The present invention monitors and interprets physiological signals andspontaneous breathing events to detect the onset of arousal. Once the onset ofarousal is determined, the present invention determines adjustments that areneeded in the operation of a therapeutic device to avoid or minimize arousals.In one embodiment, the present invention includes one or more sensors (10)which detect a patients physiological parameters, a controller (12) whichmonitors and determines the onset of arousal based on the physiologicalvariables received from the sensor (10), and a therapeutic treatment devicewhich is controlled by the controller. The sensor can be a combination of oneor more devices which are able to monitor a physiological parameter that isused by the present invention to determine the onset of arousal or the onsetof a sleep disorder. The sensors can be integrated into one unit or mayoperate independent of the others.
