Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a general breathing event and for anticipating an onset of an obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) event. The method for detecting a general breathing event includes receiving a plurality of signals from at least one microphone. The method also includes determining a one-sided power spectral density from the received signals. The method further includes distinguishing each received signal as either a breath signal or a background noise signal. The method still further includes calculating a breath signature by processing each breath signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a general breathing event and for anticipating an onset of an obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) event. The method for detecting a general breathing event includes receiving a plurality of signals from at least one microphone. The method also includes determining a one-sided power spectral density from the received signals. The method further includes distinguishing each received signal as either a breath signal or a background noise signal. The method still further includes calculating a breath signature by processing each breath signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for causing a conditioned reflex in a person. The apparatus includes a detector configured to detect a physiological condition of the person, the physiological condition associated with an onset of a sleep apnea event. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to transmit a stimulus to the person upon a detection of the physiological condition. The controller is also configured to determine if the physiological condition is still occurring. The controller is further configured, upon a determination that the physiological condition is still occurring, to repeat the transmitting and determining steps.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for treating obstructive sleep apnea by terminating an obstructive sleep apnea event before the cessation of breathing occurs. The system comprises one or more microphones capable of detecting breathing sounds within an airway of a person. The microphones generate signals representative of the breathing sounds and send the signals to a controller. The controller uses digital signal processing to identify at least one signal pattern that is associated with a breathing pattern of the person that occurs at the onset of an obstructive sleep apnea event. When the controller detects such a signal pattern, the controller sends an alarm signal to a stimulus generator that creates a stimulus to cause the sleeping person to move in a manner to terminate the obstructive sleep apnea event before cessation of breathing occurs. The obstructive sleep apnea event is terminated without waking the sleeping person.