Systems and methods for non-contact multiparameter vital signs monitoring, apnea therapy, apnea diagnosis, and snore therapy

Abstract

Aspects of the of the disclosure relate to a non-contact physiological motion sensor and a monitor device that can incorporate use of the Doppler effect. A continuous wave of electromagnetic radiation can be transmitted toward one or more subjects and the Doppler-shifted received signals can be digitized and/or processed subsequently to extract information related to the cardiopulmonary motion in the one or more subjects. The extracted information can be used, for example, to determine apneic events and/or snoring events and/or to provide apnea or snoring therapy to subjects when used in conjunction with an apnea or snoring therapy device. In addition, methods of use are disclosed for sway cancellation, realization of cessation of breath, integration with multi-parameter patient monitoring systems, providing positive providing patient identification, or any combination thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for detecting and treating snoring, said system comprising:
 a therapeutic device comprising a bio-feedback mechanism configured to stimulate a nerve in the subject's neck when a snoring event is detected.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic device comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of a microphone, acoustic stethoscope, and a transducer configured to utilize a snoring detection algorithm to determine the onset of a snoring event. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic device comprises a vibratory stimulus of increasing pulse width and pulse repetition rate. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic device comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of: a wrist worn device, pillow, mattress, clothing, and a skin-contact vibrating transducer configured to stimulate a nerve in the subject. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic device comprises a vibration transducer and/or electrodes configured to produce electrical signals to produce vibrations to stimulate the subject's neck muscles which will increase in sensation until the snoring event is stopped. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic device is configured to be coupled with a separate stand-alone device selected from the group consisting of: a sensor, smartphone, and a computer tablet. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic device is configured to be capacitively coupled to automatically power on when placed in use. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic device comprises a battery having an indicator of battery condition 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic device comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of: storage of data, a web interface, a display, user interface and controls, a clock, recording hardware and software, and communications hardware and software. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic device comprises an embedded processor to process the signals and control the inter-sensor communications to relay data to the stand alone device. 
     
     
         11 . A method of treating apnea, comprising:
 detecting an apneic event of a patient via one or more sensors;   sending information regarding the apneic event from the sensor to a sensor processing unit;   sending a command from the sensor processing unit to a therapeutic device operably connected to an anatomical location of the patient, thereby activating the therapeutic device; and   terminating the apneic event via the therapeutic device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic device comprises a neck patch. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein terminating the apneic event comprises stimulating the hypoglossal nerve of the patient. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein stimulating the hypoglossal nerve is accomplished invasively. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein stimulating the hypoglossal nerve is accomplished non-invasively. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sensors are positioned in a location remote to the patient. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sensors are directly attached to the patient. 
     
     
         18 . A system for treating sleep apnea, the system comprising:
 a therapeutic device configured to perform at least one action related to a sleep apnea state of a patient, the therapeutic device comprising a bio-feedback mechanism that can stimulate an anatomical region of the patient when an apneic event is detected; and   a communications module configured to communicate with therapeutic device, the communications module including one or more processors configured to extract information related to the apneic or snoring state of the patient and provide instructions to the therapeutic device.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to predict apnea events.