RESPIRATORY ABNORMALITY IMPROVEMENT APPARATUS

摘要

Provided is a respiratory abnormality improvement apparatus capable of effectively improving respiratory abnormality during sleep. The present invention is a respiratory abnormality improvement apparatus for applying a stimulus signal generated in a stimulus generating unit to a patient as an electric stimulus. Here, the apparatus includes a respiration detection unit for detecting a respiratory condition of the patient. Particularly, the stimulus generating unit is so configured that a first stimulus signal generated at a current level preset at a given time, and a second stimulus signal of a current level different from that of the first stimulus signal are generated as stimulus signals to an electrode member worn by the patient based on a detection signal from the respiration detection unit when the patient has been judged to be under a respiratory abnormality condition.

主权项

1. A respiratory abnormality improvement apparatus for applying to a patient at least one stimulus signal as an electric stimulus, comprising:
a stimulus generating unit for generating the stimulus signal; and a detection unit for detecting a respiratory condition of the patient, wherein said stimulus generating unit generates: a first stimulus signal at a current level preset at a given time; and a second stimulus signal at a current level different than the current level of said first stimulus signal, based on a detection signal from said detection unit when the patient is determined to be under a respiratory abnormality condition, and wherein each of said first and second stimulus signals repeats: a conduction period generating an electric pulse group having a current level higher than a given level; and a break period generating an electric pulse group having a current level not higher than the given level or generating no electric pulse group, and wherein the conduction period includes: a first interval allowing the current level of said stimulus signal to rise in a manner that a rate of increase becomes gradually moderate with time; a second interval following said first interval and allowing the current level of said stimulus signal to remain constant; and a dither inserted into said first or second interval of the conduction period, said dither causing the current level and/or a frequency of said stimulus signal to repeatedly increase and decrease.