Integrated sleep apnea screening system
AssigneeS.L.P. Ltd.
InventorNoam Hadas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention is a method, and device, suitable for use without professional medical supervision, for screening for sleep apnea. All elements of the device are housed in a small, flexible, plastic housing which is placed on the user's philtrum. A thermistor acquires data describing the respiratory pattern. A processor analyzes the respiratory pattern in real time and outputs a study result, describing the occurrence of any episodes of apnea, to a non-volatile colored marker on the plastic housing. A flashing LED display informs the user when placement of the device is appropriate. A lithium battery, which powers all elements of the device, is activated by a pull-tab removed by the user.
Claims14
A sleep apnea screening system, comprising
- a) a respiration sensor, for sensing a respiratory pattern, at a location on a respiratory tract;
- b) a processor, for analyzing said respiratory pattern to determine the presence of a pattern of apnea, and for correlating said pattern of apnea with a diagnosis;
- c) a display, for displaying said diagnosis;
- d) a power source, for powering said respiration sensor, said processor, and said display;
- and
- e) a housing, for housing said processor, said display, and said power source, on said respiration sensor, said housing being placeable at said location on said respiratory tract.
A sleep apnea screening method, comprising the steps of
- a) placing a housing at a location on a respiratory tract;
- b) sensing a respiratory pattern at said housing during a time interval;
- c) processing said sensed respiratory pattern to detect the presence of a pattern of apnea, said processing occurring during said time interval,
- d) correlating said pattern of apnea with a diagnosis, said correlating occurring during said time interval;
- and
- e) displaying said diagnosis on said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.