Abstract:
A movement sensitive mattress has a plurality of independent, like movement sensors for measuring movement at different locations on the mattress to generate a plurality of independent movement signals. The signals are processed to derive respiratory variables including rate, phase, maximum effort or heart rate. Such variables can be combined to derive one or more diagnostic variables including apnea and labored breathing classifications.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to respiratory-analysis mattresses and systems, and to methods of use thereof. 
     The invention further relates to the measurement of respiratory, cardiac and other movement related functions in patients suffering from a range of respiratory syndromes, including the disordered breathing associated with Cheyne Stokes syndrome, anaesthetic induced partial respiratory obstruction and sleep apnea. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Sleep apnea is a respiratory syndrome known to be present in about 8% of the adult male human population and 4% of the adult female human population. 
     The syndrome manifests itself as the repetitive cessation of, or large reduction in, breathing while the patient is asleep—respectively termed apneas and hypopneas. Apneas may be divided further into central apneas, where the cause of the apnea is the failure of the nervous system to activate the muscles responsible for respiration, and obstructive apneas, where the patient tries to breath but is prevented from doing so by the temporary collapse on inspiration of his or her upper airway. The reasons for such collapses are not completely understood but may include a loss of tone in those muscles which hold the airway open plus an anatomical disposition towards a narrow upper airway. 
     Prior to treatment the syndrome must be diagnosed. Conventionally, this is performed by an overnight study in a specialised sleep clinic, connecting the patient to electrophysical and respiratory measurement equipment to monitor physiological variables such as the electroencephalogram, blood oxygen saturation, heartrate, chest wall movement, and respiratory air flow during the various stages of sleep. 
     The attachment of the such monitoring equipment requires skilled staff and is often disruptive to the patient&#39;s sleep. Furthermore, the recording of all the physiological variables requires considerable computing power and the subsequent analysis, although assisted by computer, still requires considerable attention by the staff. 
     Monitoring of the patient&#39;s sleep in the patient&#39;s home traditionally uses a simplified form of the above-mentioned equipment which still may be complex and disruptive to the patient&#39;s sleep. 
     The measurement of less disruptive variables which correlate well with the traditional ones has been pursued as a way of making such sleep studies simpler to perform and less disruptive to the patient. 
     A device used in this area is the Static Charge Sensitive Bed (SCSB) described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,766 (Allihanka et al). U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,766 describes a mattress which outputs a single electrical signal that varies with the patient&#39;s movement. By suitable electrical filtering of the movement signal indications of body movement, respiration, snore and heartbeat are produced for subsequent display. 
     The SCSB principle was extended by Crawford and Kennard in their published UK patent application, GB 2 166 871 A (1984), for a Respiration Monitor. Here, strips of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) were assembled in a common, parallel connection in order to give area coverage of a patient&#39;s respiratory movement. PVDF is a piezo-electric plastics material readily available in strips and sheets of minimal thickness. 
     A PVDF sensor has also been used in a device described by Siivola [Siivola J., (1989) New noninvasive piezoelectric transducer for recording of respiration, heart rate and body movements.  Med. &amp; Biol Eng. &amp; Comput.  27, 423-424]. 
     The clinical use of the SCSB is extensively described in the PhD thesis of Dr O. Polo (Dept of Physiology, University of Turku, Finland) republished as a supplement in  Acta Physiologica Scandinavica  Vol 145, Supplementum 606, 1992. 
     A PVDF film based device for detecting and recording snoring is also described in International Publication No. WO 96/36279 (Sullivan). 
     A limitation of the SCSB is that because of its inherent planar construction it cannot be used to localise the source of the movement it detects. Likewise, the above-mentioned devices also generate minimal spatial information. A major consequence of this is that the outputs of the said devices vary considerably with patient orientation. This limits the accuracy of information that can be derived from them. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention seeks to provide a respiratory-analysis mattress and system and associated method which overcome or at least ameliorates some of the deficiencies of the prior art. 
     According to the invention there is provided a mattress for monitoring patient movement for a patient lying on the mattress, the mattress including at least a plurality of independent like movement sensors for measuring movement at different locations on the mattress to generate a plurality of independent movement signals. 
     Preferably, the respiratory-analysis mattress includes the range three to ten such movement sensors. 
     Preferably, the movement sensors are formed by piezoelectric elements, for example polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) sensor strips. 
     Conveniently, at least some of said piezoelectric elements are arranged to measure lateral strain across the mattress, and preferably substantially parallel to each other. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the mattress comprises a compressible filling surrounded by an outer (not necessarily outermost) layer, and the piezoelectric elements are attached, preferably by adhesive, to an inside surface of the outer layer. 
     Alternatively, the elements are laminated between two thin conformable elastic sheets. 
     In another embodiment of the invention the mattress takes the form of a thin movement-sensitive sheet, in which each piezoelectric element is enclosed within a waterproof envelope of material. 
     Such a movement-sensitive sheet can be mounted on a carrier sheet adapted to be placed over a conventional mattress. 
     Conveniently, each piezoelectric element is connected to a separate transition connector, which may for example be a printed circuit board (PCB), in such a manner as to avoid strain between the element and the transition connector during use of the mattress. 
     Alternatively, the piezoelectric elements can be connected to a single bus transition connector, which may for example be a single bus board. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, said piezoelectric elements are integrally formed from a single composite sheet of piezoelectric material. 
     The piezoelectric material may be PVDF. 
     In this case, the piezoelectric elements can be formed by forming a series of staggered parallel cuts in a sheet of piezoelectric material, in such a way that each piezoelectric elements is formed between two adjacent such cuts, and folding each piezoelectric element through an angle so that the piezoelectric elements become spaced from each other, while remaining integrally connected together by a connecting portion of said sheet of piezoelectric material. 
     Conveniently, said angle is substantially 90°. 
     In one embodiment, a strengthening portion of said sheet of piezoelectric material is folded, and attached to, said piezoelectric elements in order to hold the strips in position. 
     Preferably, each piezoelectric element is provided with upper and lower metallised surface layers which are arranged not to overlap on the folded portion of the element, thus ensuring that any strain on the folded portion of the element does not contribute to the electrical signal produced by the element. 
     The invention also provides a respiratory-analysis system comprising a mattress as described above connected to processing means for receiving and processing said movement signals to derive said respiratory variable(s). The diagnostic variables can include respiratory rate, respiratory phase, respiratory effort and maximum respiratory rate. 
     Preferably, the output signals from each movement sensor are separately and independently processed. The resulting processed information may subsequently be combined by the computing means during further processing. 
     Preferably, each piezoelectric strip is connected to the computing means via a sensor buffer comprising an operational amplifier operating as a charge amplifier, wherein the input of the operational amplifier is protected against high voltage transients, which may be produced by the piezoelectric strip, by means of a resistor connected in parallel across the two inputs of the operational amplifier, said resistor having an impedance which is large compared with the input impedance of the virtual earth of the charge amplifier. 
     In addition a further resistor, having an impedance which is small compared to the output impedance of the piezoelectric strip, can be placed in series with the input of the operational amplifier. 
     Alternatively, two diodes can be connected in parallel, and in opposite directions, across the two inputs of the operational amplifier in order to limit the maximum voltage applied to the inputs of the operational amplifier. 
     The invention further provides that the processing means combined one or more of said respiratory variables to give one or more derived diagnostic variables. 
     The derived variables can include apnea classification, snore or obstructed breathing. 
     The invention further provides a method for monitoring patient movement for a patient lying on a mattress, the method comprising the steps of: measuring displacement due to body movement at a plurality of independent positions length-wise of a portion of the body to derive independent signals representative of respective individual body displacement at said positions. 
     The invention yet further provides a method for monitoring at least one respiratory variable for a patient lying on a mattress, the method comprising the steps of: measuring displacement due to body movement at a plurality of independent positions length-wise of a portion of the body to derive independent signals representative of respective individual body displacement at said positions; and processing said movement signals to derive said respiratory variable(s). 
     The invention yet further provides a respiratory analysis system for monitoring at least one respiratory variable for a patient, comprising: input means to receive a plurality of signals indicative of patient movement; and processor means to process said receive signals to derive said respiratory variable(s). 
     The invention further provides the method may further comprise detecting the occurrence of non-respiratory sudden body movements by at least detecting high frequency components of the movement signals in the absence of diagnostic signals indicating obstructive or central apnea occurrence. 
     The method may further comprise determining the degree of obstructed breathing present by at least detecting the ratio of respiratory effort signal to respiratory displacement signal plus optionally the amplitude of the snore signal. 
     The method may further comprise controlling the output treatment pressure of a Continuous Positive Accuracy Pressure (CPAP) treatment machine on the basis of information obtained in preceding steps of the method. 
     Such control either occurs in real-time, that is as the respiration is being monitored, or retrospectively, where accumulated respiratory data is processed to determine the treatment pressure subsequently to be programmed into the CPAP machine. 
     The method may further comprise storing video information relating to the patient only for those periods during which an apnea has been detected as explained above. 
