as SaO2 or PCO2 and thereby treat underlying causes of breathing disorders and heart failure progression. A programmable device is provided for setting diaphragm stimulation waveforms that adjust minute ventilation about a predetermined baseline value. Normal breathing of the subject is observed to establish a baseline reference minute ventilation, and the device is programmed to produce stimulation waveforms that may provide either a decrease or an increase in the patients minute ventilation. The minute ventilation of the subject may be decreased or increased from the baseline level by decreasing or increasing a parameter that changes minute ventilators.

A system and method is disclosed for the provision of assisted breathing by the delivery of a controlled pressurized airflow to the pulmonary airway of a user with breathing disorders. The system comprises a source of compressed respiratory gas, a user nasal interface unit including at least one Venturi device and a thin flexible tubing connecting between the source of high pressure gas and the Venturi device. The system and method provide a regulated and controlled flow of air to the user in accordance with the user needs. The invention further discloses a novel small light-weight nasal user interface for replacing prior art breathing masks.

A method and apparatus for treating a breathing disorder and, more particularly, a method and apparatus for providing a pressurized air flow to an airway of a patient to treat congestive heart failure in combination with Cheyne-Stokes respiration and / or sleep apnea or other breathing disorders. A positive airway pressure ventilator is utilized in combination with an algorithm that adjusts IPAP and EPAP in order to counter a Cheyne-Stokes breathing pattern. Cheyne-Stokes respiration is detected by monitoring a peak flow of the patient.

Methods and devices to prevent and / or treat breathing disorders (e.g., upper airways disorders) in mammals related to impaired airflow are described. Methods and devices apply force to soft tissue that avoids obstruction of airflow in the mammel's airway. Breathing disorders that are avoided by the methods and / or devices include apnea.

Systems and methods are directed to evaluating breathing disorders, such as periodic disordered breathing. A signal representative of patient respiration is developed, typically patient-internally. An envelope of the signal is provided. Periodicity of the envelope is detected, and presence and severity of periodic disordered breathing is determined based on the periodicity of the envelope.

An apparatus for diagnosing a breathing disorder of a patient that includes a first sensing system that determines a dimension, such as cross-sectional area, of a portion of the patient's airway and a second sensing system that determines an internal load on the airway. A processing system receives the output from the first and second sensing systems and determines a compliance curve that corresponds to a relationship between the measured dimension and a plurality of internal loads on the patient's airway. The processing system also determines at least one characteristic associated with the compliance curve. This characteristic is indicative of a likelihood that the patient suffers from a breathing disorder.

A notification system monitors changes in air flow channeled between a positive air pressure generator and a CPAP mask supplying positive airway pressure to a patient during treatment of sleep apnea. An air flow sensor and / or pressure sensor is positioned to monitor air flow channeled to the mask. When a sensor detects a significant change in air flow and / or air pressure, a detection signal is analyzed by a controller unit microprocessor for comparisons with a preselected operating range for air flow and / or pressure. Upon verification the air flow and / or pressure is not within the preselected range, a remote transmission is transmitted to an alarm means proximal of the patient. The alarm means directs at least one stimulus to the patient for alerting and waking the patient. The alarm stimulus includes audio and / or vibratory stimuli of sufficient intensity to alert the patient that mask adjustments are required for proper CPAP treatment.

A method for controlling operation of a CPAP apparatus. The apparatus has a blower (2), a patient interface (6), an air delivery conduit (8) for delivering air from the blower (2) to the patient interface (6), a sensor (4p) for determining the pressure in the patient interface (6), and a control mechanism (15) that causes air to be delivered at a desired pressure to the patient interface (6) and that detects transitions between inhalation and exhalation of a respiratory cycle of a patient in order to synchronise the blower output with the patient's efforts. In one form the CPAP apparatus provides pressure in accordance with a bi-level waveform with at least one characterising parameter of the waveform being automatically adjusted in accordance with indications of sleep disordered breathing. The indications of sleep disordered breathing can be one or more of snoring, apnea, hypopnea, and flow limitation.

A device which is removably insertable in the mouth for facilitating breathing while sleeping which provides a clear unobstructed airway by protrusive positioning of the mandible and / or delivery of pressurized air to the back of the mouth. The device has upper and lower tooth-contacting members and an airway defined between them.

Medical devices, systems, and methods mitigate a variety of disorders, including sleep-related breathing disorders. A stiffness, shape, and / or size of a reinforced tissue structure can be altered by applying a magnetic field and / or electrical field. The upper airway can be remodeled at night while maintaining physiological movement (such as swallowing, speaking, singing, and the like) when awake. Biasing of the tissue structures may also be employed.