Abstract:
A computer-based detection method employable with a sleeping subject for aiding in the differential-character diagnosis and treatments of apneic events includes gathering heart-sound data, including S 1  data and S 2  data. A combined time-frequency-intensity (TFI) analysis, of the gathered data is performed, in a continuous manner, over a selected time period. Based on the performing and the performed TFI analysis, an output is produced which is indicative of the presence and character of any detected apneic event.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is related to treatment for sleep apnea, and specifically to diagnosis and treatment of apneic events by monitoring ECG and heart sounds. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. These episodes, called apneas, each last long enough so one or more breaths are missed, and occur repeatedly throughout sleep. There are two main forms of sleep apnea: central and obstructive. Central sleep apnea is related to a dysfunction of the autonomous nervous system, which can lead to long breathing pauses, while obstructed airway paths cause obstructive sleep apnea. The differential diagnosis of both forms of apnea is non-trivial, and multiple vital signs are recorded and analyzed to achieve high diagnostic performance. The presence and frequency of snoring episodes is one of the markers helping to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention involves a computer-based detection method employable with a sleeping subject for aiding in the differential-character diagnosis and treatments of apneic events includes gathering heart-sound data, including S 1 , S 2  and S 3  and/or S 4  data. A combined time-frequency-intensity (TFI) analysis, of portions of the gathered data is performed, in a continuous manner, over a selected time period. Based on the performing and the performed TFI analysis, an output is produced which is indicative of the presence and character of any detected apneic event. 
     This summary and objectives of the invention are provided to enable quick comprehension of the nature of the invention. A more thorough understanding of the invention may be obtained by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention in connection with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram depicting the method of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the fingerprint of snoring in heart sound recordings displayed in the time domain. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the fingerprint of snoring in heart sound recordings displayed in the time-frequency domain post-wavelet based filtering. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a trend in S 3  strength. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the variation of the first and second heart sound amplitude with respiration. 
         FIG. 6  depicts S 1  and S 2  intensity in conjunction with air flow rate. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Episodes of snoring caused by central sleep apnea may be identified using continuous, computerized heart sound analysis. This is possible because snoring sounds are artifacts in the collection of heart sounds. Snoring sounds are discrete and non-predictable occurrence events. Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the method of the invention is depicted generally at  10 . All relevant information may be obtained from a Holter device that collects ECG  12  and heart sounds  14 . Heart sounds are collected in a bandwidth above 10 Hz and below 125 Hz. Such a collection device, and the limitation of the collection to ECG and heart sounds is significantly simpler than the devices used in a sleep laboratory, and facilitates patient monitoring in a non-laboratory setting, such as the patient&#39;s home environment, rather than requiring the patient to spend time in a sleep lab. The ECG and heart sound information is computer processed,  16 , which processing includes wavelet transformation. The processed information analysis includes an analysis of whether snoring occurred (yes or no)  18 ; an analysis of the S 1  heart sound variation over time  20 ; and a hemodynamic assessment, including analysis of S 3  heart sound  22 , also referred to herein as a “fingerprint”. The latter assessment is more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,174,203 B2, granted Feb. 6, 2007 to Arand et al., for  Method and System Relating to Monitoring and Characterization a Heart Condition , and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/704,403, filed Feb. 8, 2007 by Nelson, for  Wavelet Transform and Pattern Recognition Method for Heart Sound Analysis , both of which fully are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Heart sound S 1  is indicative of respiration rate, and heart sound information distinguishes the severity of an apneic event, although nothing about the character of the event, e.g., central or obstructive. The analysis of S 1  includes analysis of Q wave onset from the ECG to determine the start of electrical heart beat activity; and, to peak of the S 1  to determine the mechanical response: a “short” response indicates efficient heart operation; a “long” response indicates a problem, which may be that breathing has stopped, i.e. an apneic event. 
     The hemodynamic assessment of heart sound S 3  relates to the heart pump function. A rise in S 3  strength, or intensity, indicates a weakened pump function, which may be the result of oxygen diminution in the heart. The trend  24  of the S 3  strength analysis is indicative of oxygen content in the heart, and a lowering oxygen content may lead to an increase in the likelihood of an undesirable cardiac event. An S 4  strength trend could also be employed to indicated reduced compliance of the heart due to ischemia, or reduced oxygen in the heart muscle. 
     Once the parameters have been analyzed, they are evaluated  26  and a treatment is applied  28  to the patient. 
     Part of the analysis and treatment protocol includes analyzing ECG and heart sound data as gathered by ECG sensors and heart sound sensors. Referring now to  FIG. 2 , which illustrates the variation of the first and second heart sound amplitude with respiration, in the lower graph  30 , a trace of an ECG sensor  32  and a heart sound sensor  34  are depicted. The upper graph  36  depicts heart sounds S 1  and S 2  and a snoring event  38 , and represents a hemodynamic assessment fingerprint. A snoring event is depicted in lower graph  30  at  40 . Breathing pauses, which may be detected by detecting air flow, nasal or oral, or heart sound properties, i.e., the intensity and width of systolic heart sounds, e.g., first and second heart sounds. The presence and frequency of snoring may be identified through the combination of wavelet-based filtering of the heart sound signal and time-frequency analysis of the continuously filtered sound signal. As shown in  FIG. 2 , snoring manifests itself with a very specific “fingerprint” and can easily be separated from heart sounds, murmurs and other types of heart/lung sounds and external artifacts. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the fingerprint of snoring in heart sound recordings displayed in the time domain and in the time-frequency domain post wavelet based filtering, while a snoring event is clearly present, the figure may or may not represent an apneic event. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a trend correlation between S 3  strength, heart rate and SaO2 over time. Focusing attention particularly on S 3  and SaO2, as SaO2 decreases, S 3  strength, or intensity, increases. It is believed that the illustrated increases in S 3  strength are the result of untreated sleep apneic events. Thus, a trend in the increase of S 3  strength may be used to evaluate the presence of an apneic event. 
     During or after the acquisition of the data, a clinician may review the trends and the waveforms to determine the presence and extent of apneic events. The apneic events are typically associated with increases in heart rate, ischemic episodes and periods of arrhythmias. The clinician can use the ECG waveform itself as well as trends from the ECG data to ascertain the presence and severity of these changes due to apnea. In addition, since the apneic events can be associated with true hemodynamic changes, the clinician can use the S 3  and S 4  strength to determine if the ECG changes also coincide with reduced left ventricular contractility or decreased compliance of the heart due to ischemia. The S 1  and/or S 2  intensity and their associated trends can be used to determine respiratory cycles, respiratory rates and periods of apnea. A clinician will be empowered to make a diagnosis of sleep apnea when presented with these multiple sources of evidence of apnea (increased heart rate, ischemic ECG changes, arrhythmia, increased S 3 /S 4  strength, and respiration rate from S 1 /S 2 ). 
     Snoring may occur without the occurrence of an apneic event. The method of the invention establishes (1) the occurrence of an apneic event, as a result of the hemodynamic assessment; (2) that snoring has occurred; and (3) whether only snoring, without an apneic event, has occurred. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  depict normal ECG/heart sound traces/graphs where an apneic event is not present. 
     Thus, a method of snoring detection for differential sleep apnea diagnosis has been disclosed. It will be appreciated that further variations and modifications thereof may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.