Abstract: A method and system for characterizing breathing in an organism are disclosed. The method acquires data values indicative of periodic respiratory function, for example, tracheal sound envelope data acquired during a period of time associated with a sleep period of the organism. The method defines a first subset of data values among the data values and a second subset of data values among the data values. Cross-correlating the first and second subsets of data values yields a first result vector which is truncated, normalized, and output. These steps are optionally repeated for other subsets of data. From the resulting output, the organism's average respiratory rate may be determined. In addition, periods of time corresponding to sleep, wakefulness, rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep, and non-REM sleep may be identified. The time it takes the organism to fall asleep may also be determined.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for managing a patient having a sleep disorder, e.g. sleep apnea, snoring, sleep bruxism, upper airway resistance syndrome, etc. The method comprises monitoring physiological information from the patient, converting the physiological information to digital data, storing the digital data in a digital memory, identifying and characterizing epochs based on the digital data, and storing the identifying and characterizing information of the epochs in a digital memory. The method further comprises organizing the epochs according to an organization function that considers at least characterization information of the epochs, selecting an epoch based on the organizing of the epochs, and generating sound derived from the stored digital data associated with the selected epoch such that the patient hears the sound. In a specific embodiment, the physiological information monitored may include sound, e.g. respiratory sound emanating from the trachea, and/or tooth-grinding sounds.

Abstract: A system for recording one or more parameters of a patient, comprising a peri-tracheal microphone, a memory, a controller, a power source, and a housing, is disclosed. The microphone provides a signal indicative of at least quiet breathing of the patient. The memory stores information derived from the signal indicative of at least quiet breathing of the patient. The controller writes the information into the memory. The power source supplies electrical energy to at least one of the microphone, the memory, or the controller. The housing contains one or more of the controller or the memory or the power source, and is coupled to a non-peri-tracheal portion of the patient's body such that the housing moves substantially in concert with said non-peri-tracheal portion of the body. Information stored in the memory may be assessed to characterize the state of the patient, possibly including aspects of breathing while awake or asleep.

Abstract: A method for improved visualization of information related to the physiology of a sleeping patient is disclosed. Physiological information from the patient is obtained by a device, converted to digital format, and transformed into physiological data of two or more types. Physiological data of two or more types are combined into a compact graphical display representing data from all physiological data types.

Abstract: A method for improved visualization of information related to the physiology of a sleeping patient is disclosed. Physiological information from the patient is obtained by a device, converted to digital format, and processed to yield epochs of time based on whether the patient was in a physiologically desirable or undesirable state. The duration of epochs is plotted as a series of rectangles and a quality-of-sleep score is calculated based on the epoch lengths.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for treating a mammalian patient having obstructive sleep disordered breathing, e.g., sleep apnea. The system has a set of appliances including a first appliance being adapted to displace a mandible of the patient by a first predetermined geometry relative to a maxilla of the patient. The set also includes at least a second appliance adapted to displace the mandible of the patient by a second predetermined geometry relative to the maxilla of the patient. In a specific embodiment, the first predetermined geometry is substantially different from the second predetermined geometry. Preferably, either one of the first appliance or at least the second appliance is worn by the patient based upon a predetermined treatment plan that includes one or more provisions for wearing at least the first and the second appliances.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the evaluation of sleep disorders is disclosed. Two sensors are used to diagnose and usefully characterize abnormal sleep breathing, a sensor of tracheal vibration, and a sensor of axial body position. The two sensors are attached to the patient in locations substantially adjacent to one another. In a preferred embodiment, these two sensors can be physically combined into a single unit, thereby increasing further the simplicity and reliability of attaching the sensors to the patient. The unit is applied to a patient near a tracheal segment, preferably at a suprasternal notch location. The position sensor has two axes of sensitivity that are at angles to each other so that the sensor may determine which of four positions it is in relative to gravity. When attached to the patient, the sensor is oriented so that it may be determined whether the patient is oriented in a supine, prone, left lateral decubitus, or right lateral decubitus position.