Wearable Apnea Detection and Stimulation System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for sleep apnea, such as Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) systems and surgical interventions, are often uncomfortable, costly, and have low adherence rates due to discomfort, high costs, and associated risks, while existing detection methods may not accurately detect sleep apnea events in real-time or effectively terminate episodes without causing sleep disruption.

Innovation Solution

A wearable apparatus using a microphone and plethysmograph to detect respiratory patterns, employing digital signal processing and a fuzzy control system to identify sleep apnea events and provide stimulation to initiate inhalation without causing cortical arousal, thus terminating events within seconds and minimizing hypoxia and hypercapnia.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) systems are used to treat sleep apnea, then the effectiveness in maintaining airway patency is improved, but patient comfort and adherence deteriorate due to discomfort, cost, and associated risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness in maintaining airway patencyVSAvoidpatient comfort and adherence

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the core therapeutic function (airway stimulation) from the complex PAP system infrastructure. Instead of using continuous positive airway pressure requiring masks and compressors, the invention uses isolated electrical stimulation of respiratory muscles to achieve airway patency, eliminating the uncomfortable and costly PAP apparatus while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical PAP system (compressors, masks, continuous pressure delivery) with an electrical stimulation system. The electrical signals directly stimulate respiratory muscles to maintain airway opening, substituting mechanical pressure application with neuroelectrical control of muscle activity, thereby improving patient comfort and adherence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If existing detection methods are used to identify sleep apnea events, then detection capability is provided, but real-time accuracy and effectiveness in terminating episodes without sleep disruption deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidreal-time accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous real-time monitoring of respiratory parameters with immediate feedback control. The system detects apnea events as they occur and automatically delivers stimulation signals to terminate the episode, creating a closed-loop system that ensures real-time accuracy and prevents sleep disruption through prompt intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies stimulation signals at the precise moment apnea detection occurs, before significant hypoxia or hypercapnia develops. This preliminary action prevents the full progression of the apnea event and its associated physiological disturbances, achieving accurate real-time termination without waiting for confirmatory measurements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If stimulation is provided to initiate inhalation during sleep apnea, then the termination of apnea events is improved, but cortical arousal and sleep disruption may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetermination of apnea eventsVSAvoidcortical arousal and sleep disruption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by delivering stimulation signals of sufficient intensity to initiate inhalation and terminate apnea, but calibrated to avoid excessive stimulation that would cause cortical arousal. The system uses minimal effective dosing to achieve the therapeutic goal of ending the apnea event while preserving sleep continuity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the respiratory muscle itself as an intermediary between the stimulation signal and the therapeutic effect. By stimulating the muscle to contract and open the airway, the system achieves apnea termination through a natural physiological pathway rather than direct cortical activation, thereby avoiding sleep disruption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11813078B2Device to detect and treat apneas and hypopnea

Publication Date: 2023.11.14 WHISPERSOM CORP

AI summary

A method and apparatus for the treatment of Sleep Apnea events and Hypopnea episodes wherein one embodiment comprises a wearable, belt like apparatus containing a microphone and a plethysmograph. The microphone and plethysmograph generate signals that are representative of physiological aspects of respiration, and the signals are transferred to an imbedded computer. The embedded computer extracts the sound of breathing and the sound of the heart beat by Digital Signal Processing techniques. The embedded computer has elements for determining when respiration parameters falls out of defined boundaries for said respiration parameters. This exemplary method provides real-time detection of the onset of a Sleep Apnea event or Hypopnea episode and supplies stimulation signals upon the determination of a Sleep Apnea event or Hypopnea episode to initiate an inhalation. In one embodiment, the stimulus is applied to the patient by a cutaneous rumble effects actuator and/or audio effects broadcasting.