     The method may further comprise outputting any of the information obtained in preceding steps of the method to a display or printer, or to an analogue physiological input channel of a polygraph in such a way as to display information in alphanumeric form on the display of the polygraph. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A number of embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic overview of a respiratory-analysis system to be described below; 
     FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  are respectively plan and side views of a movement-sensitive mattress forming part of the system; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the movement-sensitive mattress; 
     FIG. 4 a  is a cut-away schematic drawing of the movement-sensitive mattress showing the internal sensor strips; 
     FIGS. 4 b  and  4   c  are top views of further embodiments of movement-sensitive mattresses; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the use of the movement-sensitive mattress to produce a multichannel electrical signal indicating the displacement of the patient&#39;s body near the sensor strips; 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a sequence of displacements of the patient&#39;s body associated with normal breathing; 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a sequence of displacements of the patient&#39;s body associated with disordered breathing; 
     FIGS. 8 a  and  8   b  are respectively schematic cross-sectional and plan views of one of the sensor strips; 
     FIGS. 9 a  and  9   b  show the connection means of a sensor strip respectively before and after connection of the sensor strip thereto; 
     FIGS. 10 a  and  10   b  show the connection means with the sensor strip attached, but respectively before and after attachment of a rigid pressure plate; 
     FIGS. 11 a  and  11   b  show the connection of a coaxial cable to the connection means; 
     FIG. 12 a  shows the attachment of the sensor strip to the connection means; 
     FIG. 12 b  is a cross-section taken along A—A′ in FIG. 12 a;    
     FIG. 13 shows an alternative embodiment in which the sensor strips are connected to a single bus board instead of to individual circuit boards; 
     FIGS. 14 a  to  14   d  show the connection of the sensor strip (via the coaxial cable shown in FIGS. 11 a  and  11   b,  but omitted from FIGS. 14 a  to  14   d ) to four alternative embodiments of sensor buffers; 
     FIG. 15 shows the connection of the sensor strips to computing means via strip connection means, sensor buffers, gain stages, and an analog to digital converter; 
     FIG. 16 shows pre-processing means for deconvolving input digital signals to produce output pre-processed digital signals; 
     FIG. 17 illustrates the deconvolution of a channel by subtraction of a fraction of the signal on that channel from the two adjacent channels in order to sharpen the spatial response of the channels; 
     FIG. 18 a  illustrates the calculation of diagnostic signals from the pre-processed digital signals using basic processing means followed by diagnostic processing means; FIG. 18 b-f  show plots of cross correlation with historical time; 
     FIG. 19 shows the output of diagnostic signals to display means; 
     FIG. 20 shows the control of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) flow generator by the new system; 
     FIG. 21 shows a polygraph input means connected to the computing means, for allowing diagnostic information to be displayed on a polygraph using a spare analogue input channel of the polygraph; 
     FIGS. 22 a  and  22   b  show graphs of voltage against time, and the tracing of symbols on the polygraph display; 
     FIG. 23 shows the output of alphanumeric forms of diagnostic variables to the polygraph display; 
     FIG. 24 shows an alternative means of providing a plurality of sensor strips, in which the sensor strips are integrally formed from a single PVDF sheet; 
     FIG. 25 shows conductive tracks on the embodiment of FIG. 24; 
     FIG. 26 a  shows an alternative to the embodiment of FIGS. 24 and 25, in which the sensor strips, are cut from a narrower PVDF sheet and then folded through 90° as shown in the next figure; 
     FIG. 26 b  shows the folding of the sensor strips through 90° while remaining integrally connected to a tail strip; 
     FIGS. 27 a  and  27   b  show an embodiment which is the same as that of FIG. 26, except that a broader tail strip is used, so that the tail strip can be folded beneath the sensor strips to provide greater support; 
     FIGS. 28 and 29 show conductive strips on the embodiment of FIG. 26; 
     FIG. 30 shows the metallisation on each side of one of the sensor strips; 
     FIG. 31 shows the sensor strips wrapped around one edge of a foam sheet FIGS. 32 a,    32   b  and  32   c  show movement-sensitive sheets comprising the embodiments of any of FIGS. 24 to  30 ; and 
     FIG. 33 shows the movement-sensitive sheet of FIG. 32 a  mounted on a carrier sheet, which can be in the form of a conventional fitted sheet. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 gives an overview of a system  101  which measures the body movements of a reclining person and from those measurements determines parameters of his or her respiratory, cardiac and other movement-related functions. The aforesaid parameters can be used to diagnose a range of respiratory disorders, in particular those associated with sleep apnea. The system can be used both in a hospital and in a patient&#39;s home. 
     The system  101  comprises sensor means  102  which generates electrical signals in response to movement of a reclining person, interface means  103  which converts the said signals into a form that can be processed by the computing means  104  (FIG.  1 ). The computing means  104  processes the said signals to produce the above-mentioned respiratory and movement parameters which are then further combined to produce parameters diagnostic of respiratory disorders associated with various types of sleep apnea. The function of the computing means  104  is determined by the control means  105 , which is operated by medical staff who are directing the use of the system. 
     The aforesaid processing can be in real time, that is at the same time as the said signals are being recorded, or in a review process where the said recorded signals are recalled from storage and processed at some time after their acquisition. 
     Some or all of the diagnostic parameters can then be displayed using a display means  106 , recorded for subsequent review on computer disk by a recording means  107 , printed using a printing means  108 , transmitted to another location using a transmission means  109  and output to a recording polygraph by polygraph input means  110 . Additionally, if a particular preset condition of the diagnostic parameters is met a video camera  111  can be switched on to record moving or stationary video images of the patient&#39;s body position and movements. Alternatively, or optionally, a similar or different preset condition can activate an alarm means  112  to indicate to another person the occurrence of the said preset condition. An external Constant Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) flow generator may optionally be controlled via CPAP control means  113 . Sound output means  114  may be used to listen to snore signals, either in real time or on subsequent replay of data. 
     The system can operate both in a real time mode, producing diagnostic parameters in immediate response to signals from the sensor means  102  or in a retrospective mode wherein the said signals are replayed from a computer disk and diagnostic parameters calculated at the time of replay. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b,  sensor means  102  comprises a movement-sensitive mattress  2  which can rest on top of a conventional mattress  3  on which the patient  1  lies. FIG. 2 b  shows the movement-sensitive mattress  2  above the conventional mattress  3 , but this could alternatively be below the conventional mattress  3 . The patient&#39;s head may optionally rest on a pillow  4 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3, movement-sensitive mattress  2  comprises a sandwich of low density polyethylene foam  7  enclosed by a neoprene envelope  6  constructed in such a way that movements of the patient&#39;s body cause stretching of the neoprene envelope  6 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4 a,  affixed to the inside surface of the top side of the neoprene envelope  6  are a number of sensor strips  5 , arranged in one or more patterns that span most of the patient&#39;s body. The patterns may run laterally across the movement-sensitive mattress as illustrated, or vertically from head to toe, or a combination or superposition of both. Electrical signals are conducted from the sensor strips  5  by sensor strip connectors  42 . 
     At a minimum, three sensor strips  5  arranged to be level with the patient&#39;s rib cage area are required to obtain useful electrical signals utilised for subsequent processing. A typical range is between three and ten sensors. 
     In FIG. 4 b,  six sensor strips  5 ′ are arranged in a spaced-apart configuration. The sensor strips are formed in the same manner as those shown in FIG. 4 a,  however are substantially shorter than the width of the mattress  2 . A signal is taken off from each sensor strip  5 ′. In the limiting case the signals act as spot strain gauges. 
     In FIG. 4 c,  the same sensor strips  5 ′ are connected to a common bus connector  5 a that provides for individual take-off points for each sensor strip. 
     By the above means a multichannel electrical signal is derived, the channels of which reflect the localised displacement of the patient&#39;s body in the vicinity of each of the sensor strips  5 , as indicated in FIG.  5 . By this means the movement of the body during, for example, respiration may be monitored. This, therefore, provides a means of imaging the displacements of the torso, particularly with regard to respiration, in a reclining patient. By virtue of its many sensor strips, the system is largely insensitive to patient orientation on the movement-sensitive mattress  2 . 
     Different respiratory states of the patient produce different patterns of the aforementioned displacements. FIG. 6 illustrates typical patterns during normal respiration while FIG. 7 illustrates typical patterns associated with disordered breathing. 
     Referring to FIG. 8 a,  the sensor strips  5  are constructed of a layer of polyvinyledene fluoride (PVDF) film  11 , a supporting mylar film  13 , an adhesive layer  8  to join together the said films and an adhesive layer  41  to adhere the resulting assembly to the inside surface of the neoprene envelope  6 , as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     The PVDF film  11  has the property whereby an electrical charge is generated across the faces of the film  11  when a mechanical strain is applied along the length of the film  11  The electrical charge is conducted from the surface of the layer PVDF film  11  by two conductive, metallised surface layers, a first layer  10  and the second layer  12  which are affixed to opposing faces of the film  11  during its manufacture. 
     The mylar film  13  acts as a physical support for the PVDF film  11  and regulates the amount of strain applied to the said film when the sensor strip  5  is stretched. The mylar film  13  also has applied on one face a conductive, metallised surface layer  14  which is used to screen the second conductive layer  12  of the PVDF film  11  from external electrical interference. The first conductive layer  10  of the said PVDF film  11  is externally connected to the metallised layer  14  of the mylar film  13  so that the second conductive layer  12  of PVDF film  11  is effectively screened on both sides from electrical interference. 
