Implantable Device Detecting Sleep Apnea via Sinus Tachycardia
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea, such as nocturnal polysomnography, are expensive, time-consuming, and do not provide long-term monitoring, leading to underdiagnosis and undertreatment of the condition, especially in patients with implantable medical devices who require more efficient and continuous health monitoring.
Innovation Solution
An implantable medical device equipped with sensors to detect sinus tachycardia and measure atrial-ventricular conduction, allowing for the detection and monitoring of obstructive sleep apnea without the need for nocturnal polysomnography, using a combination of intracardiac impedance, intrathoracic impedance, movement, and electrical sensors to gather and process data for diagnosis and therapy efficacy assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If nocturnal polysomnography is used to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but cost and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential diagnostic function from complex polysomnography by using an implantable device that selectively monitors specific physiological parameters (heart rate, rhythm, conduction intervals) to detect sleep apnea events, eliminating the need for full polysomnography while maintaining diagnostic accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The implantable device performs self-monitoring of cardiac parameters continuously during sleep, automatically detecting sleep apnea events without requiring external monitoring equipment or personnel, thereby reducing time consumption and enabling long-term monitoring
2Measurement precision
If nocturnal polysomnography is used for diagnosis, then diagnostic capability is improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an implantable device with relatively simple sensors and processing that can be deployed at lower cost than polysomnography equipment, accepting that the device serves its diagnostic purpose effectively without requiring expensive external monitoring infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary diagnostic functionality from expensive polysomnography systems, using selective monitoring of cardiac parameters through implantable sensors to achieve accurate sleep apnea detection at reduced cost
3Measurement precision
If traditional monitoring methods are used, then diagnostic capability is maintained, but long-term monitoring capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable device autonomously monitors cardiac parameters continuously over extended periods, storing data locally and enabling long-term tracking of sleep apnea events without requiring external monitoring infrastructure, thereby achieving both diagnostic accuracy and extended monitoring duration
Solution Approach 2:
The device provides continuous monitoring of cardiac parameters during sleep and potentially during wakeful periods, maintaining uninterrupted diagnostic capability over long durations, which is essential for capturing intermittent sleep apnea events and assessing therapy efficacy
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an apparatus for detecting and monitoring obstructive sleep apnea. The apparatus measures sinus tachycardia and a change in the atrial-ventricular conduction, and includes a controller for receiving the measurement of the sinus tachycardia and the change in the atrial-ventricular conduction to detect obstructive sleep apnea based upon the sinus tachycardia and the change in the atrial-ventricular conduction.