U.S. patent application number 10/662684 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-25 for method and apparatus to detect and treat sleep respiratory events.
This patent application is currently assigned to Medtronic, Inc.. Invention is credited to Cho, Yong Kyun, Erickson, Mark K., Markowitz, H. Toby, Mongeon, Luc R..
Application Number | 20040059240 10/662684 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23103788 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040059240 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cho, Yong Kyun ; et
al. |
March 25, 2004 |
Method and apparatus to detect and treat sleep respiratory
events
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for
detecting and treating sleep respiratory events that includes a
plurality of sensors gathering physiological data related to sleep
respiratory events. A processor extracts an average cycle length
and a frequency of at least one of Cheyne-Stokes respiration and
periodic breathing based upon the physiological data, and
determines whether therapy is required based on the average cycle
length and the frequency.
Inventors: |
Cho, Yong Kyun; (Maple
Grove, MN) ; Mongeon, Luc R.; (Minneapolis, MN)
; Erickson, Mark K.; (Brooklyn Park, MN) ;
Markowitz, H. Toby; (Roseville, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Daniel G. Chapik
Medtronic, Inc., MS 301
Mailstop LC340
710 Medtronic Parkway
Minneapolis
MN
55432
US
|
Assignee: |
Medtronic, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
23103788 |
Appl. No.: |
10/662684 |
Filed: |
September 15, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10662684 |
Sep 15, 2003 |
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10133009 |
Apr 26, 2002 |
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6641542 |
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60287650 |
Apr 30, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
600/532 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 5/4818 20130101;
A61B 5/08 20130101; A61N 1/3601 20130101; A61B 5/0205 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/532 |
International
Class: |
A61B 005/08 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A medical device for detecting and treating sleep respiratory
events, comprising: a plurality of sensors gathering physiological
data related to sleep respiratory events; and a processor
extracting an average cycle length and a frequency of at least one
of Cheyne-Stokes respiration and periodic breathing based upon the
physiological data, and determining whether therapy is required
based on the average cycle length and the frequency.
2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors
include at least one of an intracardiac impedance sensor, an
intrathoracic impedance sensor, a body movement sensor, an oxygen
sensor, and a pressure sensor.
3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the therapy includes
overdrive pacing.
4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the therapy includes
hypoglossal nerve stimulation.
5. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a memory unit
storing and updating the sleep respiratory events.
6. The medical device of claim 5, wherein the memory unit stores
wake events corresponding to the sleep respiratory events.
7. The medical device of claim 6, wherein the processor determines
whether therapy is required based on a predetermined apnea hypopnea
index.
8. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the predetermined apnea
hypopnea index is 15.
9. A medical device for detecting and treating sleep respiratory
events, comprising: a plurality of sensors gathering physiological
data related to sleep respiratory events; a processor extracting an
average cycle length and a frequency of at least one of
Cheyne-Stokes respiration and periodic breathing based upon the
physiological data, and determining whether therapy is required
based on the average cycle length and the frequency; and a memory
unit storing and updating the sleep respiratory events, wherein the
plurality of sensors include at least one of an intracardiac
impedance sensor, an intrathoracic impedance sensor, a body
movement sensor, an oxygen sensor, and a pressure sensor, and
wherein the therapy includes one of overdrive pacing and
hypoglossal nerve stimulation.
10. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the memory unit stores
wake events corresponding to the sleep respiratory events.
11. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the processor
determines whether therapy is required based on a predetermined
apnea hypopnea index.
12. The medical device of claim 11, wherein the predetermined apnea
hypopnea index is 15.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Serial No. 60/287,650, filed Apr. 30, 2001,
entitled "IMPROVED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TREATING SLEEP APNEAS",
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to implantable medical
devices, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for
detecting and treating sleep apnea.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0003] Although the function of sleep is not well understood, one
obvious consequence of an inadequate quantity or poor quality of
sleep is an inability to maintain adequate wakefulness. However,
while there are many medical conditions that can prevent a person
from receiving a good night's rest, one such condition is sleep
apnea.
[0004] Sleep apnea is generally defined as the cessation of
breathing during sleep, and usually comes in at least one of two
basic types. The more common type of sleep apnea is obstructive
sleep apnea ("OSA"), which is generally characterized by repetitive
pauses in breathing during sleep due to the obstruction and/or
collapse of the upper airway, usually accompanied by a reduction in
blood oxygen saturation.
