Patent ID: 7246619
Filing Date: 2007-07-24
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting a snore in a patient comprising the steps of: (a) providing a pressure support system including a pressure sensor; (b) monitoring a pressure within the pressure support system indicative of a pressure at an airway of a patient and outputting a pressure signal indicative of the pressure; (c) filtering the pressure signal to obtain a filtered pressure signal that contains frequencies in a specified frequency range; (d) generating a theshold value; (e) comparing the filtered pressure signal to the threshold value; (f) detecting a first vibration from a plurality of vibrations defining a single snore event that occurs during respiratory cycle of such a patient responsive to the filtered pressure signal crossing the threshold value; (g) determining a benchmark period for the first vibration; (h) detecting a second vibration from the plurality of vibrations defining the single snore event when a second, subsequent vibration in the filtered pressure signal exceeds the threshold value; (i) determining a second period for the second, subsequent vibration; (j) comparing the second period to the benchmark period to determine if the periods are consistent; and (k) declaring a snore responsive to the second period being consistent with the benchmark period.