     Typical dimensions of each sensor strip  5  are 650 mm long by 12 mm wide. The PVDF film is typically 28 μm in thickness and the mylar film  13  typically 1 mil in thickness. The sensor strip  5  can, for example, be made up from the above-mentioned films by the AMP Corporation of PO Box 799, Valley Forge, Pa. 19482, USA, as a modification of their standard range of piezoelectric film products. 
     Referring to FIGS. 9 a  and  9   b,  electrical charge generated by each of the sensor strips  5  is conducted from the sensor strip  5  by a sensor strip connection means  42 . The connection means  42  makes connections to the first conductive layer  10  and second conductive layer  12  of the PVDF film  11  and the metallised layer  14  of the mylar film  13 , and, further, electrically connects first conductive layer  10  and metallised layer  14  together for electrical screening purposes. The resultant two electrical paths are connected to a coaxial cable  33  for transmission to interface means  103 . 
     As shown in FIG. 8 a,  the various layers at one end of the sensor strip  5  are staggered in such a way as to provide conductive areas  15  and  16  which will be described below. Sensor strip connection means  42  (see FIG. 9 a ) comprises a double sided printed circuit board  18  with a contact area  19  that makes electrical contact via conductive adhesive with a conductive area  15  (see FIG. 8 a ) of the metallised layer  14  of the mylar film  13 ; a contact area  20  that makes electrical contact with a conductive area  16  of the second conductive layer  12  of the PVDF film  11 ; and a contact area  21  that makes electrical contact with the first conductive layer  10  of the PVDF film  11  by means of a conducting bridge  30  described below. Most of the surface  18   a  of the printed circuit board  18  adjacent to the aforesaid electrical contacts to sensor strip  5  is unetched, that is, it remains as conductive copper. This allows the electrical connection between the metallised layer  14  of the mylar film  13  and the first conductive layer  10  of the PVDF film  11 , both of which are subsequently grounded. Contact area  20  is electrically isolated from said conductive copper by an etched insulating area  22 . This allows contact with the ungrounded second conductive layer  12  of the PVDF film  11 . 
     The electrical signal from the conductive area  16  of second conductive face  12  of PVDF film  11 , connected to sensor strip connection means  42  via contact area  20  is conducted from the said contact area to connecting pad  23  via copper track  24  located on the reverse side of printed circuit board  18 . 
     As shown in FIG. 9 b,  the electrical signal from first conductive layer  10  of PVDF film  11  is connected to the conducting copper top face of contact area  21  of printed circuit board  18  by a conducting bridge  30  constructed from copper tape with conductive adhesive on its contact side. The electrical signal from the conducting copper top face of printed circuit board  18  is conducted to a connecting pad  25  on the printed circuit board  18 . 
     As shown in FIG. 10 b,  conducting bridge  30  and the two other aforementioned sensor strip connections are maintained in a state of intimate connection with their respective contact areas  19 ,  20 ,  21  by a non-conducting, rigid pressure plate  31  which bears down on the aforementioned contact assemblies by virtue of two pressure springs  32 . 
     Referring to FIG. 11 a,  to a connecting pad  23  on the printed circuit board  18  is soldered or otherwise electrically attached the inner conductor  35  of a coaxial cable  33 . To connecting pad  25  is soldered or otherwise electrically attached the outer screening conductor  34  of the coaxial cable  33 . 
     The coaxial cable  33  is attached to circuit board  18  by a method which simultaneously stress relieves the soldered connections and locates the cable  33 . The coaxial cable  33  is located over cable location tongue  27  (as illustrated in FIGS. 11 a  &amp;  11   b ), sourced from circuit board  18  by two parallel slots  28 . This arrangement allows a heatshrink sleeve  36  to be pushed simultaneously over the coaxial cable  33  and the cable location tongue  27  so that, on the application of heat, the reduction in diameter of the heatshrink sleeve  36  pulls the coaxial cable  33  into intimate and stable contact with the cable location tongue  27 . Adhesive on the interior of the heatshrink sleeve  36  plus its physical grip when shrunk ensure that the coaxial cable  33  is clamped sufficiently for there to be no strain on its internal conductors  34  and  35 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 12 a  and  12   b,  the circuit board  18  is attached to the interior of the neoprene envelope  6  using a novel arrangement of adhesive that reduces the strain on the electrical connections between the sensor strip  5  and the circuit board  18 . The sensor strip  5  is attached to the circuit board  18  using adhesive in location  40 ; adhesive barrier slot  29  is cut in the circuit board to prevent adhesive from location  40  straying into contact area  19 . Adhesives in the location  40  and subsequently described are all of a high strength cyano-acrylic gel type such as that sold under the registered trademark “LOCITE 454”. The sensor strip  5  is attached to the neoprene envelope  6  along its length by an adhesive strip  41 , for example the transfer adhesive sold under the registered trademark “3M TYPE 9460”. 
     The circuit board  18  is constructed with two strain relief horns  26  which are attached to the interior surface of the neoprene envelope  6  using the above-mentioned cyano-acrylic adhesive applied at locations  37 . The function of the strain relief horns  26  is to limit the stretch of the neoprene envelope  6  in the vicinity of the attachment of the circuit board  18  to the sensor strip  5  thus significantly reducing the strain on the aforementioned electrical connections with the strip  5 . Optionally, the sensor strip  5  can additionally be stabilised by the application of the said cyanoacrylic adhesive at location  39 . The remainder of circuit board  18  is attached to the neoprene envelope  6  using said cyano-acrylic adhesive in at least locations  38 . 
     Referring to FIG. 13, an alternative embodiment  93  combines circuit boards  18  in parallel on to one long bus board  94  or circuit strip such that the individual connections to strips  5  are conducted in parallel to a single multichannel connector  95  to which is connected a single multicore cable  96  which conducts all the signals from sensor strips  5 . Optionally, sensor buffers  43  described below may be located in close proximity to the bus board  94 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 14 a  to  14   d,  electrical signals from each sensor strip connection means  42  are conducted to a respective sensor buffer  43  via the coaxial cable  33  (not shown in FIGS. 14 a  to  14   b ). The sensor buffer  43  can be of the form where an operational amplifier  51  operates as a charge amplifier (as shown in FIG. 14 a ). balancing charge received from sensor strip  5  in response to the patient&#39;s movement, against charge built up on a capacitor  52  from operational amplifier output  54 . This design is commonly used in such situations and referenced in “Piezo Film Sensors Technical Manual O/N: 6571” published by the AMP Corporation of PO Box 799, Valley Forge, Pa. 19482, USA. This Technical Manual also indicates the necessity of using silicon diodes  55  (as shown in FIG. 14 b ) to protect the input of the operational amplifier  51  against high voltage transients produced if sensor strip  5  is subjected to a large impulsive force. The action of the diodes  55  is to clamp the input voltage of the operational amplifier  51  to approximately the operational amplifier supply voltages, +V and −V as indicated in the FIG. 14 b.    
     The use of the protection diodes  55  in the above-mentioned configuration does however have a drawback, namely the reverse leakage current of the diodes  55  flows into the virtual earth  46  of the operational amplifier  51  which results in a compensating offset voltage at the output  54  of the operational amplifier  51 . 
     Two solutions to this problem are presented, and shown in FIGS. 14 c  and  14   d  respectively. The input  47  of the sensor strip  5  to the operational amplifier  51  in the above-mentioned charge amplifier configuration is a virtual earth  46 , that is the negative feedback of the operational amplifier  51  acts to maintain the voltage at the input  47  at zero. In practice the input voltage at input  47  may be a small number of millivolts because of constructional imperfections within the operational amplifier  51 . Notwithstanding this latter voltage, the input impedance of such a virtual earth is very low (because the operational amplifier acts to drain away charge in order to maintain the virtual earth)—some tens of ohms at the most, therefore an external impedance can be placed between the virtual earth point  46  and ground  99  and, providing said impedance is larger than about 1000 ohms, that is, large relative to the virtual earth impedance, the functioning of the charge amplifier is unaffected. This allows a combination of parallel  56  and serial  57  impedances to replace the above-mentioned reverse biased diodes  55  connecting the virtual earth  46  to the above-mentioned operational amplifier supply rails (±V). Whereas the voltage on the sensor strip  5  produced by the accumulation of charge due to a large impulsive force applied thereto may be large—of the order of 100 volts—the effective source impedance of the sensor strip  5  is also very large—up to 10 12  ohms. Hence the addition of even a fairly large impedance (by electronic standards) of 1 Mohm across the sensor strip  5  dramatically reduces the open circuit voltage that can occur across the strip  5 . As an additional precaution, a small series resistor  57  can be placed in series with the output of the sensor strip  5  to limit any residual current flow into the operational amplifier  51  input under overload conditions. During non-overload operation these components are effectively invisible to the charge amplifier function—parallel resistor  56  is much greater than the input impedance of the above-mentioned virtual earth and series resistor  57 , which is typically 1 kohm, is effectively zero compared with the 10 12  ohms source impedance of the sensor strip  5 . One additional advantage of this configuration is that parallel resistor  56  supplies bias current to the operational amplifier  47  input, thus relieving DC feedback stabilisation resistor  53  of any magnitude constraints (in the above-mentioned conventional charge amplifier, feedback resistor  53  is limited in magnitude because increasing its value increases the output offset voltage of the amplifier). 