[0005] The less common type of sleep apnea, central sleep apnea
(CSA), is generally defined as a neurological condition causing
cessation of substantially all respiratory effort during sleep,
usually accompanied with decreases in blood oxygen saturation. In
other words, the airway is not necessarily blocked, but the brain
fails to send the appropriate signals to the breathing muscles to
initiate respirations. As a result, respiratory effort ceases
during periods of CSA. Additionally, a patient with CSA is
generally aroused from sleep by an automatic reflex to breathe.
Such arousal may prevent the patient from receiving a deep, restful
sleep.
[0006] One common form of central sleep apnea, commonly known as
Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR), is generally a breathing pattern
that is first shallow and infrequent and then increases gradually
to become abnormally deep and rapid, before fading away completely
for a brief period. Breathing may be stopped for an extended time
period, before the next cycle of shallow breathing begins. CSR is
common in patients with CHF. It should be noted that some patients
have some combination of OSA and CSA, which is commonly known as
mixed sleep apnea.
[0007] Sleep apnea may cause a variety of medical and other
problems among patients. Cycles of sleep, snoring, obstruction,
arousal, and sleep may occur many times throughout the night.
Although such nocturnal arousals may last only a few seconds, they
prevent a person from reaching the deep sleep stages (i.e., stage
3-4 and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep), which the body generally
needs to rest and replenish its strength.
[0008] Furthermore, multiple arousals with sleep fragmentation are
likely to cause excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue, cognitive
impairment, depression, headaches, chest pain, and diminished
sexual drive. Sleep apnea is generally associated with
cardiovascular morbidity, including systemic hypertension,
pulmonary hypertension, ischemic heart disease, stroke, and cardiac
arrhythmias. Sleep apnea is also usually associated with increased
mortality by negatively affecting the status, progression, and
outcomes of previously existing conditions, such as congestive
heart failure ("CHF").
[0009] OSA is a disorder that is generally underdiagnosed and
undertreated; Because OSA may worsen the effects of a previously
existing condition, such as CHF, treatment of OSA may be beneficial
to reduce its negative on the previously existing condition. Once
OSA has been properly diagnosed, a variety of therapies may be
available. Common OSA therapies include non-surgical methods, such
as continuous positive airway pressure ("CPAP"), as well as
surgical methods, such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty ("UPPP").
Effective therapy for OSA can often reverse or ameliorate the
problems associated with OSA.
[0010] One method of diagnosis for sleep apnea is polysomnography.
In polysomnography, multiple physiological parameters are measured
while the patient sleeps in a sleep laboratory. Typical parameters
in a polysomnography include eye movement observations (to
determine whether a patient has reached REM sleep), an
electroencephalogram (to determine arousals from sleep), chest wall
monitors (to document respiratory movements), nasal and oral air
flow measurements, and an electrocardiogram, among other
parameters. A combination of these and other factors are used by
doctors and other qualified sleep specialists to determine whether
a patient has sleep apnea. However, an overnight sleep study is
generally expensive and time-consuming. As a result, many patients
with sleep apnea may not seek proper diagnosis or treatment of
their sleeping disorder from a doctor or other qualified sleep
specialist. Even if a patient is diagnosed with sleep apnea,
frequent laboratory monitoring of the patient is generally not
feasible due to the expense and time involved in a nocturnal
polysomnography.
[0011] The technology explosion in the implantable medical devices
industry has resulted in many new and innovative devices and
methods for analyzing and improving the health of a patient. The
class of implantable medical devices now includes pacemakers,
implantable cardioverters, defibrillators, neural stimulators, and
drug administering devices, among others. Today's state-of-the-art
implantable medical devices are vastly more sophisticated and
complex than early ones, capable of performing significantly more
complex tasks. The therapeutic benefits of such devices have been
well proven.
[0012] There are many implementations of implantable medical
devices that provide data acquisition of important physiological
data from a human body. Many implantable medical devices are used
for cardiac monitoring and therapy. Often these devices include
sensors that are placed in blood vessels and/or chambers of the
heart, and are operatively coupled with implantable monitors and
therapy delivery devices. For example, such cardiac systems include
implantable heart monitors and therapy delivery devices, such as
pacemakers, cardioverters, defibrillators, heart pumps,
cardiomyostimulators, ischemia treatment devices, drug delivery
devices, and other heart therapy devices. Most of these cardiac
systems include electrodes for sensing and gain amplifiers for
recording and/or driving sense event signals from the inter-cardiac
or remote electrogram ("EGM").
