Integrated diagnostic and therapeutic system and method for improving treatment of subject with complex and central sleep apnea

A titration system including a positive airway pressure device comprising:

• a data acquisition system comprising at least a pulse oximeter and a respiratory effort belt, each with an electrical signal for application to a patient, and a data acquisition box comprising at least one first electronic component for receiving the signals, and at least one second electronic component for re-transmitting the electrical signal or transmitting a processed signal based at least in part on the electrical signals from the pulse oximeter and the respiratory effort belt, the at least one first electronic component and the at least one second electronic component being from a same or separate electronic modules;
• and
• a PAP device separate from the data acquisition system for treating a patient's sleep apnea, the PAP device comprising an electrical connection for receiving the signals or processed signal transmitted from the data acquisition system, and a controller for titrating or modifying a patient's treatment with the PAP device based on diagnostic central or complex sleep apneas identified from the signal or processed signal;
• wherein the data acquisition system is used for a limited period of time to program or titrate the PAP device and is used to train the PAP device during titration so the PAP device correlates more robust or rich signal data collected with the data acquisition system with a more limited sensor data from the PAP device using the controller on the PAP device.

A method for determining between central apneas and obstructive apneas comprising the steps of:

• applying a PAP device comprising a processing unit to a patient;
• applying a respiratory effort belt, capable of outputting an electrical signal, to the patient;
• detecting respiratory effort of the patient with the respiratory effort belt,
• transmitting the electrical signal from the respiratory effort belt to the processing unit on the PAP device;
• and
• analyzing the electrical signal from said respiratory effort belt with the processing unit on the PAP device to identify central and/or complex sleep apneas, differentiating those central apneas from obstructive apneas and hypopneas, and modify a treatment with the PAP device based at least in part on the identified central and/or complex sleep apneas.