Patent ID: 6666830
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An apparatus for detecting the onset of an obstructive sleep apnea event before cessation of breathing occurs, said apparatus comprising:at least one microphone adapted to be acoustically associated with a person, wherein said microphone detects breathing sounds within an airway of said person and generates signals representative of said breathing sounds; and a controller coupled to said at least one microphone that receives said signals, wherein said controller identifies within said signals at least one signal pattern that is associated with a breathing pattern of said person that occurs at the onset of an obstructive sleep apnea event before cessation of breathing occurs; wherein said controller comprises software that analyzes said signals to identify within said signals at least one signal pattern that is associated with a breathing pattern of said person that occurs at the onset of an obstructive sleep apnea event before cessation of breathing occurs wherein said software analyzes said signals using Fast Fourier Transform analysis.