[0013] Many patients who use implantable medical devices may be at
risk for sleep apnea. However, patients are generally left with
traditional forms of diagnosis for sleep apnea, such as
polysomnography. As mentioned, polysomnography may be an expensive
and time-consuming procedure. Furthermore, many patients may not
recognize that they have symptoms relating to sleep apnea, such
that they would seek diagnosis and treatment for the disorder.
Polysomnography is generally an infrequent procedure that does not
provide long term monitoring of the patient's condition after the
patient has been diagnosed. Even after a patient is diagnosed with
sleep apnea, traditional methods of treatment such as CPAP may be
time-consuming and costly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided
for detecting and treating sleep apnea. The method includes
gathering information from an implantable sensor device for
detecting sleep apnea, extracting an average cycle length and a
frequency of at least one of Cheyne-Stokes respiration and periodic
breathing based upon the information gathered from the implantable
sensor device, performing diagnostics and decision on the average
cycle length and the frequency to form results, and delivering
therapy in response to the results of the diagnostics for treating
sleep apnea.
[0015] In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is
provided for detecting and treating sleep apnea. The apparatus
includes an implantable first sensor adapted to gather information
related to sleep apnea, a program for extracting an average cycle
length and a frequency of at least one of Cheyne-Stokes respiration
and periodic breathing based upon the information gathered, a
program for performing diagnostics and decision on the average
cycle length and the frequency to form results, an implantable
second sensor adapted to deliver therapy in response to the results
of the diagnostics, a data acquisition controller adapted to
receive data from at least one of the first sensor and the second
sensor, a control logic adapted to control the medical device, and
a processor adapted to utilize the control logic to provide data
from the data acquisition controller to a memory unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The invention may be understood by reference to the
following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements,
and in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram of an implementation of an
implantable medical device, in accordance with one illustrative
embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram representation of an
implantable medical system in accordance with one illustrative
embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a more detailed block diagram representation of
the implantable medical system of FIGS. 1 and 2, in accordance with
one illustrative embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method of
implementing the implantable medical system of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3,
in accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the present
invention
[0021] FIG. 5, is a graphical diagram of a plurality of various
sensors that may be implemented in the implantable medical system
of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, in accordance with one illustrative
embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method of
implementing the implantable medical system of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3,
in accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the present
invention.
[0023] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications
and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown
by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in
detail. It should be understood, however, that the description
herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the
invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary,
the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and
alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described
below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual
implementation are described in this specification. It will of
course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual
embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made
to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with
system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary
from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be
appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and
time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for
those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this
disclosure.
[0025] There are many discrete processes involving the operation of
implantable medical devices (e.g., pacemakers, implantable
cardiovertor defibrillators, the like). The operation of an
implantable medical device includes collecting, storing, and
analyzing physiological data relating to a patient, and/or
delivering therapy (e.g., cardiac therapy) to a portion of a
patient's body. Often, these tasks are performed by an implantable
medical system, which includes an implantable medical device. Based
upon the analysis performed by the implantable medical system, one
or more therapies may be delivered to a particular portion of a
patient's body. One example of such a therapy is a cardiac pacing
therapy, which is delivered to a patient's heart.
[0026] Embodiments of the present invention may be utilized to
detect the common symptoms and conditions related to patients with
the various forms of sleep apnea and to provide an appropriate
treatment. It should be appreciated that the present invention may
be included in an implantable device capable of collecting data
other than data used to diagnose and treat sleep apnea. The data
may be collected by sensors in the implantable device and may be
used by doctors and other sleep experts to judge the severity of
apneas and to determine the most applicable apnea therapy, without
the use of polysomnography.
[0027] Turning now to FIG. 1, one embodiment of implementing an
implantable medical device into a human body is illustrated. A
sensor device 210 (e.g., devices attached to leads 114) placed upon
the heart 116 of the human body 105 is used to acquire and process
physiological data. In one embodiment, the sensor device 210 may
also be a therapy delivery device (described in greater detail
below). An implantable medical device 220 collects and processes a
plurality of data acquired from the human body 105. In one
embodiment, the implantable medical device 220 may be a cardiac
pacemaker or an implantable cardiovertor defibrillator ("ICD"). The
data acquired by the implantable medical device 220 can be
monitored by an external system, such as the access device 240
including a programming head 122, which remotely communicates with
the implantable medical device 220. The programming head 122 is
utilized in accordance with medical device programming systems
known to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present
disclosure, for facilitating two-way communication between the
implantable medical device 220 and the access device 240.
