Solutions are provided for immediate and precise diagnosis of partial obstruction in children and adults and for detection of potentially preventable events of accidental suffocation and strangulation and for the diagnosis of high upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) or partial airway obstruction during sleep in adults. The solutions identify pathognomonic indices for partial obstruction by utilizing noninvasive miniature sensors for monitoring the breath dynamics.

Solutions are provided for immediate and precise diagnosis of partial obstruction in children and adults and for detection of potentially preventable events of accidental suffocation and strangulation and for the diagnosis of high upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) or partial airway obstruction during sleep in adults. The solutions identify pathognomonic indices for partial obstruction by utilizing noninvasive miniature sensors for monitoring the breath dynamics.

Method and system for monitoring an internal electrical impedance of a biological object including Internal Thoracic Impedance (ITI) comprising placing two arrays of electrodes on opposite sides of the biological object, wherein each of said two arrays comprise three equally spaced electrodes; imposing an alternating electrical current between pairs of the electrodes and obtaining voltage signals representative of a voltage drop thereon, calculating two values of internal electrical impedance of the biological object corresponding to the uttermost electrodes of said two arrays of electrodes placed on the opposite sides of the biological object.

Respiratory variables are estimated on a per-breath basis from airway pressure and flow data acquired by airway pressure and flow sensors (20, 22). A breath detector (28) detects a breath interval. A per-breath respiratory variables estimator (30) fits the airway pressure and flow data over the detected breath interval to an equation of motion of the lungs relating airway pressure, airway flow, and a single-breath parameterized respiratory muscle pressure profile (40, 42) to generate optimized parameter values for the single-breath parameterized respiratory muscle pressure profile. Respiratory muscle pressure is estimated as a function of time over the detected breath interval as the single-breath parameterized respiratory muscle pressure profile with the optimized parameter values, and may for example be displayed as a trend line on a display device (26, 36) or integrated (32) to generate Work of Breathing (WoB) for use in adjusting settings of a ventilator (10).

Respiratory variables are estimated on a per-breath basis from airway pressure and flow data acquired by airway pressure and flow sensors (20, 22). A breath detector (28) detects a breath interval. A per-breath respiratory variables estimator (30) fits the airway pressure and flow data over the detected breath interval to an equation of motion of the lungs relating airway pressure, airway flow, and a single-breath parameterized respiratory muscle pressure profile (40, 42) to generate optimized parameter values for the single-breath parameterized respiratory muscle pressure profile. Respiratory muscle pressure is estimated as a function of time over the detected breath interval as the single-breath parameterized respiratory muscle pressure profile with the optimized parameter values, and may for example be displayed as a trend line on a display device (26, 36) or integrated (32) to generate Work of Breathing (WoB) for use in adjusting settings of a ventilator (10).

In respiratory monitoring, a breathing cycle detector (44) detects a breath interval in airway pressure and/or flow data. A respiratory parameters estimator and validator (30) asynchronously fits the airway pressure and airway flow data to an equation of motion of the lungs relating airway pressure and airway flow to generate asynchronously estimated respiratory parameters for the breath interval, using a sliding time window that is not synchronized with the breath interval. The asynchronously estimated respiratory parameters for the breath interval are validated using at least one physiological plausibility criterion defined with respect to the breath interval. Responsive to failure of the validation, the airway pressure and airway flow data are synchronously fitted to the equation of motion of the lungs to generate synchronously estimated respiratory parameters for the breath interval. The synchronous fitting is performed in a time window aligned with the breath interval.

In respiratory monitoring, a breathing cycle detector (44) detects a breath interval in airway pressure and/or flow data. A respiratory parameters estimator and validator (30) asynchronously fits the airway pressure and airway flow data to an equation of motion of the lungs relating airway pressure and airway flow to generate asynchronously estimated respiratory parameters for the breath interval, using a sliding time window that is not synchronized with the breath interval. The asynchronously estimated respiratory parameters for the breath interval are validated using at least one physiological plausibility criterion defined with respect to the breath interval. Responsive to failure of the validation, the airway pressure and airway flow data are synchronously fitted to the equation of motion of the lungs to generate synchronously estimated respiratory parameters for the breath interval. The synchronous fitting is performed in a time window aligned with the breath interval.

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.

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.

An apparatus for patient's lung function testing using forced oscillation technique is described. The apparatus includes a sub-woofer configured to generate a pressure wave. The apparatus further includes a waveguide configured to direct the generated pressure wave to be introduced into airflow towards the patient's lung. The apparatus includes a pressure transducer configured to measure a change in pressure of the airflow and one or more flow transducers configured to measure a change in flowrate of the airflow, in response to the pressure wave introduced into the airflow. The apparatus includes a computing unit configured to determine a mechanical impedance of the patient's lung based on the measured change in pressure and flowrate of the airflow.