An integrated apparatus to measure Mallampati score for the characterization of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) affects as many as 1 in every 5 adults and has the potential to cause serious long-term health complications such as, cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension and the consequent reduced quality of life. Studies have shown that the probability of having OSA increases with a higher BMI irrespective of gender and that there is a definite link concerning the race of the patient and having OSA. This paper describes the design of an integrated apparatus to collect Mallampati scores with little human intervention and perform automatic processing of various parameters. The system permits life-cycle studies on patients with OSA and other sleep disorders.