Patent ID: 7828739

Claim:
A method, for detecting apnea in a mammal, comprising: obtaining data indicative of pulsatile cardiovascular behavior from the mammal, the data comprising at least a first and a second pulse waveform; determining, by a processor, a first value of a function of a change in amplitude of the first pulse waveform, with respect to time, over at least a partial duration of the first pulse waveform; determining a second value of a function of a change in amplitude of the second pulse waveform, with respect to time, over at least a partial duration of the second pulse waveform; and determining at least one of a probability of apnea, a presence of apnea, and an absence of apnea based on a comparison of the first value and the second value; wherein said first pulse waveform is generated during one of either a respiratory inspiration and a respiratory expiration of said mammal, and said second pulse waveform is generated during the other of the inspiration and the expiration of said mammal.