Method for detecting physiological condition of sleeping patient based on analysis of pulse waves

A method for detecting a physiological condition of a patient comprising:

• detecting pulse waves from the body of the patient;
• calculating a pulse height of each of the pulse waves;
• analyzing the pulse height;
• and
• determining whether the patient is in a specific physiological condition based on a result of the analysis,
• wherein the step of analyzing includes the step of:
• calculating for every regular time interval a statistical index which represents characteristics of the pulse height over the time interval, and
• wherein the step of determining includes using the statistical index.

A method for detecting a physiological condition of a patient comprising:

• detecting pulse waves from the body of the patient;
• calculating a pulse height of each of the pulse waves;
• analyzing the pulse height;
• and
• determining whether the patient is in a specific physiological condition based on a result of the analysis,
• wherein the step of analyzing includes the steps of:
• creating a baseline of the pulse waves by connecting middle points of the pulse height;
• and
• calculating for every regular time interval a statistical index which represents characteristics of the baseline over the time interval, and
• wherein the step of determining includes using the statistical index.

A method for detecting a sleep condition of a patient comprising the steps of:

• emitting light into the body of the patient;
• detecting pulse waves from the sleeping body of the patient from light reflected by the body of the patient;
• creating an envelope of the pulse waves by connecting one of tops and bottoms of the pulse waves;
• determining that the patient is in non-REM sleep if the envelope fluctuates regularly;
• and
• determining that the patient is in REM sleep if the envelope fluctuates irregularly.

A method for detecting a sleep condition of a patient comprising the steps of:

• detecting pulse waves from the sleeping body of the patient;
• calculating a pulse height of each of the pulse waves;
• determining that the patient is in non-REM sleep if the pulse height fluctuates regularly;
• and
• determining that the patient is in REM sleep if the pulse height fluctuates irregularly.

A method for detecting a sleep condition of a patient comprising the steps of:

• detecting pulse waves from the sleeping body of the patient;
• calculating a pulse height of each of the pulse waves;
• creating a baseline of the pulse waves by connecting middle points of the pulse height;
• determining that the patient is in non-REM sleep if the baseline fluctuates regularly;
• and
• determining that the patient is in REM sleep if the baseline fluctuates irregularly.

A method for diagnosing whether a sleeping patient has sleep apnea syndrome comprising the steps of:

• detecting pulse waves from the sleeping body of the patient;
• analyzing the pulse waves;
• and
• determining whether the patient has sleep apnea syndrome based on a result of the analysis.

An apparatus for detecting a physiological condition of a patient comprising:

• a light emitter for emitting light into the body of the patient;
• a pulse sensor for detecting light reflected by the body of the patient and therefore detecting pulse waves from the body of the patient;
• a drive circuit for driving the pulse sensor;
• a data processing unit for executing a program for creating and analyzing an envelope of the pulse waves and detecting a physiological condition based on a result of the analysis;
• and
• a display unit for displaying a result of the detection.

An apparatus for detecting a physiological condition of a sleeping patient comprising:

• a pulse sensor for detecting pulse waves from the patient body, wherein the pulse waves are detected from the sleeping patient;
• a drive circuit for driving the pulse sensor;
• a data processing unit for executing a program for creating and analyzing an envelope of the pulse waves and detecting a physiological condition based on a result of the analysis, wherein the data processing unit executes the program for detecting a respiratory condition of the patient based on the result of the analysis;
• and
• a display unit for displaying a result of the detection.