[0028] In one embodiment, a plurality of access devices 240 can be
employed to collect a plurality of data, including sleep data,
processed by the implantable medical device 220 in accordance with
embodiments of the present invention. The implantable medical
device 220 is housed within a hermetically sealed, biologically
inert outer canister or housing 113, which may itself be conductive
so as to serve as an electrode in the implantable medical device
220 pacing/sensing circuit. One or more sensors/leads, collectively
identified with reference numeral 114 in FIG. 1, are electrically
coupled to the implantable medical device 220 and extended into the
patient's heart 116 via a vein 118. Disposed generally near a
distal end of the leads 114 are one or more exposed conductive
electrodes (i.e., sensor device 210) for receiving electrical
cardiac signals or delivering electrical pacing stimuli to the
heart 116. The leads 114 may be implanted with their distal end
situated in either the atrium or ventricle of the heart 116. In an
alternative embodiment, the sensor device 210, or the leads 114
associated with the sensor device 210, may be situated in a blood
vessel on the heart 116, such as a vein 118.
[0029] Turning now to FIG. 2, a system 200, in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention, is illustrated. The system 200
comprises a sensor device 210, an implantable medical device 220,
an access device 240, and an interface 230 that provides a
communication link between the implantable medical device 220 and
the access device 240. As described in greater detail below, the
sensor device 210 may comprise at least one of a variety of sensors
that aid in the detection of sleep apnea. For the sake of
simplicity, only one sensor device 210 is illustrated. Embodiments
of the present invention provide a plurality of physiological data
from the sensor device 210, which are then processed and stored in
the implantable medical device 220. In one embodiment, the sensor
devices 210 may collect data that is used to detect and treat sleep
apnea in a patient.
[0030] As mentioned, based upon physiological data and other
factors, the implantable medical device 220 may deliver a therapy
to a portion of the patient's body, via the sensor device 210. It
should be appreciated that other embodiments of the present
invention may deliver therapy to a patient via a device other than
the sensor device 210. The access device 240 can then be used to
monitor and analyze the organized data from the implantable medical
device 220 via the interface 230 and view results from delivered
therapy. The access device 240 can be used to monitor the
efficiency of the therapy delivered by the implantable medical
device 220. The access device 240 can be used to determine, based
upon data stored by the implantable medical device 220, whether a
therapy delivered was of proper energy intensity.
[0031] Turning now to FIG. 3, a more detailed block diagram
depiction of one embodiment of the implantable medical device 220
is illustrated. The implantable medical device 220 includes a
processor 310, a control logic 320, a memory unit 330, a data
acquisition controller 340, a telemetry interface 350, and a data
interface 360. The sensor device 210 provides various physiological
data to the implantable medical device 220. As mentioned, only one
sensor device 210 is illustrated. However, the sensor device 210
may comprise at least one of a variety of sensors in accordance
with conventional practice for the detection of sleep apnea.
Similarly, only one data interface 360 is illustrated for the sake
of simplicity. However, more than one data interface 360 may be
used in accordance with conventional practice. The processor 310
controls the operation of the implantable medical device 220. The
processor 310 utilizes the control logic 320 to perform a plurality
of operations, including memory access and storage operations. The
processor 310 communicates with the control logic 320 and the data
acquisition controller 340 via a bus line 325. The control logic
320 sends control signals to the memory unit 330 for controlling
and installing the memory unit 330, and to the data acquisition
controller 340, which controls the acquisition of physiological
data and drives output signals to the telemetry interface 350. The
memory 330 may comprise at least one of a variety of programs,
including programs for parameter extraction and programs for
diagnostics and decision, as described in greater detail below.
[0032] The telemetry interface 350 can facilitate real-time access
of physiological data acquired by the data acquisition controller
340. Therefore, a physician can view physiological data on a real
time basis by accessing the data acquisition controller 340, via
the telemetry interface 350. The data acquisition controller 340
can prompt the data interface 360 to retrieve physiological data
from the sensor device 210, process such data, and deliver
physiological data to the data acquisition controller 340. The data
interface 360 can perform a number of analog-to-digital conversions
and time-interval conversions, known to those skilled in the art,
upon the acquired physiological data. The data interface 360 can
acquire, condition, and process physiological data and forward them
to the data acquisition controller 340.