     As an alternative to the above embodiment of FIG. 14 c,  silicon diodes  46  can be used back to back between the virtual earth  46  and ground  99  (as shown in FIG. 14 d ). Under non-overload conditions the voltage across the diodes  46  is insufficient for them to conduct, hence they are invisible to the charge amplifier circuit. Under overload conditions one of the diodes  46  will conduct if the voltage increases above about 0.5 volts, thus limiting the overload voltage applied to the input  47  of operational amplifier  51 . Optionally, a parallel resistor  47   a  of about 1 Mohm can be placed in parallel with the diodes  46  to provide bias current for the operational amplifier inputs, thereby relieving the above-mentioned magnitude constraint on DC feedback resistor  53 . 
     DC feedback stabilisation resistor  53  in conjunction with feedback capacitor  52  forms a highpass filter with an effective—3 dB frequency of approximately 0.1 Hz. Signal components below this value, being largely due to thermoelectric and slow semiconductor drift effects are, therefore, attenuated. This technique is referenced in the aforementioned “Piezo Film Sensors Technical Manual O/N: 6571” 
     The outputs  54  of the charge amplifiers  43  are then passed through a further gain stage  44  (see FIG. 15) which comprises a low pass filter with a −3 dB frequency point of approximately 100 Hz. 
     Referring to FIG. 15, the outputs of gain stages  44  are input to a multichannel Analog to Digital Converter (ADC)  45  which has at least as many inputs as there are sensor strips  5 . The ADC converter  45  transforms each of the inputs to a numerical digital signal  58  for subsequent processing and storage with a precision of at least 12 bits at a rate of approximately 200 samples per second. 
     The digital output signals  58  of the ADC  45  are input to computing means  104  which processes the inputs and which stores the digital outputs to computer disk  107  for subsequent retrieval. 
     Optionally one or more external electrical inputs  48 , 49  are provided to permit the recording and subsequent processing of signals derived from the movement-sensitive mattress  2 . Such signals are, typically, the output from an oximeter (not shown) attached to the finger or ear of the patient, and the output from a pressure transducer (not shown) connected to a mask on the patient&#39;s face or nasal prongs inserted in the patient&#39;s nares in order to detect respiration. 
     External electrical inputs  48 , 49  are connected to combination buffer amplifiers and low pass filters  50  the outputs of which are connected to the inputs of the ADC  45  in parallel with the above-mentioned sensor strip gain stages  44  for similar conversion to digital outputs  45  but at sampling rates typically lower, say at 50 Hz. 
     Referring to FIG. 16, digitised signals  58  resulting from movements of the sensor strips  5  in the movement-sensitive mattress  2  are input to pre-processing means  59  (forming part of the computing means  104 ) to produce pre-processed digitised signals  60 . The pre-processing means  59  acts both temporally on each individual channel of the digitised signals and spatially on two or more of the digitised signals in concert. 
     The pre-processing means  59  acts on each channel of digitised signals  58  firstly to equalise the gains of each channel, that is, to remove the variation in amplitude and phase response of each sensor strip  5  relative to the other sensor strips  5 , and secondly and optionally to deconvolve the signal of each sensor strip  5  from the effects of adjacent strips  5  (as shown in FIG.  17 ). Thus processed, the signals are output as pre-processed digitised signals  60 . 
     The above-mentioned deconvolution comprises the subtraction from at least each adjacent channel  63  adjacent to the channel  62  being deconvolved, of a precalculated fraction of the signal measured in said channel  62  such as to remove from said adjacent channels  63  any signal contribution due to physical pressure  61  exerted on the sensor strip  5  corresponding to the channel  62  being deconvolved. The effect of this procedure is to localise or “sharpen” the spatial response for each channel. 
     Basic Processing 
     Referring to FIG. 18 a,  the pre-processed digitised signals  60  are then separately input in parallel to a number of basic processing means  64 , 66 , 68 , 70 , 72 , 74 , 76 , 78 , 80 , 82 , 97  and  134  (again forming part of computing means  104 ) whose function is to extract particular features from the digitised signals, the features subsequently being used in combination to obtain a diagnosis. Some of said basic processing means act temporally on each individual channel of the said digitised signals while others act spatially in concert on two or more of the said pre-processed digitised signals. 
     Respiratory Effort 
     Basic processing means  64  acts on one or more of pre-processed digitised signals  60  to produce a basic derived signal  65  which is a measure of the sum total of the patient&#39;s movement, regardless of polarity. The basic derived signal  65  is a measure of the patient&#39;s instantaneous respiratory effort ER and is calculated as: 
     Respiratory effort            E   R          (   t   )       =       ∑     i   =   1     N          mod                     s   i          (   t   )                                  
     where N is the number of sensor strips  5 , and s i (t) is the signal derived from the ith sensor strip  5  as a function of time. S i  therefore corresponds to the displacement of the ith sensor strip  5 . 
     An alternative calculation is:            E   R          (   t   )       =       ∑     i   =   1     N            s   i   2          (   t   )                                
     Basic processing means  66  acts on one or more of pre-processed digitised signals  60  to produce a basic derived signal  67  which is a measure of the integral over a complete breath, or the summed separate integrals over the inspiratory and the expiratory phases, of the sum total of the patient&#39;s movement, regardless of polarity. The basic derived signal  67  is a measure of the patient&#39;s total respiratory effort T R  for the breath and is calculated as: 
     Total respiratory effort          T   R     =       ∫   breath            ∑     i   =   1     N          mod                       s   i          (   t   )       ·        t                                    
     where N is again the number of sensor strips, and mod s i (t) is the modulus (amplitude) of the signal derived from the ith sensor strip  5  as a function of time. 
     An alternative calculation is          T   R     =       ∫   breath            ∑     i   =   1     N              s   i   2          (   t   )       ·        t                                  
     Respiratory Phase 
     Basic processing means  68  acts on one or more of pre-processed digitised signals  60  to produce basic derived signal  69  which is a measure of the respiratory phase of the patient. The basic derived signal  69  indicates at what point in the inspiration/expiration cycle the pre-processed digitised signals  60  are being measured and may be calculated in one instance by fitting retrospectively in time a sine wave, as a function of time, to the largest in amplitude of pre-processed digitised signals  60 . The basic derived signal  69  associated with specific pre-processed digitised signals  60  is then calculated as the phase angle at whichever point on the aforementioned sine wave coincides temporally with the measurement point reached in said pre-processed digitised signals. 
     Basic processing means  70  acts on one or more of pre-processed digitised signals  60  to produce basic derived signal  71  which is a measure of the spatial respiratory zero phase point of the patient. The basic derived signal  71  indicates at what position on the movement-sensitive mattress  2  the patient&#39;s body changes from exerting positive to negative pressure and changes significantly with the patient&#39;s mode of breathing. The signal is calculated as the sensor strip  5  index (n) at which the sums of the positive and negative displacements are equal within a prescribed error, namely: 
     n is “zero phase point” 
     when            ∑     i   =   1       N   -   n              s   i          (   t   )         ≈     0   -       ∑     i   =   n     N            s   i          (   t   )                                  
     Corporeal Displacement 
     Basic processing means  72  acts on one or more of pre-processed digitised signals  60  to produce basic derived signal  73  which is a measure of the average displacement (P R ) of the patient. The basic derived signal  73  indicates the degree that the thorax and abdomen of the patient are free to move independently of each other and is thus sensitive to the transition from unobstructed to obstructed, that is, so called paradoxical, breathing efforts. 
     Such a signal may be calculated as:            P   R          (   t   )       =       ∑     i   =   1     N            s   i          (   t   )                                
     and/or 
     by observing a change of phase or sign between channels which have been moving in phase for some time (typically some number of minutes) 
     and/or 
     a diminution of observed movement in the sensor strips  5  in contact with the abdominal area of the body (rather than the thoracic). 
     Snore 
     Basic processing means  74  acts on one or more of pre-processed digitised signals  60  to produce basic derived signal  75  which is a measure of the snore amplitude of the patient. A signal indicative of snore amplitude may be calculated by passing each channel of the aforesaid pre-processed digitised signals through a digital high pass filter with a low frequency cut-off of approximately 10 Hz, then calculating the modulus of each resulting signal, then summing all the moduli and passing the sum through a low pass filter with a high frequency cut-off of between 0.5 and 2 Hz. Basic derived signal  75  is the resultant output of the aforesaid low pass filter. 
     Basic processing means  76  acts on one or more of pre-processed digitised signals  60  to produce basic derived signal  77  which is a measure of the harmonic purity of the patient&#39;s snore, that is, its closeness in form to a simple sine wave. The basic derived signal  77  varies with the type of snore—a non-obstructive snore having a different degree of harmonic purity than an obstructive one. A signal indicative of such above-mentioned snore harmonic purity may be calculated by passing each channel of the aforesaid pre-processed digitised signals  60  through a digital high pass filter with a low frequency cut off of approximately 10 Hz, then selecting the channel with the highest resulting highest amplitude and calculating the instantaneous phase of the signal by, for example, deriving the “analytic” signal from the input signal by passing it through a 90 deg phase shift filter, then differentiating the instantaneous phase, then low pass filtering the resultant differential and differentiating again. Basic derived signal  77  is the resultant output, being inversely proportional to the purity of the snore harmonic content. 
