Monitoring Airway Resistance for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Using a Leak-Based BiPAP System

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a respiratory disorder characterized by partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep, resulting in increased airway resistance. Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) therapy is the standard treatment for OSA, providing continuous pressure to prevent collapsing of the airway. However, PAP systems often struggle to detect partial obstructions. To address this limitation, this paper proposes a method to identify and quantify changes in upper airway resistance by combining a leak-based Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) system, a developed expiratory model, and application of the linear single-compartment model. Data modeled by a BiPAP ventilator was replicated using a low-cost inline sensor. Results demonstrate increased resistance could be detected, with the expiratory model being comparable to the ventilator measurements.Clinical Relevance- This paper explains the development of an Automatic Positive Airway Pressure (APAP) control algorithm which can identify airway resistance changes using a low-cost inline sensor. Improved detection of partial obstructions could enable more responsive and personalized PAP therapy for patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.