[0033] It should be appreciated that, in an alternate embodiment,
the functionality of the data interface 360 may be combined with
the sensor device 210, such that information gathered by the sensor
device 210 may be readily utilized by the implantable medical
device 220 without further processing by another device or
interface. It should also be appreciated that, although the sensor
devices 210 are separated from the implantable medical device 220
for illustrative purposes in FIGS. 2 and 3, the implantable medical
device 220 may further include the sensor devices 210.
[0034] Turning now to FIG. 4, a method of implementing the present
invention, in accordance with one embodiment, is illustrated. The
sensor device 210 of the implantable medical device 220 of FIG. 1
detects (at 410) whether a patient has sleep apnea. In order to
detect sleep apnea in a patient, the implantable medical device 220
may incorporate various sensor technologies. It should be
appreciated that the sensor device 210 may comprise one or more of
the various sensor technologies, as described in greater detail
below. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the sensor device
210 may further be capable of delivering therapy to the patient and
providing patient monitoring data.
[0035] Turning now to FIG. 5, the sensor device 210 may comprise at
least one of the following: an impedance sensor 510, a body
movement sensor 520, an oxygen level sensor 530, and a blood
pressure sensor 540. It should be appreciated that the present
discussion of various sensor technologies is not exhaustive.
However, it is noted that the sensor device 210 generally measures
at least one of a variety of indices relating to sleep apnea. The
indices are typically referred as adverse events. Adverse events
are the measurable events indicating abnormal sleep. Adverse events
may include apnea, hypopnea (regardless the origin, type, arousals,
limb movements, etc.), Cheyne-Stokes respiration ("CSR"), periodic
breathing, and abnormal arousals, among other events.
[0036] The sensor device 210 may comprise various other sensors, in
accordance with conventional practice. In one embodiment, the
sensor device 210 may be an impedance sensor 510. The impedance
sensor 510 may measure, among other things, respiration and cardiac
condition. In one example, the impedance sensor 510 may be an
intracardiac impedance sensor 510-1, which measures impedance
between an intracardiac atrial electrode and an intracardiac
ventricular electrode. A large decrease in impedance between atrial
and ventricular electrodes (i.e., a decrease in the intracardiac
impedance) may be an indication of sleep apnea. As a patient
attempts to breath while his airway is obstructed, intrathoracic
pressure may decrease, which overfills the right side of the heart.
This overfilling of the right side of the heart increases the
diameter of the atrium and the ventricle. Although the volume of
the heart does not change, the shape of the heart becomes shorter
and wider. As a result, a drop in atrial-to-ventricular impedance
may be observed during sleep apnea because the wider blood pool
will cause a reduced impedance.
[0037] In another example, the impedance sensor 510 may be an
intrathoracic impedance sensor 510-2, which measures impedance
across the thorax. A decrease in intrathoracic impedance during
attempted respiration may be a factor in determining whether a
patient has sleep apnea. As a patient attempts to breathe while his
airway is obstructed, the circumference of his thorax may expand.
As the patient's thorax expands, the diaphragm pushes the heart and
lungs upward. As the lungs are pushed upward, the lungs do not
change volume, but instead become shorter and wider. The shorter
and wider shape of the lungs may reduce intrathoracic impedance. In
addition, upward movement of the diaphragm pushes the heart closer
to the implantable medical device 220, thereby reducing
impedance.
[0038] Another possible indication that a patient has sleep apnea
comes from a rapid increase in impedance minute ventilation ("MV")
followed by a slower decrease in impedance MV. In one embodiment,
the impedance sensor 510 may include pacemaker sensors (not shown)
that measure impedance between a pacemaker and an intracardiac
electrode. The impedance between the pacemaker and the intracardiac
electrode may be used to estimate in MV. During an arousal from
sleep apnea, the patient goes through a hyperpneic phase, which is
a period of abnormally rapid or deep breathing
("hyperventilation"). Studies have shown that during the hyperpneic
phase there may be an immediate rise in MV. However, as the patient
goes through an apneic phase, MV gradually decreases.
[0039] The sensor device 210 may be a body movement sensor 520.