     Basic processing means  78  yet further acts on one or more of pre-processed digitised signals  60  to produce basic derived signal  79  which is a measure of the harmonic stability of the patient&#39;s snore, that is, the accuracy with which one cycle of the snore signal matches its predecessor. The basic derived signal  79  varies with the type of snore—a non-obstructive snore having a different degree of harmonic stability than an obstructive one. A signal indicative of such above-mentioned snore harmonic stability, may be calculated by passing each channel of the aforesaid pre-processed digitised signals  60  through a digital high pass filter with a low frequency cut off of approximately 10 Hz, then selecting channel with the highest resulting highest amplitude and autocorrellating the signal. The number of autocorrellation peaks, normalised for frequency, greater than a preset value, nominally 0.8, present in a rolling window of a preset time, nominally 0.2 seconds, gives basic derived signal  79 , being proportional to the stability of the snore harmonic content. 
     Non-respiratory Movement 
     The basic processing means  80  acts on one or more of pre-processed digitised signals  60  to produce basic derived signal  81  which is a measure of non-respiratory movements of the patient. The basic derived signal  81  may be calculated by passing each channel of the pre-processed digitised signals  60  through a digital band pass filter with a pass band of approximately 10 to 40 Hz, then calculating the modulus of each resulting signal, then summing all the moduli and passing the sum through a low pass filter with a high frequency cut off of between 2 and 10 Hz. Basic derived signal  79  is the resultant output of the aforesaid low pass filter. 
     Heartrate 
     Basic processing means  82  also acts on one or more of pre-processed digitised signals  60  to produce basic derived signal  83  which is a measure of the heartrate of the patient. The basic derived signal  83  may be calculated by passing each channel of the aforesaid pre-processed digitised signals through a digital band pass filter with a pass band of approximately 5-15 Hz, then selecting the channel with the highest resulting highest amplitude and detecting the ballistocardiogram impulse associated with each heartbeat using a matched filter or similar technique. The resultant time interval between matched filter correlation outputs greater than a preset value, nominally 0.8, gives basic derived signal  83 . Optionally, to compensate for missed beats, the aforementioned time interval can be divided by two to give a value within the bounds of physiologic possibility. 
     Alternatively, the abovementioned bandpassed signals may be correlated against past time sets of the same signals in an identical way to that used to determine respiration rate (as described below), to determine basic derived signal  83 , the heartrate. 
     The basic processing means  134  acts on one or more of pre-processed digitised signals  60  to produce basic derived signal  135  which is a measure of the amplitude of the cardioballistogram of the patient. The basic derived signal  135  may be calculated as the unnormalised output of the matched filter correlation technique used to calculate basic derived signal  83 , measured at a time coincident with the maximum of basic derived signal  83 . 
     Spatial Effort Point 
     Basic processing means  97  yet further acts on one or more of pre-processed digitised signals  60  to produce basic derived signal  98  which is the spatial respiratory maximum effort point of the patient. The signal is calculated as the sensor strip  5  index at which the integral over a complete breath of the sum total of the patient&#39;s movement, regardless of polarity, is a maximum. First, the integral of the movement of each sensor strip  5  is calculated separately as:          R   i     =         ∫   breath          mod                     s   i     ·        t                     for                 i       =     1                 to                 N                              
     where N is the number of sensor strips, and mod s i (t) is the modulus (amplitude) of the signal derived from the ith sensor strip  5  as a function of time. 
     An alternative calculation is          R   i     =         ∫   breath          mod                     s   i   2     ·        t                     for                 i       =     1                 to                 N                              
     The value of the spatial respiratory maximum effort point is the value of i for which R i  as calculated above is a maximum. 
     Respiratory Rate 
     A further basic processing means (not shown) can act on pre-processed digitised signals  60  to produce a further basic derived signal (not shown) which is a measure of the prevailing respiratory rate. This basic derived signal is calculated by correlating the spatial “shape” of the sensor pattern at any given time with the “shapes” of the sensor pattern in past time; the first occurrence of a good correlation (with a coefficient greater than a preset value, typically 0.9) indicates at what time previously a similar pattern occurred, that is, the current respiration rate. 
     First each channel of the aforesaid preprocessed digitised signals  60  is passed through a low pass digital filter with a high frequency cutoff of approximately 2 Hz and, optionally, the sampling rate of the said filtered signals is decimated down to approximately 20 Hz for subsequent computing convenience. At each sampling point in time, the current spatial set of filtered sensor signals,          ∑     i   =   n     N            S   n          (   t   )                              
     is cross correlated against the sets sampled at previous times to give a correlation function:          C        (     t   -     m                 T       )       =       ∑     i   =   n     N              S   n          (   t   )       ·       ∑     i   =   n     N            S   n          (     t   -     m                 T       )                                    
     the maxium value of m for which correlation function C exceeds the aforementioned threshold is the period separating the present from previous, similar phases of breathing, that is, the breath to breath interval. This measurement is performed at each sampling period, generating many estimates of respiration rate per breath. The individual estimates of the maximum value of, m, can optionally be low passed filtered to diminish the effect of transient signal artefacts. 
     Further basic processing functions can be performed as follows. 
     ‘Laboured’ Breathing 
     Many patients with respiratory problems exhibit “laboured” breathing as a symptom of their condition. By “laboured” breathing is meant a physical exertion, associated with inspiration or expiration, that is significantly greater than the normal exertions of breathing. In one patient subgroup, such laboured breathing is caused by an increase in upper airway resistance, particularly on inspiration. 
     It is known that patients whose upper airways are partially obstructed produce electrical signals in the Static Sensitive Charged Bed that have a higher frequency component—so called “high frequency spiking” (Polo O, “PhD Thesis”, republished as a supplement in  Acta Physiologica Scandinavica Vol  145,  Supplementum  606, 1992). In the prior art, processing of the aforementioned higher frequency component has been limited to bandpass filtering prior to display as a time varying trace on an oscilloscope or polygraph. In viewing such a display, the trained observer can estimate by eye that a degree of laboured breathing exists but cannot quantify it or diagnose its extent automatically because the magnitude of the signal varies with such parameters as the orientation of the subject with reference to the sensor, his or her size and shape. 
     One or more of the electrical signals  44  from the movement sensitive bed sensor strips  5  or preprocessed signals  60  are passed through an analog or digital Effort Filter with a passband that rejects both the low frequency signals, predominantly produced by basic respiration, and the high frequency signals produced by snoring and cardiac action. Typically the pass band of the said Effort Filter is from 4 Hz to 10 Hz and after the filter the modulus of the signal is taken and the resulting signal low pass filtered at about 4 Hz to give a signal proportional to the amplitude of the original bandpassed one. The output of the Effort Filter is then subjected to two, parallel processes—firstly the said output is averaged over the entire duration of each respiratory phase, that is, separately over the inspiratory phase and the expiratory phase, and secondly, the maximum amplitude reached by the said output within each respiratory phase is measured and stored. These measurements are termed, respectively, the Average Respiratory Phase Effort and the Maximum Respiratory Phase Effort. The said Effort measurements can be displayed and stored in their own right or, preferably used as inputs to further processing described below. 
     A significant improvement is offered over existing systems in that there is provided a method of measuring the extent of laboured breathing and determining objectively the degree thereof. Such an embodiment of the invention is amenable to use within automatic respiratory diagnostic systems. 
     Respiratory Phase Change 
     In the automatic assessment of respiratory performance it is advantageous to determine the onset of each of the two respiratory phases, inspiration and expiration. This embodiment consists of the further processing of the cross correlation signal used to determine the respiratory rate. The aforesaid signal is the output of a process that correlates the set of sampled signals from the sensor strips  5  with previous sets of the same signals, stored back in time. For regular breathing, there will be a point in time, one breath back, where the values of the sampled set of sensor signals will be almost identical to the current set. This is evident in the output of the amplitude normalised cross correlation described in the original provisional patent. FIG. 18 b  shows the outputs of the said cross correlation with increasing time into the past. In FIG. 18 b  expiration or inspiration has just started and correlation between the current signal set and its immediate predecessors quickly declines. One breath back, correlation again increases towards +1.0, enabling the current respiration rate to be measured as time, T 1 , between correlation threshold levels TH 1 . 
     The system monitors the value of the above past time cross correlation signal with time. As time into the inspiration or expiration progresses, the values of each time sampled set of strip signals stabilises, giving an increased span of correlation with the immediate past signals. This is observable in FIGS. 18 b-d,  where the time into the past, T 2 , for the cross correlation signal to fall from a good correlation of almost +1.0 to the negligible correlation threshold, TH 2 , increases with time. At the end of the respiratory phase, significant past correlation time, T 2 , is at a maximum (FIG. 18 d ; at the onset of the next respiratory phase, that is the transition between inspiration and expiration or vice versa, the extent of past time correlation and hence the value of T 2  drops significantly to the start of phase pattern indicated in FIG. 18 b.  The aforementioned reduction in the significant past correlation time is indicative of a change of respiratory phase. The processing system monitors the value of the said past correlation time and compare it continuously with a threshold value of typically 70% of the maximum reached. When the value of the said time drops below that of the said threshold the end of inspiration or expiration is indicated. 
     Respiratory Rate I 
     The system determines the elapsed time between the last two indications of respiratory phase change of method immediately above. This elapsed time is the current breath time, effectively measured at every half breath interval. 
     Detection of Abnormal Breathing 
     Respiration with a relatively unobstructed airway gives rise to a past time correlation pattern described above and indicated in FIG. 18 e.  A particular characteristic of this correlation pattern is that the correlation values throughout the respiratory cycle tend to be close to either +1.0 (correlation) or −1.0 (anti-correllation), remaining at intermediate values for only a small percentage of the time. 
