MONITORING RESPIRATION OF A PATIENT
A device is disclosed that can detect a change in respiration of a patient. The device can include a number of contacts adapted to make contact with portions of an oral cavity of a patient, and can include a control circuit configured to detect a change in respiration of the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal.
1 . A device comprising:
a number of contacts adapted to make contact with portions of an oral cavity of a patient and configured to provide a first signal indicative of one or more states of the patient's upper airway; and
a control circuit coupled to the contacts and configured to detect a change in respiration of the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first signal comprises one or more electromyogram (EMG) signals.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first signal is indicative of at least one of electrical activity in the patient's upper airway, movement of the patient's upper airway, and a change in the patient's respiration rate.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to detect the change in respiration based, at least in part, on a magnitude of the first signal varying by more than an amount during a time period.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:
measure a first time period between first and second peaks in the first signal;
measure a second time period between third and fourth peaks in the first signal;
indicate an increase in the respiration if the first time period is greater than the second time period by more than a value; and
indicate a decrease in the respiration if the first time period is less than the second time period by more than the value.
6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the first and second peaks correspond to inspiration phases of first and second respiratory cycles of the patient, and the third and fourth peaks correspond to inspiration phases of third and fourth respiratory cycles of the patient.
7 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the first and second peaks correspond to expiration phases of first and second respiratory cycles of the patient, and the third and fourth peaks correspond to expiration phases of third and fourth respiratory cycles of the patient.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
detect a hyperventilation or hypoventilation of the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
measure a time period between first and second peaks of the first signal;
indicate hyperventilation of the patient if the time period is less than a value; and
indicate hypoventilation of the patient if the time period is not less than the value.
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to generate an alert based on the indication of hyperventilation.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to detect a hypoxemia or an anoxia of the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal.
12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the contacts are affixed to a dental appliance adapted to be inserted within the patient's oral cavity.
13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
receive second signals from one or more sensors; and
detect the change in respiration of the patient based on a combination of the first and second signals.
14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more sensors includes a thermistor.
15 . A method comprising:
receiving, from a number of contacts positioned within an oral cavity of a patient, a first signal indicative of one or more states of the patient's upper airway; and
detecting a change in respiration of the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first signal comprises one or more electromyogram (EMG) signals.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first signal is indicative of at least one of electrical activity in the patient's upper airway, movement of the patient's upper airway, and a change in the patient's respiration rate.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein detecting the change in respiration is based, at least in part, on a magnitude of the first signal varying by more than an amount during a time period.
19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
measuring a first time period between first and second peaks in the first signal;
measuring a second time period between third and fourth peaks in the first signal;
indicating an increase in the respiration if the first time period is greater than the second time period by more than a value; and
indicating a decrease in the respiration if the first time period is less than the second time period by more than the value.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the first and second peaks correspond to inspiration phases of first and second respiratory cycles of the patient, and the third and fourth peaks correspond to inspiration phases of third and fourth respiratory cycles of the patient.
21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the first and second peaks correspond to expiration phases of first and second respiratory cycles of the patient, and the third and fourth peaks correspond to expiration phases of third and fourth respiratory cycles of the patient.
22 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
detecting a hyperventilation or hypoventilation of the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal.
23 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
measuring a time period between first and second peaks of the first signal;
indicating hyperventilation of the patient if the time period is less than a value; and
indicating hypoventilation of the patient if the time period is not less than the value.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to generate an alert based on the indication of hyperventilation.
25 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to detect a hypoxemia or an anoxia of the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal.
26 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the contacts are affixed to a dental appliance adapted to be inserted within the patient's oral cavity.
27 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
receive second signals from one or more sensors; and
detect the change in respiration of the patient based on a combination of the first and second signals.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the one or more sensors includes a thermistor.