Diagnosis and treatment for osa-related bruxism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023047226-A1
Application number	US-202217887880-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 15, 2022
Priority date	Aug 16, 2021
Publication date	Feb 16, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and system for diagnosing, treating, and ameliorating sleep bruxism events using a positive airway pressure (PAP) system for treating obstructive sleep apnea to concurrently recognize bruxism events. At least one sensor is integrated into a therapy interface and/or headgear to detect physiological signals indicative of bruxism. In some exemplary embodiments, a loudspeaker and microphone are integrated into the interface, either near the nose or near the mouth of the patient. When integrated near the nose, the pair is used for acoustical rhinometry, and when integrated near the mouth, the pair is used for acoustical pharyngometry. In other exemplary embodiments, sound or vibration sensors are used to detect signals indicative of teeth grinding. In response to sensor detection of bruxism activity, the PAP system controller adjusts the PAP therapy settings or proposes alternative treatment modalities in order to stop or prevent bruxism events.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . Positive airway pressure therapy (PAP) equipment for recognizing and ameliorating sleep bruxism events in a patient during therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the PAP equipment comprising:
a patient interface structured to be coupled to an airway of the patient; headgear coupled to the patient interface and structured to secure the patient interface to a head of the patient; at least one sensor integrated into the patient interface and/or the headgear; and a controller electrically and operatively coupled to the that least one sensors and configured to be electrically and operatively coupled to a pressurized air generator, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect physiological signals related to bruxism events, and wherein the controller is configured to decide whether to change an output of the pressurized air generator or propose alternative OSA or dental treatment modalities based on the signals detected by the at least one sensor.

2 . The PAP equipment of claim 1 , wherein the patient interface comprises a nasal interface, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a loudspeaker configured to project an acoustical signal into a nasal cavity of the patient and a microphone configured to receive the acoustical signal after the acoustical signal has been reflected from the nasal cavity of the patient, wherein the controller is configured to determine a cross-sectional area of the nasal by performing acoustical rhinometry, and wherein the controller is configured to recommend a change to settings of the pressurized air generator based on the acoustical rhinometry.

3 . The PAP equipment of claim 1 , wherein the patient interface comprises an oral interface, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a loudspeaker configured to project an acoustical signal into an oral cavity of the patient and a microphone configured to receive the acoustical signal after the acoustical signal has been reflected from the airway of the patient, wherein the controller is configured to determine a cross-sectional area of the airway by performing acoustical pharyngometry, and wherein the controller is configured to recommend a change to settings of the pressurized air generator based on the acoustical pharyngometry.

4 . The PAP equipment of claim 1 , further comprising:
a hose adapter coupled at a first end to the patient interface and structured to be coupled at a second end to the pressurized air generator, wherein the patient interface comprises an integrated microphone in electrical communication with the controller as the at least one sensor, wherein the hose adapter comprises an inductive coil configured to power the microphone, wherein the integrated microphone is configured to sense acoustical signals generated by teeth grinding, and wherein the controller is configured to perform signal processing and filtering to differentiate between teeth grinding acoustical signals and other acoustical signals.

5 . The PAP equipment of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to increase pressure of air output by the pressurized air generator in response to the signals detected by the at least one sensor being indicative of teeth grinding.

6 . A positive airway pressure therapy (PAP) system for recognizing and stopping sleep bruxism events in a patient during therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the system comprising:
a pressurized air generator; a patient interface structured to be coupled to an airway of the patient; a conduit coupled at a first end to an output of the pressurized air generator and coupled at a second end opposite the first end to the patient interface; headgear coupled to the patient interface and structured to secure the patient interface to a head of the patient; at least one sensor integrated into the patient interface and the headgear; and a treatment controller electrically and operatively coupled to the at least one sensor and to the pressurized air generator, and configured to electrically communicate with external controllers; wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect physiological signals related to bruxism events, and wherein the treatment controller is configured to decide whether to change an output of the pressurized air generator or propose alternative OSA or dental treatment modalities based on the signals detected by the at least one sensor.

7 . The PAP system of claim 6 , wherein the patient interface comprises a nasal interface, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a loudspeaker configured to project an acoustical signal into a nasal cavity of the patient and a microphone configured to receive the acoustical signal after the acoustical signal has been reflected from the nasal cavity of the patient, wherein the treatment controller is configured to determine a cross-sectional area of the nasal by performing acoustical rhinometry, and wherein the treatment controller is configured to recommend a change to settings of the pressurized air generator based on the acoustical rhinometry.

8 . The PAP system of claim 6 , wherein the patient interface comprises an oral interface, wherein at least one sensor comprises a loudspeaker configured to project an acoustical signal into an oral cavity of the patient and a microphone configured to receive the acoustical signal after the acoustical signal has been reflected from the airway of the patient, wherein the treatment controller is configured to determine a cross-sectional area of the airway by performing acoustical pharyngometry, and wherein the treatment controller is configured to recommend a change to settings of the pressurized air generator based on the acoustical pharyngometry.

9 . The PAP system of claim 6 , further comprising: a hose adapter coupled at a first end to the patient interface and coupled at a second end to the pressurized air generator, wherein the patient interface comprises an integrated microphone in electrical communication with the treatment controller as the at least one sensor, wherein the hose adapter comprises an inductive coil configured to power the microphone, wherein the integrated microphone is configured to sense acoustical signals generated by teeth grinding, and wherein the treatment controller is configured to perform signal processing and filtering to differentiate between teeth grinding acoustical signals and other acoustical signals.

10 . The PAP system of claim 6 , wherein the treatment controller is configured to increase pressure of air output by the pressurized air generator in response to the signals detected by at least one sensor being indicative of teeth grinding.

11 . A method for recognizing and/or stopping sleep bruxism events in a patient during positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the method comprising:
coupling a patient interface integrated with at least one sensor to an airway of the patient; electrically and operatively coupling a controller to the at least one sensor and electrically and operatively coupling the treatment controller to a pressurized air generator, configuring the at least one sensor to detect physiological signals related to bruxism events, and configuring the controller to decide whether to change an output of the pressurized air generator or propose alternative OSA or dental treatment modalities based on the signals detected by at least one sensor.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the patient interface comprises a nasal interface, wherein at least one sensor comprises a loudspeaker configured to project an acoustical signal into a nasal cavity of the patient and a microphone configured to receive th

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Van Zanten Joyce
• Kahlert Joachim Johannes
• Dos Santos Da Fonseca Pedro Miguel Ferreira
• Gerhardt Lutz Christian
• Grassi Angela

Classifications

• A61M2205/3317

  Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means · CPC title

• A61M2205/52

  with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient · CPC title

• A61M16/0051

  with alarm devices · CPC title

• A61M16/0683

  Holding devices therefor · CPC title

• A61M2205/502

  User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards · CPC title