A Microprocessor System for Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea

Abstract

Selection of medically feasible criteria for diagnosis of sleep apnea is discussed. Diagnosis is based on the analysis of the dynamics of a set of parameters of the cardiovascular and respiratory activities. It is suggested to use the following parameters as diagnostic criteria: heart rate, heart rate variability, total spectral power, ratios (VLF + LF)/HF and LF/HF for the respiratory component, and cardiorespiratory coherence. Structural diagrams of a multilevel telemedicine system for diagnosis of sleep apnea and a remote terminal unit for measurement and recording of biomedical signals are suggested. Analog front-end (AFE) microcircuits are suggested to be used as the basis for the functional elements of the terminal unit.