RESPIRATORY APPARATUS AND METHODS OF RESPIRATORY TREATMENT

摘要

Methods and apparatus for detecting apnoea that use ultrasonic sound waves are disclosed. The method consists of applying ultrasonic sound waves of varying frequency to a patient's airway and detecting their reflected sound waves. The sound waves are then analysed to determine whether there is a narrowing of the airway. In particular a transmitting ultrasonic transducer and receiving ultrasonic transducer are located on the interior surface of a mask and positioned so as to be directed towards the nares of the patient. A signal is emitted through the transmitting transducer and received at the receiving transducer. The received signal indicates a distance to a reflection or a distance to the narrowing of the upper respiratory tract. In this manner obstructions or narrowing of a patient's airway tract may be identified as reflections which appear at anatomically appropriate distances.