System and method for monitoring periodic breathing associated with heart failure
A system and method for monitoring in a patient includes producing sensor signals representative of a physiologic parameter associated with respiration. A periodic breathing cycle is detected based on the sensor signals. An output is produced as a function of the cycle length.
1. A device for monitoring a patient, the device comprising:
an input for receiving sensor signals representative of one or more physiologic parameters associated with respiration;
signal conditioning circuitry in communication with the input to condition the sensor signals; and
a data processor in communication with the signal conditioning circuitry, the data processor programmed to;
receive the conditioned sensor signals and detect breathing cycles as a function of the conditioned sensor signals, a breathing cycle comprising a cycle of hyperpnea followed by apnea;
determine cycle lengths of the detected breathing cycles;
determine regularity of the cycle lengths; and
determine whether the breathing cycles are indicative of central sleep apnea based upon the determined regularity of the cycle lengths.
2. The device of claim 1 , and further comprising:
communication circuitry in communication with the data processor to communicate the output to a remote system.
3. The device of claim 1 , and further comprising:
one or more sensors for detecting the one or more physiologic parameters associated with respiration and producing the sensor signals representative of the physiologic parameters.
4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the device includes a plurality of sensors capable of sensing different physiologic parameters associated with respiration and the data processor is further programmed to validate the presence of central sleep apnea as a function of sensor signals generated by the plurality of sensors.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein the data processor is programmed to determine whether the breathing cycle lengths are within a specified proximity of one or more reference cycle lengths.
6. A method for monitoring progression of heart failure in a patient using an implanted device, the method comprising:
monitoring sensor signals representative of a physiologic parameter associated with respiration using the implanted device;
detecting breathing cycles based on the sensor signals using the implanted device, a breathing cycle comprising a cycle of hyperpnea followed by apnea;
determining cycle lengths as a function of the breathing cycles using the implanted device;
determining regularity of the cycle lengths; and
producing an output associated with a heart disease state of the patient using the implanted device as a function of the determined regularity of the cycle lengths.
7. The method of claim 6 , and further comprising:
communicating the output to a remote system.
8. The method of claim 6 , and further comprising:
comparing the cycle lengths to a historical cycle length.
9. The method of claim 8 , and further comprising:
communicating the output to a healthcare provider if the cycle lengths exceed the historical cycle length by a specified amount.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the sensor signals are produced by one or more sensors located outside the patient.
11. The method of claim 6 , where the sensor signals are produced by one or more implantable sensors.
12. The method of claim 6 , and further comprising:
determining whether the patient is asleep.
13. The method of claim 6 , wherein the output comprises a treatment recommendation.