Methods, systems, and devices for assessing breathing disorders such as apneas and hypopneas are provided. An airflow monitoring device can be positioned in thermal communication with respiratory airflow (nasal and/or oral airflow). The airflow monitoring device can include a thermistor configured to measure heating and cooling cycles of respiratory airflow and determine respiratory airflow velocity from analysis of thermistor cooling. This velocity, alone or in combination with other physiological parameters, such as blood oxygen saturation, respiration effort, heart rate, body movement, etc. can be employed to assess sleep disorders.

Generally described, the present disclosure relates to measuring core body temperature through respiratory mechanisms. The disclosed techniques can use surface temperature, exhaled air, perfusion information, blood oxygen saturation, respiration rate, circadian rhythms, and the like to obtain an accurate reading of the body's core temperature. Example devices are disclosed for obtaining core temperature from exhaled air and useful mechanisms for presenting this information to a user are also disclosed, including user interfaces and alarm mechanisms. Stereo thermometry methods may also be used to estimate core body temperature. This information can be used to track conditions of a subject, including fever status and comfortability, to ensure full consideration of a subject's well-being.

A system for delivering an agent to be taken up by a user's lungs and for simultaneously monitoring the user's lung health includes an inhalant-flow detection system and a computer-executable medium. The inhalant-flow detection system includes a flow sensor arranged to intercept a portion of inhalant flowing through the system and to provide detection signals regarding inhalant speed as a function of time. The computer-executable medium includes non-transient computer code, which when executed on a computer, causes the computer to receive the detection signals from the flow sensor, receive information about a quantity and type of agent provided by the agent delivery device for the inhalant during the inhalation time period, and calculate a delivered dose of the agent based on at least the detection signals received, the information received about the quantity and type of agent, and information concerning physiology of the user.

A method for treating episodes of apnoea and/or hypopnea is provided. The method has the steps of: a) detecting or predicting an episode of apnoea and/or hypopnea by means of at least one sensor selected from a respiratory pressure sensor, a pulse oximeter, an acoustic sensor and/or a respiratory temperature sensor; and b) emitting an electrical signal by means of an electrical actuator connected to at least one submental nerve and/or muscle, the electrical signal having a bipolar waveform and a frequency between 5 and 100 Hz.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for comparing photoplethysmography (PPG) signals from an individual with signals from a secondary respiration sensor secured to the individual to determine whether effective respiration has occurred or whether the individual has apnea, hypopnea, or other respiratory distress.

A method for predicting an arousal level used by a computer of an arousal level prediction apparatus that predicts an arousal level of a user includes obtaining current biological information regarding the user detected by a first sensor, calculating a current arousal level of the user on the basis of the current biological information, obtaining current environment information indicating a current environment around the user detected by a second sensor, predicting a future arousal level, which is an arousal level a certain period of time later, on the basis of the current arousal level and the current environment information, and (i) issuing a notification to the user or (ii) controlling another device, on the basis of the future arousal level.

Systems for calculating extent of congestive heart failure (CHF) and/or identifying exacerbation of CHF. In one embodiment, a system includes smartglasses configured to be worn on a user's head, and an inward-facing camera and a sensor, both physically coupled to the smartglasses. The inward-facing camera is mounted more than 5 mm away from the head and captures images of an area comprising skin on the user's head, which is larger than 4 cm{circumflex over ()}2. The sensor measures a signal indicative of a respiration rate of the user (respiration signal). The system also includes a computer that calculates the extent of CHF based on: a facial blood flow pattern recognizable in the images, and respiration rate recognizable in the respiration signal.

A medical device, for example, an anesthesia apparatus or ventilator, including a hot wire sensor (10); a hot wire sensor (10) and a hot wire module (14) for a hot wire sensor (10) are provided. A first hot wire and a second hot wire (26, 28), namely, a measuring wire (26) and a compensation wire (28), are connectable to the hot wire sensor (10), for example, in the form of a hot wire module (14), in an electrically conductive manner. A first contact pair (52, 54) is associated with the measuring wire (26) for contacting same and a second contact pair (56, 58) is associated with the compensation wire (28) for contacting same. The contacts of the second contact pair (56, 58) are configured as leading contacts in relation to at least one of the contacts of the first contact pair (52, 54).

An electrode lead comprises an electrically insulative cuff body and at least three axially aligned electrode contacts circumferentially disposed along the inner surface of the cuff body when in the furled state. The electrode contacts may be circumferentially disposed around a nerve, and an electrical pulse train may be delivered to the electrode contacts thereby stimulating the nerve to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The electrical pulse train may be one that pre-conditions peripherally located nerve fascicles to not be stimulated, while stimulating centrally located nerve fascicles. A feedback mechanism can be used to titrate electrode contacts and electrical pulse train to the patient. A sensor that is affixed to the case of a neurostimulator can be used to measure physiological artifacts of respiration, and a motion detector can be used to sense tapping of the neurostimulator to toggle the neurostimulator between an ON position and an OFF position.

A measurement device for a human respiratory system function comprises a respiration measurement device (20). The respiration measurement device (20) receives a respiratory air flow and senses the respiratory air flow to generate a set of sensing signals, and performs calculation according to the sensing signals to generate a human respiratory system parameter, the sensing signals comprising at least an absolute pressure of the respiratory air flow. The respiration measurement device (20) comprises a respiration measurement channel (21). The absolute pressure generated by a respiratory air flow of a user in the respiration measurement channel (21) that is in a single-end sealed state is measured. The absolute pressure corresponds to the pressure in the lung of the user.