Monitoring device and method

A portable handheld diagnostic apparatus, comprising:

• a sensor configured to sense a parameter of a patient's breathing and generate a signal based on the sensed parameter;
• a first A/D converter in communication with the sensor via a first channel and the first A/D converter configured to generate a flow channel signal based on the signal from the sensor;
• a second A/D converter in communication with the sensor via a second channel and the second A/D converter configured to generate a snore channel signal based on the signal from the sensor;
• a processor in communication with the first A/D converter and the second A/D converter and said processor configured to process the flow channel signal and/or the snore channel signal to calculate at least two from the group consisting of:
• a snoring index based on the flow channel signal from the first A/D converter and the snore channel signal from the second A/D converter, the snoring index being calculated by comparing a number of snoring events to a preset internal time base or threshold with a timer or a counter,
• an apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) based on a start and/or a stop of an apnea, hypopnea, and/or hyperventilation that is based on an envelope of the flow channel signal from the first A/D converter, and
• a periodic breathing index comprising:
• a periodicity index based on an average hypopnea length, an average hypopnea pause, and/or a hyperventilation length, and/or
• a Cheyne Stokes (CS) index based on the envelope of the flow channel signal from the first A/D converter;
• and
• a display in communication with the processor, said display comprising a plurality of logical YES/NO indicators, the YES/NO indicators being actuatable based on an output from the processor, the output comprising results of calculating at least two of the group consisting of:
• the snoring index, the AHI, and the periodic breathing index, wherein the portable handheld diagnostic apparatus is configured for at home use without patient performed calibration of the portable handheld diagnostic apparatus.

A method for identifying different indications of a patient via an apparatus usable by the patient, the method comprising

• sensing a parameter of the patient's breathing and generating a signal based on the sensed parameter with a sensor connected to the apparatus;
• generating a flow channel signal based on the signal from the sensor with a first A/D converter, the first A/D converter in communication with the sensor via a first channel;
• generating a snore channel signal based on the signal from the sensor with a second A/D converter, the second A/D converter in communication with the sensor via a second channel;
• processing the flow channel signal and/or the snore channel signal, using a processor of the apparatus in communication with the first A/D converter and the second A/D converter, said processing further comprising any two of:
• calculating a snoring index based on the flow channel signal from the first A/D converter and the snore channel signal from the second A/D converter, the snoring index being calculated by comparing a number of snoring events to a preset internal time base or threshold with a timer or a counter,
• calculating an apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) based on a start and/or a stop of an apnea, hypopnea, and/or hyperventilation that is based on an envelope of the flow channel signal from the first A/D converter, and
• calculating a periodic breathing index comprising:
• a periodicity index based on an average hypopnea length, an average hypopnea pause, and/or a hyperventilation length, and/or
• a Cheyne Stokes (CS) index based on the envelope of the flow channel signal from the first A/D converter;
• and
• displaying results of calculating at least two of the group consisting of:
• the snoring index, the AHI, and the periodic breathing index on a display of the apparatus, wherein the apparatus is a handheld and/or a pocket size device configured for at home use without patient performed calibration of the apparatus.

A method of making a portable handheld diagnostic apparatus for diagnosing a patient, the method comprising:

• providing a sensor configured to sense a parameter of the patient's breathing and generate a signal based on the sensed parameter;
• providing a first A/D converter in communication with the sensor via a first channel and the first A/D converter configured to generate a flow channel signal based on the signal from the sensor;
• providing a second A/D converter in communication with the sensor via a second channel and the second A/D converter configured to generate a snore channel signal based on the signal from the sensor;
• providing a processor in communication with the first A/D converter and the second A/D converter and said processor configured to process the flow channel signal and/or the snore channel signal to calculate at least two from the group consisting of:
• a snoring index based on the flow channel signal from the first A/D converter and the snore channel signal from the second A/D converter, the snoring index being calculated by comparing a number of snoring events to a preset internal time base or threshold with a timer or a counter;
• an apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) based on a start and/or a stop of an apnea, hypopnea, and/or hyperventilation that is based on an envelope of the flow channel signal from the first A/D converter;
• a periodic breathing index comprising:
• a periodicity index based on an average hypopnea length, an average hypopnea pause, and/or a hyperventilation length, and/or
• a Cheyne Stokes (CS) index based on the envelope of the flow channel signal from the first A/D converter;
• and
• connecting a plurality of selectively actuatable logical YES/NO indicators to the processor to receive results of calculating at least two of the group consisting of:
• the snoring index, the AHI, and the periodic breathing index, the indicators being actuatable based on said results, wherein the portable handheld diagnostic apparatus is configured for at home use without patient performed calibaration of the portable handheld diagnostic apparatus.