A device for the non-invasive detection of apneae or hypopneae in a
patient. This apparatus collects the patient's endocardial acceleration
using an external acceleration sensor (12) able to be maintained in
contact with the patient's thoracic wall (10). An analysis is made to
determine at least one parameter that is function of collected
endocardial acceleration and to conditionally deliver an apnea or
hypopnea alert signal as a function of the value taken by this parameter.
This parameter can notably be a function of one and/or the other of the
two endocardial acceleration peaks over one given heart cycle, the first
peak (PEA I) corresponding to the ventricular isovolumetric contraction
phase and the second peak (PEA II) to the ventricular isovolumetric
relaxation phase.