Apparatus for Diagnosing Sleep Breathing Disorders

摘要

This invention is generally related to methods and apparatus for performingmedical diagnoses and particularly to a method and apparatus for diagnosing individuals with sleep breathing disorders or other physiological respiratory functions. Sleep breathing disorders and other physiological respiratory dysfunctions in humans constitute an area requiring diagnosis. One such area is called obstructive sleep apnea or sleep disorder breathing. Within the pediatric, infant and newborn population the incidence of apparent life threatening events, sudden infant death syndrome and sleep disorder breathing have all been well documented. Sleep apnea also affects over 25% of apparently healthy adults age 55 and older. Sleep apnea contributes to daytime fatigue, increased work place accidents and a number of cardiovascular disorders. The need for a relatively easily implemented procedure exists to provide efficient methods and procedures for diagnosing these various physiological respiratory dysfunctions.