System and method for sleep disorder diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

A system and method for sleep disorder diagnosis and treatment are disclosed. A particular embodiment is configured to: establish a wireless data communication interface between a networked data processor and a sleep metering system, the sleep metering system being worn by a user and including a sensor array, wireless transceiver, and a processor; activate the sleep metering system to begin collection of sensor data from the user based on data signals from the sensor array of the sleep metering system; and detect a sleep-related condition in the user by use of the sleep metering system, the detection of the sleep-related condition including detecting anomalies in breathing patterns of the user by wirelessly receiving a plurality of sets of breathing pattern data from the sleep metering system at a plurality of pre-defined time intervals within a single sleep period, the breathing pattern data corresponding to variations in the degree of the user's chest cavity movement in a series of breaths over a given time interval, the detection of the sleep-related condition further including using the plurality of sets of breathing pattern data to score any detected respiratory effort reduction or exaggeration condition for a level of severity over the plurality of pre-defined time intervals.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method for improving detection of sleep-related conditions, the method comprising:
 establishing, by use of a data processor, a wireless data communication interface between the data processor and a sleep metering system worn by a user, the sleep metering system including a sensor array, wireless transceiver, and a processor;   positioning the sleep metering system for data recording externally and proximate to the user's abdomen to detect and measure airflow and respiratory effort in the user;   collecting, by use of the sleep metering system sensor data from the user based on data signals from the sensor array of the sleep metering system;   receiving, by use of the data processor, an abdominal effort waveform based on the collected sensor data from the sleep metering system, the abdominal effort waveform representing breathing pattern data corresponding to variations in the degree of the user's abdominal effort in a series of breaths over a given time interval;   detecting, by use of the data processor, a sleep-related condition in the user by use of the breathing pattern data from the sleep metering system, the sleep-related condition including anomalies in breathing patterns of the user based on the breathing pattern data from the sleep metering system at a plurality of pre-defined time intervals within a single sleep period; and   performing a dynamic re-configuration of the sleep metering system based on the detected sleep-related condition.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  including generating a user interface as a web application. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  including generating a user interface as a mobile application. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  including generating a value on an Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  including generating a sleep report containing information and datasets generated using the sensor data captured and processed for the user. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  including generating a sleep log including information indicative of the time when the user got into bed, the time when the user got out of bed, the time when the user actually fell asleep, and the time when the user woke up. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the sensor array includes sensors of a type from the group consisting of: a motion detection device, a sound detection device, a pulse oximeter device, and a respiratory effort detection device. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  including generating a sleep efficiency score based on the sensor data captured and processed for the user. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  including attaching the sleep metering system at the top of the user's abdomen with a strap. 
     
     
         30 . A system for improving detection of sleep-related conditions, the system comprising:
 a networked data processor;   a memory, in data communication with the networked data processor;   a sleep metering system in wireless data communication with the networked data processor, the sleep metering system being worn by the user and including a sensor array, wireless transceiver, and a processor, the sleep metering system being removably positioned for data recording externally and proximate to the user's abdomen to detect and measure airflow and respiratory effort in the user; and   a sleep disorder diagnosis and treatment system, executable by the networked data processor, to:
 establish a wireless data communication interface between the networked data processor and the sleep metering system; 
 activate the sleep metering system to collect sensor data from the user based on data signals from the sensor array of the sleep metering system; 
 receive, at the networked data processor, an abdominal effort waveform based on the collected sensor data from the sleep metering system, the abdominal effort waveform representing breathing pattern data corresponding to variations in the degree of the user's abdominal effort in a series of breaths over a given time interval; 
 detect a sleep-related condition in the user by use of the breathing pattern data from the sleep metering system, the sleep-related condition including anomalies in breathing patterns of the user based on the breathing pattern data from the sleep metering system at a plurality of pre-defined time intervals within a single sleep period; and 
 perform a dynamic re-configuration of the sleep metering system based on the detected sleep-related condition. 
   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30  being further configured to generate a user interface as a web application. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30  being further configured to generate a user interface as a mobile application. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30  being further configured to generate a value on an Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 30  being further configured to generate a sleep report containing information and datasets generated using the sensor data captured and processed for the user. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 30  being further configured to generate a sleep log including information indicative of the time when the user got into bed, the time when the user got out of bed, the time when the user actually fell asleep, and the time when the user woke up. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the sensor array includes sensors of a type from the group consisting of: a motion detection device, a sound detection device, a pulse oximeter device, and a respiratory effort detection device. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 30  being further configured to generate a sleep efficiency score based on the sensor data captured and processed for the user. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 30  including the sleep metering system being attached at the top of the user's abdomen with a strap. 
     
     
         39 . A non-transitory machine-useable storage medium embodying instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:
 establish a wireless data communication interface between a networked data processor and a sleep metering system, the sleep metering system being worn by a user and including a sensor array, wireless transceiver, and a processor, the sleep metering system being removably positioned for data recording externally and proximate to the user's abdomen to detect and measure airflow and respiratory effort in the user;   activate the sleep metering system to collect sensor data from the user based on data signals from the sensor array of the sleep metering system;   receive, at the networked data processor, an abdominal effort waveform based on the collected sensor data from the sleep metering system, the abdominal effort waveform representing breathing pattern data corresponding to variations in the degree of the user's abdominal effort in a series of breaths over a given time interval;   detect a sleep-related condition in the user by use of the breathing pattern data from the sleep metering system, the sleep-related condition including anomalies in breathing patterns of the user based on the breathing pattern data from the sleep metering system at a plurality of pre-defined time intervals within a single sleep period; and   perform a dynamic re-configuration of the sleep metering system based on the detected sleep-related condition.   
     
     
         40 . The machine-useable storage medium of  claim 39  wherein the sensor array includes sensors of a type from the group consisting of: a motion detection device, a sound detection device, a pulse oximeter device, and a respiratory effort detection device.