Unconstrained and non-invasive respiration monitoring for obstructive sleep apnea prevention

This project demonstrates the usefulness of an unconstrained and completely non-invasive respiration monitoring system. With the system implemented in this project, patients that suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can sleep without any apnea monitoring devices connected to them, and by means of a pressure sensor attached to an air mattress, be under constant monitoring for apneas. This project extends the usefulness of the monitoring system by connecting the monitoring device with an advanced hospital bed. The two devices are communicating to one another through the use of the CANopen communication protocol. This protocol enables automated event based control. Some research has shown that apneas can be prevented, and the problems caused by apneas can be alleviated, by altering the patients sleeping position. With this project's respiration monitoring system, and the communication with the advanced hospital bed, a bed adjustment can be automatically triggered when respiration has been detected to have ceased for more than ten seconds. This project enables a patient suffering from obstructive sleep apnea to rest without any monitoring devices physically attached to their body, and can also alleviate apneas as well as help prevent other side effects caused by suffering from apneas.