Method and apparatus to detect and monitor the frequency of obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting and monitoring obstructive sleep apnea. The apparatus includes an intracardiac impedance sensor to measure intracardiac impedance, a movement sensor to measure an amount of movement of a patient, and a controller operatively coupled to said intracardiac impedance sensor and said movement sensor, said controller adapted to receive at least one of an intracardiac impedance and the amount of movement of the patient and detect obstructive sleep apnea based upon said intracardiac impedance and said movement.

Description

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention[0002] This invention relates generally to implantable medical devices, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus to automatically detect and monitor the frequency of obstructive sleep apnea.[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art[0004] Although the function of sleep is not well understood, one consequence of an inadequate quantity or poor quality of sleep is an inability to maintain adequate wakefulness. The amount of sleep an individual needs is thought to be neurologically determined and is generally stable over time. Among other factors, an insufficient amount of sleep (i.e., quantity of sleep) or a disruption of sleep continuity (i.e., quality of sleep) will result in increased daytime sleepiness. Increased sleepiness in a person may cause a plethora of problems to that person as well as others. Increased sleepiness is a major cause of accidents because people who are sleepy are generally not fully aware of their surroundings. Additionall...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Although the function of sleep is not well understood, one consequence of an inadequate quantity or poor quality of sleep is an inability to maintain adequate wakefulness.

Among other factors, an insufficient amount of sleep (i.e., quantity of sleep) or a disruption of sleep continuity (i.e., quality of sleep) will result in increased daytime sleepiness.

Increased sleepiness in a person may cause a plethora of problems to that person as well as others.

Increased sleepiness is a major cause of accidents because people who are sleepy are generally not fully aware of their surroundings.

Additionally, because of this decreased awareness, a person who does not receive the adequate quantity and quality of sleep at night may also be prone to decreased efficiency at home and at work.

A sleepy person may also require frequent naps during the day to recuperate, thereby reducing productivity in the office as well as in the chores of daily life.

However, many people have medical conditions that prevent them from receiving a good night's rest.

Partial obstruction of the passageways may simply lead to hypopnea.

Prolonged obstruction of the passageways, however, may lead to nocturnal arousals.

As a result, the pharynx may during sleep, leading to obstructive apnea.

This anatomy may predispose the throat to easily collapse.

A badly deviated nasal septum or other nasal obstruction can also worsen OSA because it limits the ability to breathe through the nose.

Overweight individuals are also at high risk for OSA.

OSA may cause a variety of medical and other problems among patients.

Although such nocturnal arousals may last only a few seconds, they prevent a person from reaching the deep stages of sleep, which the body generally needs to rest and replenish its strength.

As a result, patients with OSA may not receive a restful sleep because of multiple nocturnal arousals.

Furthermore, multiple arousals with sleep fragmentation are likely to cause excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue, cognitive impairment, depression, headaches, chest pain, and diminished sexual drive.

However, nocturnal polysomnography is generally expensive and time-consuming.

Furthermore, many patients experience the symptoms of OSA (e.g., nocturnal arousals, snoring) while they are asleep, and therefore, never recognize that they may have a sleeping disorder.

As a result, many patients with OSA may not seek proper diagnosis or treatment of their sleeping disorder from a doctor or other qualified sleep specialist.

Even if a patient is diagnosed with OSA, frequent laboratory monitoring of the patient is generally not feasible due to the expense and time involved in a nocturnal polysomnography.

Today's state-of-the-art implantable medical devices are vastly more sophisticated and complex than early ones, capable of performing significantly more complex tasks.

Many patients who use implantable medical devices may be at risk for OSA.

As mentioned, nocturnal polysomnography may be an expensive and time-consuming procedure.

Furthermore, many patients may not recognize that they have symptoms relating to OSA, such that they would seek diagnosis and treatment for the disorder.

Nocturnal polysomnography is generally an infrequent procedure that does not provide long term monitoring of the patient's condition after he has been diagnosed.

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