FPGA-based Sleep Apnea Screening Device for Home Monitoring

Abstract

We present the hardware design of an FPGA-based portable device for home screening of sleep apnea syndromes. The device is simple to use, inexpensive, and uses only three signals, namely the nasal air flow and the thorax and abdomen effort signals. The device hardware stores data of overnight sleep on a Secure Digital card. At the clinic, the sleep specialist reads in the stored data and uses an algorithm for the detection and classification of sleep apnea. The device is fairly low-cost and may help spread the ability to diagnose more cases of sleep apnea. Most sleep apnea cases currently go undiagnosed because of cost and practicality limitations of overnight polysomnography at sleep labs.

PATHOS: Pervasive at Home Sleep Monitoring

“…The aim of the project at the University of Cairo [3], however, was a home monitoring solution, but its purpose was mainly to decide whether or not a person should go through with a full evaluation at a dedicated sleep center.…”

“…Researchers at the University of Aizu [ 2 ], for example, have created an under-pillow sensor to measure respiratory rhythm and pulse during sleep. A more complete system, with more sensors, has been designed at the University of Cairo [ 3 ] and is presented with a detailed hardware design. The University of Washington [ 4 ] has researched using inexpensive multimodal sensors to detect sleep conditions in a completely noninvasive manner.…”

“…The majority of previous research in the area of polysomnography technology has been directed toward the development hardware designs that would be more practical in a sleep center than in a home. The aim of the project at the University of Cairo [ 3 ], however, was a home monitoring solution, but its purpose was mainly to decide whether or not a person should go through with a full evaluation at a dedicated sleep center.…”