[A computerized processing unit for ambulatory diagnosis of sleep apnea and nocturnal hypoxemia].

A new mobile device for the evaluation of the sleep-apnoea-syndrome in outpatients prior to conventional polysomnography, processes and stores the oronasal airflow detected by a thermistor, and the heart rate and oxygen saturation in a microprocessor unit. The major problem in on-line data processing of these variables is the interpretation of the thermistor signal for correct apnoea detection. This preliminary study investigates the reliability of the computer algorithm by control of the automatic airflow assessment. With a sensitivity of 97.3% the algorithm proved to be extreme reliable. Combined with the detection of heart rate and oxygen saturation it provides the capacity for comprehensive analysis of cardiorespiratory events and appears to be suitable for application in an outpatient setting.