Respiratory Monitoring Equipment and Detection of Respiratory Events

This article examines the current sleep laboratory tools available for diagnosing sleep disordered breathing. The authors discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each modality and the current state of monitoring in adults. It is important to consider that the use of more than one device may be required in identifying an sleep disordered breathing event. The precision of classifying a given event is dependent on the accuracy of the data generated by a given monitor and how those data are integrated by the scoring algorithm that is employed. The authors also provide a brief discussion of advanced signal processing in existing and emerging technology.

Keywords: Respiratory monitoring, Nasal pressure, Inductance plethysmography, Pneumotachograph, Esophageal pressure, Oximetry, Gas exchange