ISSN: 0974-2115 www.jchps.com Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences April - June 2016 E -89 JCPS Volume 9 Issue 2 Ventilator Controlled Sleep Apnea Monitor for Children N. Kripa, R. Vasuki Department of Biomedical Engineering, Bharath University, Chennai-600 073 *Corresponding author: E-Mail: kripa_kripa@gmail.com ABSTRACT APNEA is a Greek word which means to breath. Sleep apnea is defined as a temporary pause in breathing. Sleep apnea is the absence of effective breathing and is associated with color changes (blue, gray, or dusky) and/or reduced muscle tone (turning "floppy"). Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. The number of involuntary or “apneaic events” may be as high as 20 to 60 or more per hour in a nights sleep. These apneaic events or so called breathing pauses are accompanied by snoring always between apnea episodes, although not everyone who snores has this condition. When a person is awake or normal during sleep, his throat muscles keep the throat open and air flows into lungs, but if the person has sleep apnea, then enough air cannot move into lungs. Signals are been collected from the patients through sensors. The signal is processed and amplified and is been sent to the monitor. Timer is been set, it waits for the time set for receiving signals, if not alarm is been set. Which in turn turns on the ventilator automatically? This is specially done for children between it ages of 2 to 6 years KEY WORDS: Ventilator Controlled, Monitor, Apnea. 1. INTRODUCTION Sleep Apnea and Children: Although typically considered as an ‘adult’ condition, Sleep apnea affects 10% - 12% of otherwise healthy children nationwide. The majority of sleep apnea suffers range in age from 2 to 6 years and in rare instances the conditions can be seen in newborn adolescents. The survey illustrates the prevalence rate of sleep apnea and the need for awareness about this life threatening disease. The table further extrapolates the prevalence rate of sleep apnea in various countries. According to a study made by US census bureau, the table extrapolates the prevalence rate of sleep apnea in various countries. Table.1. Prevalence rate of sleep apnea in various countries Country Extrapolated prevalence Population Estimation India 70,482,614 1,065,070,607 USA 19,433,078 293,655,405 UK 3,988,502 60,270,708 Russia 9,527,695 143,974,059 China 85,953,153 1,298,847,624 Japan 8,426,448 127,333,002 Pakistan 10,535,051 159,196,336 Types of Sleep Apnea: There are two primary types of sleep apnea and one combination.  Obstructive sleep apnea  Central sleep apnea  Mixed sleep apnea. Flow of Events Occurring during OSA: Figure.1. Flow of Events Occurring during OSA Symptoms for Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea occurs in all age groups and both sexes, but is more common in men.  Loud snoring  Excessive day time sleepiness and episodes of not breathing  Sweating and chest pain  Walking with an un-refreshed feeling after sleep apnea  Feeling irritable and tired which might lead to accidents  Morning headache  Getting up during night to urinate  Day time naps or activities during inappropriate times Detection Process Signal Processing Stage: First stage of signal processing includes