Patent ID: 8679029

Claim:
A method employing at least signal processing of a CO2 waveform for providing an output indication relating to at least one respiratory disorder of a patient, the method comprising: receiving, from a capnograph, a CO2 waveform indicative of partial-pressure CO2 values of the patient; receiving from a second sensing unit a second signal indicative of a second medical parameter; and using a processor: defining at least one section of the CO2 waveform; wherein the parameter comprises a slope of a CO2 concentration curve, an angle of rise, a time to rise, run time of the rise, curvature, acceleration, or area under the curve of said at least one section of the CO2 waveform, or any combination of these parameters; computing at least one parameter relating to the CO2 waveform; and wherein computing at least one parameter relating to the CO2 waveform comprises computing an initial slope and an angle of rise to a predetermined percentage of a maximum concentration of CO2; diagnosing a type and a degree of severity of said at least one respiratory disorder indicated by said at least one parameter relating to the CO2 waveform, wherein diagnosing the type of said respiratory disorder comprises identifying respiration impairment based on said at least one parameter relating to the CO2 waveform and said second medical parameter; and if respiration impairment is identified: distinguishing between an upper airway obstruction and a lower airway obstruction; wherein distinguishing between said upper airway obstruction and said lower airway obstruction comprises determining a time duration to reach a predetermined percentage of a maximum CO2 concentration; and providing an output indication responsive to a pattern of changes in the degree of severity of said respiration impairment over time.