     This characteristic is used to distinguish between relatively unrestricted respiration and highly restricted or totally obstructed, so-called paradoxical respiration, in which there can be a significantly more gradual decline in past time away from correlation, and, in which the correlation value no longer approaches the anti-correlation level of −1.0 (FIG. 18 f ). Specifically, the present invention takes the past time correlation values as shown in FIGS. 18 f  and  18   g  and performs two processes in parallel. Firstly, the said values are averaged over the period from the present back in time to the point prior to the last complete breath that the said values fall to a level of insignificant correlation, typically zero; this is indicated by time, T, in FIGS. 18 e  and  18   f . Secondly, the arithmetic modulus of the said values is subjected to averaging over the same, aforementioned period. Alternatively, the abovementioned averaging period can cover the time between the first fall in past time of the correlation value below the threshold of significance and the similar fall for one breath into the past (not indicated). The abovementioned averages are termed, respectively, the Past Breath Correlation Mean and the Past Breath Correlation Modulus Mean. 
     The Past Breath Correlation Mean is then compared with a threshold close to zero, typically, 0.25. If the said Mean exceeds the said threshold then the breath is deemed to be abnormal, that is, the inspirational correlation profile does not match in antiphase that of the expiration. 
     Alternatively or additionally, the Past Breath Modulus Mean is compared with a threshold close to 1.0, typically 0.8. If the said Sum exceeds the said threshold then the breath is deemed to be normal, that is, the correlations during inspiration are antiphase to those during expiration. 
     Diagnostic Processing 
     Basic derived signals  65 ,  67 ,  69 ,  71 ,  73 ,  75 ,  77 ,  79 ,  81 ,  83 ,  98  &amp;  135  plus the abovementioned respiratory rate, laboured breathing, respiratory phase change, alternate respiratory rate and detection of abnormal breathing signals are, in turn, input to diagnostic processing means  84  (forming part of computing means  104 ) which acts on one or more of the said basic derived signals to produce diagnostic signals  85  through  92 . 
     Occurrence of Obstructive Apnea 
     Diagnostic signal  85  is indicative of the occurrence of an obstructive apnea. 
     This may be determined from the following states of the above-mentioned basic derived signals: 
     1. reduction in basic derived signal  73         (       respiratory                 displacement                     P   R          (   t   )         =       ∑     i   =   1     N            s   i          (   t   )           )                          
     compared with 5 minute moving average of basic derived signal  73  (respiratory displacement), 
     plus 
     2. increase in basic derived signal  65         (       respiratory                 effort                     E   R          (   t   )         =       ∑     i   =   1     N          mod                     s   i          (   t   )             )                          
     compared with 5 minute moving average of basic derived signal  65  (respiratory effort), 
     plus 
     3. near zero value of basic derived signal  75  (snore amplitude), 
     immediately followed by 
     4. sudden increase in basic derived signal  81  (non-respiratory movements) 
     optionally plus 
     5. the aforesaid state (i.e. coincidence of states  1 ,  2  and  3  above) may be preceded by an increase in basic derived signal  75  (snore amplitude) 
     optionally plus 
     6. a marked reduction in arterial oxygen saturation as indicated by an external oximeter connected to external electrical input  48 . 
     Obstructive Apnea Duration 
     Diagnostic signal  86  is indicative of the duration in time of the above-mentioned obstructive apnea. This is calculated only if diagnostic signal  85  indicates the occurrence of an obstructive apnea and typically may be determined from the length of time of the coincidence of a reduction in basic derived signal  73  (respiratory displacement) compared with 5 minute moving average of basic derived signal  73  (respiratory displacement), an increase in basic derived signal  65  (respiratory effort) compared with 5 minute moving average of basic derived signal  65  (respiratory effort) and a near zero value of basic derived signal  75  (snore amplitude). Optionally the aforesaid state (i.e. coincidence of states  1 ,  2  and  3  above) may be accompanied by a marked change in basic derived signal  135  (ballistocardiogram amplitude). Optionally the aforesaid state (i.e. coincidence of states  1 ,  2  and  3  above) may be accompanied by a marked decrease in basic derived signal  83  (heartrate), followed by a marked increase therein. 
     Diagnostic Signal Accuracy 
     Diagnostic signal  87  is indicative of the expected accuracy of the above-mentioned diagnostic signal  85  (obstructive apnea occurrence). This is calculated only if diagnostic signal  85  indicates the occurrence of a said obstructive apnea and typically may be determined from the following states of the above-mentioned basic derived signals: 
     a marked increase in the ratio of basic derived signal  65  (respiratory effort) with respect to basic derived signal  73  (respiratory displacement), 
     plus 
     a low level during the preceding minute of basic derived signal  81  (non-respiratory movements) 
     plus, optionally 
     a marked shift of basic derived signal  71  (zero phase point) during the apparent obstructive apnea 
     plus, optionally 
     a marked shift of basic derived signal  98  (spatial respiratory maximum effort point) during the apparent said obstructive apnea. 
     Occurrence of Central Apnea 
     Diagnostic signal  88  is indicative of the occurrence of a central apnea. This may be determined from the following states of the above-mentioned basic derived signals: 
     reduction towards zero in basic derived signal  73  (respiratory displacement) compared with 5 minute moving average of basic derived signal  73  (respiratory displacement), 
     plus 
     reduction towards zero in basic derived signal  65  (respiratory effort) compared with 5 minute moving average of basic derived signal  65  (respiratory effort), 
     plus 
     near zero value of basic derived signal  75  (snore amplitude), 
     followed after a variable period by 
     increase in basic derived signal  73  (respiratory displacement) compared with 1 minute moving average of basic derived signal  73  (respiratory displacement), 
     plus 
     increase in basic derived signal  65  (respiratory effort) compared with 1 minute moving average of basic derived signal  65  (respiratory effort), 
     or, optionally, immediately followed by 
     a sudden increase in basic derived signal  81  (non-respiratory movements). 
     Central Apnea Duration 
     Diagnostic signal  89  is indicative of the duration in time of the above-mentioned central apnea. This is calculated only if diagnostic signal  88  indicates the occurrence of a central apnea and may be determined from the length of time of the coincidence of a reduction in basic derived signal  73  (respiratory displacement) compared with 5 minute moving average of basic derived signal  73  (respiratory displacement), a reduction in basic derived signal  65  (respiratory effort) compared with 5 minute moving average of basic derived signal  65  (respiratory effort) and a near zero value of basic derived signal  75  (snore amplitude). 
     Diagnostic Signal Accuracy 
     Diagnostic signal  90  is indicative of the expected accuracy of the above-mentioned diagnostic signal  88  (central apnea occurrence). This is calculated only if diagnostic signal  88  indicates the occurrence of a central apnea and may be determined from the following states of the above-mentioned basic derived signals: 
     no marked increase in the ratio of basic derived signal  65  (respiratory effort) with respect to basic derived signal  73  (respiratory displacement), 
     plus 
     a low level during the preceding minute of basic derived signal  81  (non-respiratory movements) 
     plus 
     no marked shift of basic derived signal  71  (zero phase point) during the apparent said central apnea. 
     The above-mentioned diagnostic signals  85  (obstructive apnea indication) and  88  (central apnea indication) may be expressed simultaneously in the case of a mixed apnea, that is, a combination of both types of apnea. 
     Occurrence of Sudden Body Movement 
     Diagnostic signal  91  is indicative of the occurrence of a sudden body movement without a preceding apnea. Typically this would be determined from the following states of the above-mentioned basic derived signals and the above-mentioned diagnostic signals: 
     the absence of diagnostic signal  85  (obstructive apnea occurrence) 
     plus 
     the absence of diagnostic signal  88  (central apnea occurrence) 
     plus 
     a sudden increase in basic derived signal  81  (non-respiratory movements). 
     Degree of Obstructive Breathing 
     Diagnostic signal  92  is indicative of the degree of obstructive breathing present. Typically this may be calculated from the following states of the above-mentioned basic derived signals: 
     the ratio of basic derived signal  65  (respiratory effort) to basic derived signal  73  (respiratory displacement) averaged over a 1 minute period 
     or 
     the ratio of basic derived signal  65  (respiratory effort) to basic derived signal  73  (respiratory displacement) averaged over the previous breath 
     plus, optionally 
     the value of basic derived signal  75  (snore amplitude), 
     plus, optionally 
     the inverse value of basic derived signal  77  (snore harmonic purity) 
     Diagnostic signals  85  through  92  are subsequently: 
     a) stored to computer disk  107 , and/or 
     b) output graphically to display means  106  in one of several forms, for example as a condensed report of the night&#39;s study (as shown in FIG.  19 ), and/or 
     c) output in alphanumeric coded form to physiologic channel output means  110  for subsequent recording and display in association with other electrophysiological signals through a polygraph as described below. 
     Further diagnostic processing functions can be performed as follows. 
     Estimation of Degree of Laboured Breathing 
     An objective measure of laboured breathing can be derived from two of the abovementioned basic processing means. The aforementioned Average Respiratory Phase Effort and Maximum Respiratory Phase Effort signals are processed using the aforementioned indications of respiratory phase change which delineate the temporal boundaries of inspiration and expiration, to derive two signals, respectively the Average Effort Ratio and the Maximum Effort Ratio. 
