Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the stationary and ambulant detection, recording and quantitative analysis of sleep disorders, sleep-related respiratory disturbances, cardiac rhythm disturbances, myoclonia, variations in blood pressure, depth of sleep parameters, movement parameters and disorder parameters for the quality control of diagnoses. According to the invention, various sensors detect a patient's body functions which are stored in a recorder. The stored data are then transferred to a computer where they are analyzed and evaluated.

Abstract: The physiological parameters of heart rate, respiratory and snoring sounds, the degree of oxygen saturation of the blood, and the bodily position of the patient are measured and stored in coded form by means of portable apparatus. The stored data are transferred to a computer and then analyzed. The mobile apparatus comprises a detection and storage unit (2) and the following pickups: three EKG electrodes (3), one laryngeal microphone (4), an oximeter-finger sensor (5) and a position pickup (6). The apparatus permits an ambulatory diagnosis of sleep apnea which is comparable in its meaningfulness to diagnoses based on stationary sleep laboratory tests for sleep apnea.

Abstract: A speech aid for laryngectomy patients is described and comprises an electromechanical transformer with a power output stage connected upstream, a pulse generator for the production of a basic frequency, manually operated switches and electrical filters designed to vary the pulse frequency as a function of time. The power output stage in this respect comprises an electronic switch which is controlled by the basic frequency and a controlling pulse generator which switches the electronic switch off at least with temporal priority over the basic frequency.

Abstract: In a method of diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea, snoring and respiration sounds made by a patient, as well as the patient's heart rate, are recorded while the patient is sleeping. Signals indicative of snoring sounds and the time intervals therebetween are produced from the respiration sounds and recorded, and a first respiration disturbance index representing the number of intervals per hour between episodes of snoring is calculated. Signals indicative of the patient's heart rate are likewise produced and recorded, and the average heart rate is calculated. A second respiration disturbance index representing the number of episodes per hour in which the patient's heart rate remained at 90 to 109% of its average rate is calculated. A physician can then evaluate the first and second disturbance indices to determine whether obstructive apnea is indicated.Apparatus for practicing the method is also disclosed.