Method and apparatus for detecting respiratory effort

Apparatus for detecting respiratory related effort comprising:

• a respiratory mask or headgear for a respiratory treatment apparatus;
• a sensor, the sensor configured to generate a strain signal, the strain signal including one or both of a mouth strain signal and a jaw strain signal, the sensor being configured with the respiratory mask or headgear to sense mask force or headgear tension, the headgear tension concerning change in tension of a strap of the headgear, wherein the sensor is configured to generate the strain signal in response to movement of one or both of a user's mouth and jaw;
• and
• a processor coupled with the sensor, wherein the processor is configured to:
• (a) receive the strain signal;
• (b) detect respiratory events based on the strain signal, the detection comprising an analysis of the strain signal in the processor to detect respiratory related effort, the analysis of the strain signal comprising:
• (1) generation of a first and a second filtered strain signals based on the strain signal, and
• (2) a comparison based on the first and the second filtered strain signals;
• and
• (c) based on the analysis of the strain signal or on the detected respiratory events, effect at least one of the following:
• (1) generate an indicator of a presence or absence of significant respiratory effort;
• (2) generate an indicator of detected respiratory events, and
• (3) automatically control a change to a respiratory treatment variable in a controller of the respiratory treatment apparatus.