     The Average Effort Ratio is determined by dividing the Average Respiratory Phase Effort for the respiratory phase just ended by that determined for the previous phase. Similarly, the Maximum Effort Ratio is determined by dividing the values of Maximum Respiratory Phase Effort for successive phases. For non-laboured breathing, the values of the Average Respiratory Phase Effort and Maximum Respiratory Phase Effort for inspiration and expiration are approximately equal for inspiration and expiration, giving Effort Ratios of approximately unity. If, however, the execution of one phase of respiration, for example inspiration, becomes significantly laboured relative to the other phase, then the Effort Ratios will move away from unity by a factor of two or more. Thus, when deviations of the Effort Ratios for successive respiratory phases drop below typically 0.5 or exceed typically 2 then abnormal effort is indicated and the breath can be defined as “laboured”. Two features of the invention are that, firstly, the use of the ratio eliminates the need for scaling the measured signals or knowing details of the subject&#39;s orientation and, secondly, knowledge is not required of whether a particular phase is inspiration or expiration. Furthermore, a comparison between the two ratios themselves can give an indication of whether the effort occurs impulsively at the start of the respiratory phase, or in a more diffuse manner throughout the phase: similar values indicate a diffuse effort, a higher Maximum Effort Ratio indicates an initial, impulsive effort. 
     Estimation of Degree of Snoring 
     Separately the procedures used to quantify ‘laboured’ breathing described above may be applied to determine the amount of snoring present, in which case the bandpass frequencies of the effort filters described above are approximately 10 Hz and 100 Hz. The ratios so determined are termed the Average Snore Ratio and the Maximum Snore Ratio. 
     Classification of respiratory phase—Past Time Correlation Curve Shape 
     The difference in the speed at which a subject changes from inspiration to expiration is compared with vice versa to indicate which of these changes has occurred. The time taken for the past time correlation value to fall from an Upper Threshold (not shown) to a Lower Threshold (not shown) for the most recent fall of the said correlation (edge ‘A’ in FIG. 18 b ) is compared to the time taken for the previous transition in correlation between the same thresholds (Curve ‘B’ in FIG. 18 b ). if the latter transition is slower then the current phase is inspiration, if faster, expiration. 
     Classification of respiratory phase—Use of Effort Ratios 
     Particular subgroups of respiratory ailments are characterised by the occurrence of laboured breathing in a particular phase of respiration. Thus, for example, sufferers from Obstructive Sleep Apnea and most other upper respiratory tract disfunctions will work harder on inspiration than expiration. The system compares the Average Effort Ratio and/or the Maximum Effort Ratios with threshold values typically of 1.2 and 0.8. If the Ratios exceed the upper threshold then the last phase was an inspiration, if it is less than the lower threshold, then an expiration. Alternatively or additionally, the abovementioned Average Snore Ratio and Maximum Snore Ratios may also be used to classify the respiratory phase. 
     Classification of respiratory phase—Use of Mean Strip Value 
     The system makes use of the fact that in most patient groups inspiration and attempted inspiration is associated with expansion of the thorax, by processing the signals from a selected range of sensor strips from the top location (normally adjacent to the patient&#39;s neck or scapulae) down to the approximate level of the patient&#39;s waist. The signals from the said range of strips is summed and that sum compared with zero. The transition of the said sum from a negative value to a positive one (associated with the stretching of the said sensors) is an indication of inspiration while the reverse transition, from positive to negative, is indicative of expiration. 
     Classification of respiratory phase—Voting 
     Particular groups of patients with peculiar or mixed pathology can produce conflicting indications of inspiration when subjected to the several abovementioned methods of determining respiratory phase. This embodiment takes as input the output from a selection of the abovementioned methods and derives a weighted vote as to which phase is present. If the said vote is above the Inspiratory Vote Threshold then an inspiration is indicated, if below the Expiratory Vote Threshold, then an expiration. If the said vote lays within the two thresholds then an Uncertain Phase is indicated. 
     Control of CPAP Treatment Apparatus 
     Referring to FIG. 20, the diagnostic signals  85  through  92 , and signals representative of the degree of laboured breathing, the degree of snoring and the classification of respiratory phase, can be used as part of a closed loop to determine and/or control the pressure setting of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment machine comprising a flow generator  128  that treats obstructive sleep apnea via air delivery tube and mask assembly  129 . A monitoring system  101  measures the respiratory parameters of the patient  1  in the manner described above and, if obstructive respiratory events are observed, transmits a control signal  130  to the CPAP flow generator  128  via CPAP control means  113 . The control signal  130  increases the treatment pressure if obstructive events are observed and slowly decreases it in the absence of obstructive events. 
     The aforesaid process of pressure control may be used either as a means of continuously controlling the treatment pressure during the time the patient sleeps or to determine, over the course of one or more nights, the optimum static treatment pressure to which the CPAP flow generator  128  should be set for continuing, subsequent treatment in the absence of the monitoring system  101 . 
     Thus, additionally and separately the aforesaid process of pressure control may be used to determine the pressure to which a CPAP treatment machine must be set for subsequent nights&#39; treatment by the CPAP flow generator  128  alone. In this usage, monitoring system  101  is attached to the CPAP flow generator  128  for a diagnostic period comprising a small number of initial nights, typically between one and five, wherein it controls the pressure of the said CPAP flow generator  128  to limit the number of respiratory obstructive events experienced by the patient. At the end of each night the CPAP flow generator  128  is left programmed with the pressure determined by monitoring system  101  as the optimum for the limitation of the respiratory obstructions. At the end of the diagnostic period the monitoring system  101  is disconnected from the CPAP machine leaving the said machine programmed to the optimum treatment pressure determined. 
     In the above-mentioned diagnostic period monitoring system  101  follows a set protocol for determining the pressure setting or settings for the CPAP treatment machine. This protocol is open to modification by clinical staff but typically determines the range of pressures needed to reduce the number of apneas and hypopneas to below a preset number, typically 6 per hour. The protocol makes use of above-mentioned diagnostic accuracy indicators  87  and  90  plus other means to reduce the effect of artefacts causing too high a pressure determination. The protocol may advantageously take into consideration diagnostic measurements made over several nights. The above-mentioned diagnostic period can be repeated, for example annually, to maintain the setting of the CPAP flow generator  128  near its optimum. 
     In the above-mentioned diagnostic period monitoring system  101  produces a report at the end of said diagnostic phase that indicates the main physiological observations of the study and which may assist in the choice of CPAP treatment machine type. Additionally, the report highlights the occurrence of anomalous respiratory behaviour, including the occurrence of central apneas, that may contraindicate conventional CPAP treatment. 
     It is sometimes advantageous in sleep studies to have a moving or still image of the patient at various times during the night, particularly in coincidence with notable respiratory events. Conventionally, time synchronised video cassette recorders (VCRs) are used, allowing retrospective access to relevant sections of the video tape via computer control. One problem with this arrangement is the need for a video player to effect playback. The invention uses the monitoring system  101  to trigger a video camera that is aimed at the patient so that only the frames immediately preceding and succeeding a notable respiratory event are recorded as a video clip. 
     Further, using existing MPEG type compression techniques, the aforesaid video clip may be digitised and stored on computer disk  107  with the rest of the physiological information. This allows, on subsequent review, the replay of the video clip in a window on the computer screen at the same time as the physiological data is being observed, without the need for a video player. 
     As an alternative implementation, particularly for home use, the main recording medium  107  may be the tape of a conventional VCR, the video channel of which records the patient video clips, the audio channel of which records, in digitally modulated form, such as the output of a line modem, a combination of the above-mentioned digitised signals  60 , the above-mentioned basic derived signals  64  et seq. and the above-mentioned diagnostic signals  85  et seq. 
     The recording of snore is also a factor in the monitoring of partially obstructed breathing and there remain subtleties of sound that need the human ear to determine. Thus in review mode the option exists for listening to the snore component of the originally recorded signals, processed for snore detection using the high pass filter as in the derivation of basic derived signal  75  can optionally be played out in real time via sound output means  114 , typically a multimedia sound card such as those sold under the registered trademark “SOUNDBLASTER”, connected to computing means  104 . Another option allows the snore signals to be listened to at a review speed faster than real time. 
     Referring to FIG. 21, polygraph input means  110  is provided as a means of integrating the system described above with existing clinical recording systems in both sleep laboratories and other clinical environments such as intensive therapy and coronary care units. The polygraph input means  110  provides a method of outputting from the system indications of the states of diagnostic signals  85 - 92  in a form that can be input to the recording system of, for example, a polygraph (shown in FIG. 23) via a physiological input channel of the polygraph. The advantage of the polygraph input means  110  is that no specialist interface need be available in the polygraph, only an unused analogue physiological input channel such as that used for an ECG or EMG, with an input range of between approximately 10 mV and 1 V. Once the signal is input to the polygraph it can be automatically reviewed in conjunction with the conventional input signals using the standard review procedure of the polygraph. 
     As shown in FIG. 21, polygraph input means  110  comprises computer interface means  116  which is connected to an at least  4  bit wide parallel digital output port of computing means  104 , isolation means  117  which electrically isolates the parallel digital outputs of computing means  104  from the isolated digital outputs  118 . The isolated digital outputs  118  are connected to an isolated digital to analog converter (DAC)  119 , the output  120  of which is attenuated by attenuator  121  and presented as an input  122  to a physiological signal input channel of a polygraph. 
