Systems and methods for obstructive sleep apnea detection and monitoring

Abstract

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system that monitors and detects obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The system includes an oropharynx protection appliance, which includes a passive tongue retention structure having an end portion adapted to prevent a pharyngeal portion of a tongue of a subject from collapsing and at least one anchoring structure that is connected to the passive tongue retention structure and adapted to secure the passive tongue retention structure within the subject's mouth in a removable fashion. The system also includes a sensing system attached to a portion of the oropharynx apparatus. The sensing system includes a sensor to measure a position of the pharyngeal portion of the tongue to detect an obstruction of the oropharynx; and a wireless transceiver to transmit data related to the obstruction of the oropharynx to a remote diagnostic device.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A system comprising:
 an oropharynx appliance configured to be placed within a mouth of a subject in a removable fashion, the oropharynx appliance comprising:
 a passive tongue retention structure configured to extend along a lingual surface between a first end point and a second end point, the passive tongue retention structure having an arcuate portion that is sized and dimensioned to extend across and contact an entire width of a pharyngeal portion of a tongue of the subject to prevent the pharyngeal portion of the tongue of the subject from collapsing when the oropharynx appliance is placed in the mouth of the subject; and 
 at least one anchoring structure that is connected to the passive tongue retention structure and adapted to secure the passive tongue retention structure within the subject's mouth; and 
   a sensing system attached to a portion of the oropharynx appliance, the sensing system comprising:
 at least one sensor for detecting at least one property associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the subject during sleep; and 
 a wireless transceiver to transmit data related to the at least one property associated with OSA to a remote diagnostic device. 
   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the first end point and the second end point are configured to be positioned on opposing sides of a mandible of the subject. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein a portion of the passive tongue retention structure extends in a plane parallel to the mandible. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one anchoring structure comprises a first anchoring structure and a second anchoring structure, wherein the first end point connects to the first anchoring structure at a first anchor point and the second end point connects to the second anchoring structure at a second anchor point, wherein the first and second anchor points are proximal to the mandible. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein each of the first and second anchoring structures comprises a resilient device that returns to its former shape when released after being pressed or pulled, a hydraulic portion, a magnetic portion, and/or an electrostatic portion. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein each of the first and second anchoring structures is configured to prevent movement of the passive tongue retention structure under a weight of the tongue but allows movement of the passive tongue retention structure during swallowing. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein each of the bilateral anchoring structures anchors free ends of the oropharynx appliance at the first and second end points of the passive tongue retention structure and extends away from the free ends. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising an engagement structure that is connected to, or integrally formed with, the arcuate portion of the passive tongue retention structure. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the engagement structure has a cross-sectional area greater than a cross-sectional area of the passive tongue retention structure. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one anchoring structure further comprises a dental appliance mated to the passive tongue retention structure, the dental appliance being one of a mouthguard, a retainer, or a crown, and at least a portion of the sensing system being attached to the dental appliance. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one property associated with OSA is air flow through the oropharynx, oxygen saturation of the subject, temperature, cardiac electrical signals, sound, and/or a position of the pharyngeal portion of the tongue. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one property associated with OSA is oxygen saturation of the subject. 
     
     
         34 . A method comprising:
 placing, in a removable fashion, an oropharynx appliance in a mouth of a subject, the oropharynx appliance comprising:
 a passive tongue retention structure configured to extend along a lingual surface between a first end point and a second end point, the passive tongue retention structure having an arcuate portion that extends across and contacts an entire width of a pharyngeal portion of a tongue of the subject to prevent the pharyngeal portion of the tongue of the subject from collapsing; 
 at least one anchoring structure that is connected to the passive tongue retention structure secures the passive tongue retention structure within the subject's mouth; and 
 a sensing system that is attached to a portion of the oropharynx appliance; 
   measuring, by a sensor of a sensing system, at least one property associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in a subject during sleep,   transmitting, by a wireless transceiver of the sensing system, data related to the at least one property to an external diagnostic device; and   determining, by the external diagnostic device, a degree of obstruction of an oropharynx of the subject at one or more times during sleep based on the transmitted data.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the placing further comprises placing the oropharynx appliance into the mouth of the subject before sleep such that the oropharynx appliance is fitted tightly within the mouth. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising constructing the oropharynx appliance to prevent or treat OSA based on the transmitted data. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one property associated with OSA is air flow through the oropharynx, oxygen saturation of the subject, temperature, cardiac electrical signals, sound, and/or a position of the pharyngeal portion of the tongue. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the transmitted data corresponds to oxygen saturation of the subject. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising treating the subject for OSA based on the determined degree of obstruction. 
     
     
         40 . A system comprising:
 an oropharynx appliance comprising:
 a passive tongue retention structure that is sized and dimensioned to extend across and contact an entire width of a pharyngeal portion of a tongue of a subject to prevent the pharyngeal portion of the tongue of the subject from collapsing when the oropharynx appliance is placed in a mouth of the subject, wherein the passive tongue retention structure is configured to extend from a first end point on a side of a mandible of the subject along a lingual surface to a second end point on an opposing side of the mandible in a plane parallel to the mandible; 
 bilateral anchoring structures that are connected to the first end point and the second end point of the passive tongue retention structure and are configured to secure the passive tongue retention structure to first and second anchor points, respectively, proximal to the mandible, wherein each of the bilateral anchoring structures comprises at least one resilient device that returns to its former shape when released after being pressed or pulled, wherein the bilateral anchoring structures anchor free ends of the oropharynx appliance at the first and second end points of the passive tongue retention structure and extend away from the free ends, and wherein the bilateral anchoring structures are configured to be proximal to one or more of the subject's lower incisive teeth when the oropharynx appliance is placed in the mouth of the subject; and 
 a mouthguard attached to the passive tongue retention structure; 
   a sensing system attached to a portion of the oropharynx appliance, the sensing system comprising:
 an oxygen sensor for detecting oxygen saturation in an oropharynx of the subject; and 
 a wireless transceiver to transmit data related to the oxygen saturation in the oropharynx to a remote diagnostic device.