摘要 |
A method and a device for counting the number of sleep disordered breathing events experienced by a subject within a specified time period. Such a counter comprises: (1) an oxygen saturation level sensor for location at a prescribed site on the subject, (2) an oximetry conditioning and control module that controls the operation of the sensor and converts its output data to oxygen saturation level data, (3) a miniature monitoring unit having a microprocessor, a memory device, a timer for use in time-stamping data, a display means and a recall switch, and (4) firmware for the unit that directs: (i) the sampling and temporary storage of the oxygen saturation level data, (ii) the unit to analyze using a specified method the temporarily stored data to identify and count the occurrence of the subject's disordered breathing events, and to store the time of occurrence of each of these events, and (iii) the display means to display specified information pertaining to the counts in response to the actuation of the recall switch.
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