Embodiments of the body movement sensor 520 may comprise a piezo
crystal or an accelerometer. The body movement sensor 520 may be
used alone. For example, during the hyperpneic phase following the
release of an obstruction, there is usually a brief arousal, which
can cause body movement detectable by movement sensors. The body
movement sensor 520 may also be used in conjunction with one or
more other sensors. For example, it is described above that a
reduction of intracardiac impedance by the impedance sensor 510 may
be caused by a wider blood pool. However, the wider blood pool may
also be a result vigorous exercise from the patient. Therefore, the
impedance sensor 510 may be read in conjunction with the body
movement sensor. In one embodiment, a low reading from the body
movement sensor 520 indicates the patient is not physically active.
Accordingly, a decrease in the impedance sensor 510 and a low
reading from the body movement sensor 520 may indicate the patient
has sleep apnea. Furthermore, a brief period of movement during
sleep coinciding with the dramatic increase in respiration (i.e., a
rapid increase in impedance MV followed by a slower decrease in
impedance MV) may indicate the patient has sleep apnea.
[0040] The sensor device 210 may be an oxygen sensor 530, which
measures oxygen saturation level in blood and tissue. Sleep apnea
generally causes a drop in one's blood oxygen saturation
("SaO.sub.2") and an increase in the blood's carbon dioxide
("CO.sub.2"). When the SaO.sub.2 drops, the heart may start pumping
more blood with each beat. As the CO.sub.2 increases, the brain may
try to drive the person to breathe. The effort and action of the
abdomen and chest may increase. Eventually, the increased CO.sub.2
level causes an arousal, thereby resuming respiration. This
sequence of events may occur a plurality of times throughout a
night for a patient with sleep apnea. The oxygen sensor 230 may
measure at least one of the oxygen saturation level of the blood
and tissue and the carbon dioxide level of the blood and tissue. As
mentioned, a decrease in blood saturation and/or an increase in
carbon dioxide may indicate the patient has sleep apnea.
[0041] The sensor device 210 may also be a pressure sensor 540. In
one embodiment, the pressure sensor 540 may be mounted on a lead
114 to measure intracardiac blood pressure. Intracardiac blood
pressure may include either absolute pressure or relative pressure,
generally depending on the ability of the pressure sensor 540 to
calibrate automatically. Studies have shown that the risk of
hypertension (i.e., high blood pressure) may increase with the
severity of sleep apnea in a patient. Detecting hypertension is
important because it is a major factor for cardiovascular disease,
which may lead to heart failure and ultimately death. Accordingly,
the pressure sensor 540 may indicate a risk of sleep apnea in a
patient by detecting a sudden change in the pressure. In another
embodiment, the pressure sensor 540 may measure any of a variety of
surrogates of pressure measurement. The surrogate of pressure
measurement may comprise data from other sensors that have a high
correlation with pressure values, such as impedance.
[0042] It should be appreciated that results of the sensor device
210 are generally stored in the memory unit 330 of FIG. 3, as
described above. However, other embodiments are possible. For
example, the results of the sensor device 210 may be stored on an
external memory source separate from the implantable device 220,
and/or the results may be transmitted to a remote location for
processing and/or storage.
[0043] Referring back to FIG. 4, as the sensor device 210 gathers
various data from the patient to detect (at 410) sleep apnea, at
least one of a variety of parameters are extracted (at 420).
Although not so limited, the extraction (at 420) may be performed
in response to processor-based system instructions (i.e., a
program) capable of being processed by the processor 310 of FIG. 3.
In one embodiment, an Apnea Hypopnea Index ("AHI") (i.e.,
Respiration Disturbance Index ("RDI")) may be extracted. It is
generally the standard in clinical practice and epidemiological
studies to assess the severity of sleep-disordered breathing by
combining the number of apneas and hypopneas per hour of sleep. The
AHI generally refers to the total number of apneas and hypopneas
divided by the total sleep time in a patient's sleep study. The AHI
gives one measure of the severity of the sleep apnea.
[0044] In an alternate embodiment, another parameter that may be
extracted includes an average cycle length and frequency of a
periodic breathing and/or Cheyne-Stokes respiration ("CSR") during
a patient's sleep study. This parameter may be used to monitor the
possibility of congestive heart failure ("CHF"). It should be
appreciated that the above discussion is not exhaustive, and at
least one of a variety of parameters may be extracted (at 420), in
accordance with conventional practice. Similarly to the results
collected from the sensor devices 210, as described above, the
parameters are generally stored in the memory unit 330 of FIG. 3.
