Awake OSA Diagnosis via Acoustic Signal Frequency Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are inefficient and uncomfortable, requiring patients to be asleep in a sleep laboratory, and existing awake-testing methods provide unreliable results due to muscle tension affecting signal processing.
Innovation Solution
A processor-based apparatus that analyzes breathing signals in specific frequency bands while the patient is awake, using Fast Fourier Transform to determine parameters indicative of OSA, allowing for comfortable and efficient diagnosis outside a laboratory setting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If polysomnography is used to diagnose OSA, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but patient comfort and convenience deteriorate due to multiple sensors and devices required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential diagnostic function from complex polysomnography by using a single microphone to capture snoring sounds, eliminating the need for multiple sensors and devices while maintaining diagnostic capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical sensor-based polysomnography system with an acoustic field-based detection system using a microphone to analyze snoring sounds for OSA diagnosis
2Measurement precision
If manual inspection of polysomnography data is performed, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic analysis of snoring sounds using signal processing algorithms that autonomously identify OSA characteristics without requiring manual physician inspection of data
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual data inspection with automated computational analysis of acoustic signals, substituting human effort with algorithmic processing to reduce time consumption
3Ease of operation
If awake patient testing is performed, then patient comfort and accessibility are improved, but measurement reliability deteriorates due to muscle tension affecting signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical breathing movement detection with acoustic snoring sound analysis, which remains reliable during awake testing since snoring sounds can still be generated despite muscle tension
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from mechanical breathing movements to acoustic snoring sound characteristics, allowing reliable OSA assessment in awake patients where muscle tension prevents accurate mechanical measurement
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables fast, cost-effective, and comfortable OSA testing by identifying abnormalities in the upper airway during normal breathing, providing reliable indicators of OSA presence and severity without the need for extensive data scanning.
Implementation Method 1
convert the signals into the frequency domain and determine a value for at least one parameter based on an analysis of the frequency-domain converted signals in one or more frequency bands covering frequencies below 100 Hz
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided an apparatus for use in diagnosing the presence of obstructive sleep apnea in a patient, the apparatus comprising a processor configured to receive signals representing measurements of a patient's breathing obtained during a plurality o breathing cycles by the patient while the patient is awake, convert the signals into the frequency domain and to determine a value for at least one parameter based on an analysis of the frequency-domain converted signals in one or more frequency bands covering frequencies below 100 Hz.