Analysis of respiratory muscles activity is an effective technique for the study of pulmonary diseases such as obstructive
sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Respiratory diseases, especially those associated with changes in the mechanical properties of the
respiratory apparatus, are often associated with disruptions of the normally highly coordinated contractions of respiratory muscles.
Due to the complexity of the respiratory control, the assessment of OSAS related dysfunctions by linear methods are not sufficient. Therefore, the objective of this study was the detection of diagnostically
relevant nonlinear complex respiratory mechanisms. Two aims of this work were: 1) to assess coordination of respiratory
muscles contractions through evaluation of interactions between respiratory signals and myographic signals through nonlinear
analysis by means of cross mutual information function (CMIF); 2) to differentiate between functioning of respiratory muscles in
patients with OSAS and in normal subjects. Electromyographic(EMG) and mechanomyographic (MMG) signals were recorded from three respiratory muscles: genioglossus, sternomastoid and diaphragm. Inspiratory pressure and flow were also acquired.
All signals were measured in eight patients with OSAS and eight healthy subjects during an increased respiratory effort while
awake. Several variables were defined and calculated from CMIF in order to describe correlation between signals. The results indicate different nonlinear couplings of respiratory muscles in both populations. This effect is progressively more evident at higher levels of respiratory effort.