However, other embodiments are possible. For example, the
parameters may be stored on an external memory source separate from
the implantable device 220, and/or the results may be transmitted
to a remote location for processing and/or storage.
[0045] It should also be appreciated that the parameters, as
described above, generally refer to occurrences, such as apneas and
hypopneas in the case of AHI, over a period of time (i.e., the
length of a patient's sleep time). AHI may be measured upon any
measure of time, for example, a nightly basis. Furthermore, the AHI
for each measure of time may be stored in the memory unit 330 of
the implantable medical device 220. The detecting (at 410) of sleep
apnea and the extraction (at 420) of parameters over the period of
time provides an effective and efficient method to detect and
monitor at least one of a plurality of indices relating to a
patient's sleep apnea.
[0046] Diagnostics are performed (at 430) regarding the severity of
sleep apnea and a decision is made whether to deliver therapy to
the patient. Although not so limited, the diagnostics (at 430) may
be performed in response to processor-based system instructions
(i.e., a program) capable of being processed by the processor 310
of FIG. 3. Diagnostics may provide a clinician the opportunity to
monitor a patient's sleep apnea, and therefore, allows a physician
to better decide whether to delivery therapy to the patient.
Similarly, diagnostics may provide the physician more information
to determine the appropriate therapy to deliver. It should be
appreciated that the results of the diagnostics may be stored on
the memory unit 330 of the implantable device 220 in FIG. 3 and/or
the results may be delivered to a remote location for analysis. It
should also be appreciated that the results of the diagnostics may
be used by the physician to monitor the severity of sleep
apnea.
[0047] In one embodiment, the value of a patient's AHI can be
compared to certain criteria to determine the severity of sleep
apnea syndrome. According to the American Academy of Sleep
Medicine, an AHI less than 5 is normal, an AHI greater than or
equal to 5 and less than 15 is mild sleep apnea, an AHI greater
than or equal to 15 and less than 30 is moderate sleep apnea, and
an AHI greater or equal to 30 is severe sleep apnea. In another
embodiment, the frequency and cycle length of CSR may be used to
measure the progression of congestive heart failure ("CHF"). It
should be appreciated that any of a variety of guidelines may be
used to diagnose the severity of sleep apnea, in accordance with
conventional practice. It should also be appreciated that any of a
variety of diagnoses may be made with regard to sleep apnea and its
relative complications (e.g., CHF, high blood pressure, etc.), in
accordance with conventional practice.
[0048] The decision on whether to administer therapy may be
performed (at 430) in at least one of a variety of methods, in
accordance with conventional practice. Although not so limited, the
decision (at 430) may be performed in response to processor-based
system instructions (i.e., a program) capable of being processed by
the processor 310 of FIG. 3. In one embodiment, an automatic
monitoring algorithm can control the delivery of therapy. In
another embodiment, the decision to deliver therapy to a patient
may be done manually by a physician. The decision on whether to
deliver therapy is generally made in reference to the diagnostics
performed (at 430). Similarly, the decision on whether to deliver
therapy may also comprise the decision on the type of therapy to
use and the quantity of the therapy.
[0049] The implantable medical device 220 may deliver (at 440)
therapy to a patient diagnosed with sleep apnea. It should be
appreciated that therapy may be delivered at various times and at
various intervals, in accordance with conventional practice. In one
embodiment, the therapy for sleep apnea may include atrial
overdrive pacing (hereinafter "overdrive pacing"). The use of
overdrive pacing as a treatment for sleep apnea is described in
greater detail in Garrigue et al., "Benefit of Atrial Pacing in
Sleep Apnea Syndrome," N Eng J Med, Vol. 346, No. 6, pp 404-412
(Feb. 7, 2002). That study shows that overdrive pacing
significantly reduces the number of episodes of central and
obstructive sleep apnea without reducing the total sleep time.
[0050] Overdrive pacing generally includes sending electrical
signals to the heart to stimulate the heart to beat at a higher
rate than the patient's intrinsic rate. It has been shown that
overdrive pacing at a rate 15 beats per minute faster than the mean
nocturnal heart rate (i.e., the patient's intrinsic rate) resulted
in a significant reduction in the number of apneic episodes.
Furthermore, the rate of 15 beats per minute faster than the
patient's intrinsic rate will generally reduce the frequency of
sleep apnea episodes without causing the patient to wake up.
