Sleep Solutions, Inc.

Local Silence, Inc.

Ahmet Karakasoglu

Anthony F Matouk

Karl S Johnson

Dieter Enzmann

Chin N Hung

George D Hermann

Lawrence C Grotte

John Scott Adams

James S Abbott

Apparatus for detecting a breath pattern of a breathing patient having lungs and a nose and mouth in communication with the lungs and breathing through the nose and/or mouth and creating an airflow into and out of the lungs. The apparatus comprises a sensor in close proximity to the face of the patient for detecting said airflow to provide a first channel of airflow information in an analog format. An analog-to-digital converter is provided for converting the first channel of airflow information in an analog format to a first channel of airflow information in a digital format. A filter is provided for filtering the airflow information in a digital format in the first channel of information to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the signal to provide filtered airflow information. An estimated volume airflow estimator operates on the filtered airflow information for estimating the amount of air volume inhaled and exhaled by the patient to provide a signal representing the estimated volume of air. A wavelet transform feature extractor is provided for obtaining a continuous-time wavelet transform of the estimated volume of air for ascertaining whether a breathing pattern has been recognized and providing a breathing pattern signal. A neural network pattern recognizer operates on the breathing pattern signal to ascertain when disordered breathing is occurring and provides a disordered breathing signal. A pattern classifier operates on the disordered breathing signal to separate the disordered breathing into apnea and hypopnea categories.

Obstructive sleep apnea detection apparatus and method using pattern recognition

Apparatus for measuring respiratory air flow from the nostrils of the nose and/or the mouth of a patient comprising a device positioned in the vicinity of the nose and/or mouth of the patient and having at least one acoustic duct receiving respiratory air flow from the patient. A sensor is exposed to the acoustic duct and senses turbulence and/or vibration and/or sound in the air flow in the acoustic duct to provide an electric output signal. The electrical signal is digitally processed to provide a real-time signal indicative of breathing of the patient.

Apparatus and method for breath monitoring

A sleep monitoring apparatus adapted to be mounted on a human head of a patient having a front face and first and second sides with the front face having a mouth, a nose with nostrils therein and first and second eyes and first and second ears on the first and second sides comprising a movable headpiece adapted to be mounted on the head and engages the head above the eyes. An acoustical device is provided which is adapted to be positioned on the face in the vicinity of the nose and/or mouth of the patient and having at least one acoustic duct from receiving respiratory airflow from the patient. A sensor which is exposed to the acoustic duct is provided for sensing turbulence and/or pressure changes in the respiratory airflow in the acoustic duct and providing an electrical output. Electrical circuitry is carried by the headpiece for receiving the electrical output and for processing the electrical output to provide a real-time signal from the headpiece which is indicative of the breathing of the patient.

Multi-channel self-contained apparatus and method for diagnosis of sleep disorders

A system for attenuating noise which can be sensed by the auditory nerve comprising a microphone positioned in a first sound region for sensing noise present in the first sound region for creating a first electrical signal having a frequency and amplitude corresponding to the noise sensed in the first sound region. Circuitry is provided for processing the first electrical signal to create a second electrical signal having the same frequency but of opposite amplitude and sign of the first electrical signal. A speaker is provided for converting the second electrical signal to anti-noise for attenuation of the sensed noise in a second sound region spaced from the first sound region. A microphone is disposed in the second sound region for detecting any noise above a predetermined noise level in the second sound region to provide an error correction signal. Circuitry is provided responsive to the error correction signal to modify the second electrical signal to bring the noise in the second sound region so that it is below a predetermined noise level.

Active electronic noise suppression system and method for reducing

Sleep apnea screening and/or detection apparatus for use by a patient breathing through the nose and/or mouth and producing an air flow into and out of the lungs of the patient and creating audible sounds. It is comprised of a first microphone positioned in the vicinity of the patient's nose and mouth and out of contact therewith to pick up audible sounds created by breathing of the patient and providing a first electrical analog signal. A second microphone is provided which is positioned near the patient for picking up ambient noise in the vicinity of the patient and providing a second electrical analog signal, an active noise controller is provided for combining the first and second electrical analog signals to provide a third electrical signal for generating a fourth electrical signal providing a waveform which is closely correlated with the air flow of the patient. A classifier is provided for classifying the electrical waveform provided by the fourth electrical signal to determine when a disordered breathing event has occurred.

Sleep apnea screening and/or detecting apparatus and method

System for use by a caller and a recipient of a telephone call for suppressing environmental noise in the vicinity of a telephone comprising a telephone handset forming a part of the telephone. The telephone handset has a human voice sensor for picking up human sounds generally in one direction, and creating a first electrical signal. A speaker capable of producing substantially directional human voice sounds is provided. A second sound sensor is carried by the handset and has sound pick-up capabilities from a direction which is generally opposite said one direction for picking up external environmental noise in the vicinity of the handset and producing a second electrical signal having a frequency and amplitude. Electrical circuitry is provided for processing the second electrical signal to provide a third electrical signal of the same frequency as the second electrical signal but of opposite amplitude and sign and for combining the third electrical signal with the first electrical signal to suppress environmental noise present in the first electrical signal so that the recipient will receive an electrical signal in which the environmental noise in the vicinity of the caller has been suppressed.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Ahmet Karakasoglu