     The polygraph input means  110  thus allows the input to a polygraph of a series of analog voltage steps, the amplitude of the steps being determined by the digital input applied to the isolated DAC  119 . 
     By rapidly changing the levels of the steps in a predetermined pattern, the output voltage of the polygraph input means  110  may be caused to trace letters and numbers that are recorded by the polygraph as a conventional analog input signal. FIG. 22 a  shows a graph of voltage against time of the 7 by 5 element matrix  123  that is used to construct one of the alphanumeric characters  127 . Baseline  124  is the voltage output when the system is idling. Fast transitions  125  between dots  126  on the aforesaid matrix are almost invisible on the review screen, leaving the dots, for which the voltage is held constant for a preset time, visible as the matrix. 
     If the display of a particular character does not require a dot in a particular matrix position the said output voltage is returned to the baseline  124  for the duration of the said dot. In this manner a character may be traced out. FIG. 22 b  indicates the tracing necessary to display the letter “A”. 
     The aforesaid facility enables computing means  104  to output alphanumeric forms of a selection of diagnostic variables  85 - 92  to the polygraph, shown in FIG. 23, allowing simultaneous comparison on the polygraph display  131  of the conventional physiological signals  132  being recorded and the diagnoses  133  of the system described above. 
     By using system  101  with a patient who is undergoing treatment with a CPAP flow generator, the effectiveness of the treatment may be assessed by determining the residual number of obstructive apneas that occur using the above-mentioned techniques. 
     The aforesaid assessment of effectiveness may also be used to verify that the patient has, in fact, been submitting to treatment by the CPAP flow generator or has been avoiding the same. System  101  can, therefore, also be used as a compliance monitor for CPAP treatment. 
     Further embodiments will now be described with reference to FIGS. 24 to  33 . 
     A die cut part  5  is seen in FIG. 24 where a number of sensor strips  5  are cut out from a single sheet of PVDF from which is also formed tail strip  5 A. Separate conductive tracks  17  and  17 ′ on each face of each of the sensor strips  35  (FIG. 25) are formed by selective etching or printing at the metallisation layers of the tail strip,  5 A to conduct the sensor signals to bus connector  42 A. 
     The PVDF film material is normally only produceable in strips that can be many metres long but which have a restricted width that may be too narrow to allow the manufacture of a large one-part multistrip assembly  9  in the form visualised in FIG.  24 . The one-piece form thus displayed is advantageous from a manufacturing point of view—whereby all the strips  5  are part of a single, die cut sheet and, further, in which the electrical connections from each strip  5  may be conducted from the strip via metallisation on integral tailstrip  5 A. 
     Advantages bestowed by the embodiment of FIGS. 24 and 25 are: 
     (a) cheaper cost of manufacture 
     (b) more closely matching of sensor electrical characteristics 
     (c) more precise location of sensor strips within the movement sensitive mattress 
     (d) additionally, the provision of an integral strengthening and location element which stabilises and orients the sensor strips. 
     FIG. 26 shows a further embodiment, which involves the cutting of a relatively narrow (typically 6 cm wide) sheet of PVDF  11  with a pattern illustrated in FIG. 26 a,  consisting of a number (typically between 4 and 15) of staggered parallel cuts  14  separated by the required width of each sensor strip (typically 1 cm), and of length equal to that required in the aforesaid sensor strips  5 , typically 60 cm. The parallel cuts dissect out from the PVDF film, strips  5  whose length is limited only by the length of the said film and not its breadth. Subsequent to the aforesaid dissection, each of the strips  5  is folded into a position 90 degrees from its original orientation at its base  150  via a crease  152  oriented at 45 degrees to the said cuts (FIG. 26 b ). The residual unfolded element of PVDF sheet  10  serves as an integral tail strip  5 A which conducts the electrical signals away from the said sensor strips to a remote electrical connector. Thus can be achieved the goal of producing a single piece sensor system from a film of restricted width. 
     Additionally, PVDF sheet  11  may be manufactured with stabilising element  11   a  (FIG. 27 a ) consisting of an integral portion of the said sheet which folds underneath and is glued to the sheet and to the folded sensor strips  5  (FIG. 27 b ). The said 45 degree creasing of the strips  5  is thus immobilised, thereby removing any tendency for the strips  5  to return elastically to their original orientation. 
     FIG. 28 shows in more detail the electrical connections  17  from each sensor strip  5  along tail strip  5 A to bus connector  42 A. Normally there will be two separate connections  17  and  17 ′ from each of the sensor strips  5 , one from each face. 
     In another, simpler configuration, one face of each of the strips  5  is connected in common and that single common connection is conducted to bus connector  42 A along with the single connections from the obverse sides of each individual strip (FIG. 29 a ). 
     In a further simplification, all or some of the top faces of the said sensor strips may be connected in common and, separately, all the obverse faces may be likewise connected in common, to give just two electrical connections to the assembly (FIG. 29 b ). Such a simplification no longer allows the signal from each of the said sensor strips to be recorded separately, rather the output electrical signal is the sum of all the individual responses. 
     Optionally, further conductive layers or films may be applied over the entire area of the PVDF film  11  to shield the aforesaid connections from external electrical interference. 
     FIGS. 30 a  and  30   b  show in more detail the design of the conductive metallisation  13  on the top surface (FIG. 30 a ) and conductive metallisation  14  on the obverse (FIG. 30 b ) which collect the strain-generated charge from the strip and conduct it to the bus connector  42 A. Electrical charge is only conducted from the faces of the sensor strips  5  when each opposing face is metallised with conductive layers which overlap. In order to limit the area of sensitivity to that of the strip itself, the opposing metallisation patterns are staggered in the region  15  &amp;  16  of said 45 degree crease and, thereafter, on tail strip  5 A. This renders the region of the said crease and the tail strip insensitive to any strains that maybe imposed thereon. This is important because the creasing causes disproportionate strain to be experienced at the crease. 
     In all the above-mentioned sensor configurations the separate option exists (FIG. 31) to curl sensor strip  5  round the edge of mounting foam sheet  7 B, allowing the tail strip  5 A and bus connector  42 A to be located away from patient contact. This advantageously removes any difference in stiffness that may be felt by the patient when lying on tail strip  5 A or bus connector  42 A and further protects the said bus connector and associated wires from potential physical damage. 
     When placing a said movement sensitive mattress on top of a conventional mattress, if the lateral dimensions of the two mattresses differ then the patient on the bed may well be discomfited. By making full use of the inherent thinness of the above-mentioned sensor assemblies the complete movement sensitive mattress may be mounted in an assembly less than 3 mm in thickness, allowing its easy and comfortable location on a range of conventional mattress sizes. 
     The thin movement sensitive mattresses described above can be regarded as a movement-sensitive sheet. 
     It may be desirable that the sensor strips  5  be enclosed in a waterproof envelope. However, the use of a sheet of neoprene or similar rubber to effect the waterproofing function can be clammy and uncomfortable. In order to improve comfort in this regard the construction of FIG. 32 a  is used. Movement-sensitive mattress or sheet  2 ′ is constructed as described above with sensor strips  5  connected to tail strip  5 A and bus connector  42 A, the assembly thereof being sandwiched between thin neoprene or other suitably waterproof, flexible sheet  6 A. The said sheet  6 A is, however, perforated with holes  6 B that allow the assembly to “breathe”—that is, to facilitate the diffusion of humidity from the area in contact with the patient to the conventional bedding beneath the said movement sensitive mattress or sheet. The location of the sensor strips  5  are optionally located by web components  6 C. 
     In a further simplification to the above-mentioned design for increased patient comfort, the sensor strips  5  may be enclosed by the waterproof envelope  6 A only in the immediate vicinity thereof (FIG. 32 b ). In this configuration gaps  6 D between the enclosed sensor strips  5  facilitate the above-mentioned diffusion of humidity away from the subject. 
     FIG. 32 c  shows an arrangement of six sensors  5 ′ arranged at the edge margin of the mattress  2 . Lateral strain elements  162 , acting to channel vertical body displacement to the respective sensor  5 ′ are provided. If preferred, a series of alternating slits  160  can be provided to decouple or isolate adjacent strain elements  162 . In another form, channelling of the lateral strain to each sensor  5 ′ may be achieved by use of a substrate material (not shown) in which the lateral (left-to-right) stiffness is significantly greater than the longitudinal (head-to-toe) direction. 
     In another implementation which improves the ability to locate accurately the sensor strips  5  and aids subject comfort, the movement-sensitive mattress or sheet  2 ′ is mounted on a carrier sheet  7 ′ typically made of cotton or an equivalent porous bed sheeting material or net (FIG.  33 ). The mounting method for the construction may be permanent, whereby movement-sensitive mattress or sheet  2 ′ is permanently bounded to carrier sheet  7 ′, or removable, whereby movement-sensitive mattress or sheet  2 ′ is attached to carrier sheet  7 ′ by fastenings such as haberdashers&#39; press studs or “VELCRO”™ hook and loop material. The construction of carrier sheet  7 ′ can, advantageously, follow the form of a conventional “fitted” bedding sheet whereby an elasticated border (not shown) holds the carrier sheet  7 ′ on a conventional mattress  3 .