Method and apparatus for detecting the respiratory activity of a person

A device for detecting a person's breathing activity and/or physiological condition, comprising:

• a flow sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of breathing gas flow over at least two breathing cycles;
• and
• at least one processor configured to:
• designate a limited portion of the first signal as a reference signal,
• compare the reference signal with at least a portion of the first signal, and
• generate, based on the comparison, an output signal indicative of the breathing activity and/or the physiological condition of the person,
• wherein the portion of the first signal to which the reference signal is compared occurs prior to a time at which the reference signal is designated.

A device for detecting a person's breathing activity and/or physiological condition, comprising:

• a flow sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of breathing gas flow over at least two breathing cycles;
• and
• at least one processor configured to:
• monitor a second signal indicative of an amount of pressure provided to the person via a flow generator,
• designate a limited portion of the first signal as a reference signal,
• compare the reference signal with at least a portion of the first signal,
• generate, based on the comparison, an output signal indicative of the breathing activity and/or the physiological condition of the person, and
• mathematically correlate the reference signal with the first signal as the comparison,
• wherein the mathematical correlation results in values between −1 and 1.

A method for detecting a person's breathing activity and/or physiological condition, comprising:

• generating a first signal indicative of breathing gas flow over at least two breathing cycles;
• designating a limited portion of the first signal as a reference signal;
• comparing the reference signal with at least a portion of the first signal;
• and
• generating, based on the comparison, an output signal indicative of the breathing activity and/or the physiological condition of the person,
• wherein the comparing comprises mathematically correlating the reference signal with the first signal, and
• wherein the mathematical correlation results in values between −1 and 1.

A method for detecting a person's breathing activity and/or physiological condition, the method comprising:

• generating a first signal indicative of breathing gas flow over at least two breathing cycles;
• monitoring a second signal indicative of an amount of pressure provided to the person via a flow generator;
• designating a limited portion of the first signal as a reference signal;
• comparing the reference signal with at least a portion of the first signal;
• and
• generating, based on the comparison, an output signal indicative of the breathing activity and/or the physiological condition of the person,
• wherein the mathematically comparing comprises mathematically correlating the reference signal with the first signal, and
• wherein the mathematical correlation results in values between −1 and 1.