This study focuses on developing a software that adheres to the recommendations of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) for detecting apneas and hypopneas during sleep. The software incorporates additional constraints beyond the AASM guidelines. Furthermore, a physical simulator was modified to replicate flow rate patterns resembling respiratory events commonly seen in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The software and a commercial OSAS therapy device underwent testing to identify apneas and hypopneas in simulated flow signals. Two experiments were conducted: one using realistic flow rate patterns and the other sinusoidal waveforms. The software identified the baseline appropriately, detecting most of the apneas and hypopneas, while the device did not meet the hypopnea detection recommendations. Clinical considerations may still favor the device. The physical simulator accurately reproduced the specified waveforms. The software may help developing prototype algorithms.