Breathing patterns analysed

A University of Queensland researcher has created a new way to quantify breathing patterns in sleeping infants.

Researcher Philip Terrill's algorithm can determine from a breathing pattern the different sleep states of an individual, such as active or quiet sleep.

Terrill said a band, placed around the child's chest, recorded breathing rates which were then analysed using the algorithm.

Current sleep monitoring involves an overnight stay in a hospital sleep lab with specialised equipment needing regular attention of a nurse, doctor or sleep technician.

Terrill hopes that his algorithm will form the basis of an automated sleep monitoring system that was cheaper and easier to use than current methods. It has been successfully tested on 30 children so far.

'In the future, diagnosing a sleep problem may be as simple as putting on a breathing monitor during a night's sleep at home, in your own bed,' Terrill said. 'This would mean that those children with sleep problems could be quickly diagnosed and treated appropriately.'