Previous efforts to artificially pace the heart to treat sleep
apnea, such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,661 to
Bourgeois et al., terminated an apneic event by using an unusually
high paced heart rate that caused to person to wake up. As a
result, the patient may not have received an adequately restful
sleep. The present invention treats sleep apnea without waking up
the patient, thereby allowing the patient to receive a more restful
sleep.
[0051] In an alternate embodiment, the therapy for sleep apnea may
include temporary overdrive pacing. In temporary overdrive pacing,
overdrive pacing therapy may be delivered at a higher rate than the
patient's intrinsic rate, for example, 5 to 30 beats per minute
faster, and at a programmed time interval. After delivering pacing
therapy at the programmed time interval, the pacing rate will
decrease by a decremental interval, for example, 5 beats per
minute. The pacing therapy will continue at each programmed time
interval and the pacing rate will decrease by the decremental
interval until the pacing rate reaches the patient's intrinsic
rate.
[0052] It should also be appreciated that a plurality of other
sleep therapies may be delivered (at 280) to the patient, in
accordance with conventional practice. For example, U.S. Pat. No.
5,591,216 to Testerman et al. describes a method of treating sleep
apnea by applying electrical stimulation to the patient's
hypoglossal nerve. In one embodiment, the implantable device 220
may be implemented to deliver such a therapy and other therapies,
as well.
[0053] Turning now to FIG. 6, a flowchart depiction of detecting
sleep apnea in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention is shown. Once a patient falls asleep, the implantable
device 220 begins nighttime sleep detection (at 610). The sensor
210 collects (at 620) various data and stores the information on
the memory unit 330 of the implantable device 220, for example. As
shown and described in FIG. 5, the sensor device 210 may collect a
plurality of information, including, but not limited to, impedance,
minute ventilation, body movement, blood oxygen saturation
(SaO.sub.2), and intracardiac pressure. From the data collected
from the sensor device 210, it is determined (at 630) whether any
sleep respiratory events have occurred. Examples of sleep
respiratory events include apneas and hypopneas. If there are no
sleep respiratory events, the sensor device 210 continues to
collect (at 620) more data from the patient.
[0054] If sleep respiratory events are detected, then each sleep
respiratory event is stored (at 640) in the memory unit 330, for
example, or it may be used to update (at 640) the information
already accrued regarding previous respiratory events throughout
the night. For example, each apnea or hypopnea that occurs while
the patient is sleeping may cause the value of an apnea hypopnea
counter in the memory unit 330 to increment by one. The apnea
hypopnea counter generally refers to the total number of apneas and
hypopneas divided by the total sleep time in hours in a patient's
sleep study.
[0055] If it is determined (at 650) the patient is not aroused from
sleep (i.e., a wake event) as a result of the sleep respiratory
event, the sensor device continues to collect at 620 more data from
the patient, and the steps at blocks 620, 630, and 640 may be
repeated. If it is determined (at 650) the patient is aroused from
sleep (i.e., a wake event) as a result of the sleep respiratory
event, the wake event is stored (at 660) in the memory unit 330,
for example, or it may be used to update (at 660) the information
already accrued regarding previous wake events. Previous wake
events may be recorded for a long term or a short term, in
accordance with conventional practice.
[0056] If it is determined (at 670) that a sleep therapy feature is
on and determined (at 680) that sleep therapy is required, then
overdrive pacing therapy is turned on (at 690). In one embodiment,
the sleep therapy feature may be on when the patient is diagnosed
as a good candidate for the therapy being delivered. For example,
in the illustrated embodiment, a good candidate for overdrive
pacing will have the sleep therapy feature on. In one embodiment,
sleep therapy may be required when the AHI for the sleep study
reaches above 15 (i.e., moderate or severe sleep apnea). Other
embodiments of the present invention may require sleep therapy at a
different AHI threshold or as a result of other criteria, in
accordance with conventional practice. Once overdrive pacing
therapy is on, overdrive pacing therapy is delivered to the patient
in accordance with conventional practice. It should be appreciated
however that the present invention is not limited to overdrive
pacing therapy. Other therapies, such as hypoglossal nerve
stimulation, may be used.
[0057] The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative
only, as the invention may be modified and practiced in different
but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having
the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations
are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown,
other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore
evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be
altered or modified and all such variations are considered within
the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the protection
sought herein is as set forth in the claims below.
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