System and method for diagnosing sleep apnea

摘要

Various embodiments may provide methods and systems capable of evaluating physiological parameter data. The methods and systems may include monitoring a patient to produce a signal comprising a sequence of numerical values for blood oxygen saturation over a time period. The signal may be analyzed to identify two or more desaturation patterns within the time period, and at least two numerical differences are calculated between the desaturation patterns. A saturation pattern detection index may be calculated using the numerical differences between the desaturation patterns. The saturation pattern detection index may be used to provide an indication of a physiological condition. Other embodiments may provide a medical device that may be used to evaluate physical parameter data according to the techniques described.

主权项

1. A method of evaluating a physiological parameter, comprising:
monitoring a patient with a monitor to produce physiological parameter data comprising a sequence indicative of blood oxygen saturation over a time period; analyzing the physiological parameter data with a processor to identify at least a first desaturation pattern and a second desaturation pattern within the time period; determining a first maximum value of the first desaturation pattern and a second maximum value of the second desaturation pattern with the processor; calculating a peak slope between the first and second maximum values with the processor; calculating a saturation pattern detection index based at least in part upon the peak slope with the processor; and providing an indication of sleep apnea based at least in part upon the saturation pattern detection index.