Methods, systems and devices for monitoring respiratory disorders

1. A method of monitoring respiration comprising:

obtaining a photoplethysmography (PPG) signal that is representative of blood volume;

determining an average of the PPG signal;

adding an offset to the average to produce a first threshold;

subtracting the offset from the average to produce a second threshold; and

monitoring respiratory rate by determining a number of transitions from one of the first and second thresholds to another of the first and second thresholds.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the PPG signal comprises producing the PPG signal while a patient, whose respiratory disorder is being monitored, is sleeping.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

monitoring respiratory effort by determining amplitudes of the PPG signal; and

detecting an episode of sleep apnea based on the respiratory effort.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

monitoring blood oxygen saturation level based on the PPG signal; and

wherein detecting an episode of sleep apnea based on respiratory effort comprises detecting an episode of sleep apnea based on the respiratory effort and blood oxygen saturation level.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein detecting an episode of sleep apnea based on respiratory effort comprises detecting an episode of sleep apnea based on the respiratory rate, respiratory effort and blood oxygen saturation level.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein detecting an episode of sleep apnea based on the monitored-respiratory effort that is monitored, further comprises detecting an episode of sleep apnea based on the respiratory rate and respiratory effort.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

monitoring respiratory effort by determining amplitudes of the PPG signal; and

detecting an exacerbation of a respiratory disorder based on respiratory effort and respiratory rate.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the respiratory disorder is asthma, and wherein detecting an exacerbation comprises detecting an asthmatic episode based on the respiratory rate and respiratory effort.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein detecting an exacerbation comprises detecting an asthmatic episode by comparing the respiratory rate to the first threshold and the respiratory effort to the second threshold.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the respiratory disorder is asthma, and wherein detecting an exacerbation comprises detecting an asthmatic episode by comparing the respiratory effort to a threshold.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

monitoring respiratory effort by determining amplitudes of the PPG signal;

monitoring blood oxygen saturation level based on the PPG signal;

detecting an exacerbation of a respiratory disorder based on respiratory effort and blood oxygen saturation level.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the respiratory disorder is asthma.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein detecting an exacerbation comprises detecting an asthmatic episode by comparing the respiratory rate to the first threshold, the respiratory effort to the second threshold and the oxygen saturation level to a third threshold.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein detecting an exacerbation of a respiratory disorder based on respiratory effort and blood oxygen saturation level comprises detecting an exacerbation of a respiratory disorder based on the respiratory effort, respiratory rate and blood oxygen saturation level.

15. A method of detecting episodes of sleep apnea, and distinguishing between hypopnea, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA), said method comprising:

obtaining a photoplethysmography (PPG) signal that is representative of a patient's peripheral blood volume;

monitoring respiratory effort and respiratory rate based on the PPG signal;

detecting an episode of sleep apnea based on at least one of the respiratory effort and respiratory rate that are monitored; and

distinguishing between hypopnea, OSA and CSA, for a detected episode of sleep apnea, based on the respiratory effort and respiratory rate.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising monitoring blood oxygen saturation level of a patient based on the PPG signal.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein detecting an episode of sleep apnea comprises detecting an episode of sleep apnea based at least two of the respiratory effort, respiratory rate and blood oxygen saturation level.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein distinguishing between hypopnea, OSA and CSA, for a detected episode of sleep apnea, comprises distinguishing between hypopnea, OSA and CSA based on the respiratory effort, respiratory rate and blood oxygen saturation level.