46 results about "Sleep onset" patented technology

Devices and methods for sleep detection involve the use of an adjustable threshold for detecting sleep onset and termination. A method for detecting sleep includes adjusting a sleep threshold associated with a first sleep-related signal using a second sleep-related signal. The first sleep-related signal is compared to the adjusted threshold and sleep is detected based on the comparison. The sleep-related signals may be derived from implantable or external sensors. Additional sleep-related signals may be used to confirm the sleep condition. A sleep detector device implementing a sleep detection method may be a component of an implantable pulse generator such as a pacemaker or defibrillator.

A method of determining sleep stages from signals of electrical activity recorded of a chest of a sleeping subject, the signals being measured over a plurality of epochs. The method comprising: (a) extracting a series of cardiac R-R intervals from the signals and obtaining a time-frequency decomposition from the series of cardiac R-R intervals; (b) using the time-frequency decomposition to determine at least one Slow-Wave-Sleep (SWS) period and at least one Non-SWS (NSWS) period; (c) from the at least one NSWS period, determining at least one sleep-onset (SO) period and a plurality of non-sleep periods; (d) extracting a plurality of electromyogram (EMG) parameters from a portion of the signals, the portion corresponds to a NSWS period other than the at least one SO period and other than the plurality of non-sleep period; (e) using the plurality of EMG parameters to determine at least one REM period thereby also to obtain also at least one light-sleep (LS) period defined as a NSWS period other than the SO periods, other than the non-sleep periods and other than the REM periods; thereby determining the sleep stages of the sleeping subject.

The present invention relates to circadian rhythm management. In order to improve circadian rhythm management, an apparatus is provided that uses an alternative exercise-based concept and personalized approach for managing or controlling personal circadian rhythm and optimizing sleep onset.

The present invention relates to a controlled-release pharmaceutical composition which, when administered in the evening, promotes rapid sleep onset and makes it easy to wake up in the morning in a refreshing way. The composition comprises: a first portion having sleep-inducing activity, which is able to be degraded and absorbed in vivo within 5 minutes to 1 hour after administration; and a second portion having cognition-enhancing activity, which is able to be released in vivo after 4 to 8 hours from the start of absorption of the first portion. The composition, when administered in the evening, promotes rapid sleep onset and makes it easy to wake up in the morning in a refreshing way.

Methods of increasing tonic inhibition in a subject in need thereof, for example a subject with Fragile X syndrome or Angelman syndrome are disclosed. Methods of treating secondary insomnia in a subject with a neurodegenerative disease or disorder are also disclosed. The methods can include administering the subject an effective amount of 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo(5,4-c)pyridin-3-ol (THIP) or a derivative thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, increase tonic inhibition in neurons of the subject; to increase slow wave sleep (SWS) and / or slow wave activity (SWA), normalize sleep architecture, reduce secondary insomnia, increase non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, increase sleep continuity, enhance delta activity within NREM, increase or improve total sleep time (TST), increase or improve sleep efficiency, reduce total time awake (TAA), reduce number of awakenings (NWA), reduce latency to persistent sleep (LPS), or to reduce wake after sleep onset (WASO), in the subject, or any combination thereof.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising extracts of the root of a plant of the family Valerianacae, and methods of using such composition and / or extracts of the root of a plant of the family Valerianacae to improve sleep quality and sleep efficiency and to improve sleep structure and sleep architecture, are described. Sleep quality, sleep efficiency, sleep structure and sleep architecture may be in the context of various criteria or parameters, as described herein. Specifically, a pharmaceutical composition that reduces wake after sleep onset, increases total sleep time, increases sleep efficiency, and / or increases sleep time spent in sleep stages three and four, in a normal adult is described, the composition comprising therapeutically effective amounts of valerenic acid and its derivatives, kessane derivatives, valeranone, valerenal, and amino acids. The composition may be prepared by the steps of (i) adding the roots to an alcoholic extraction solvent to form a mixture, wherein the alcoholic extraction solvent comprises between approximately 50% (v / v) to approximately 100% (v / v) ethanol in a remainder of water, and (ii) heating the mixture to a temperature of between approximately 70° C. to approximately 80° C. for a period of at least two hours; wherein valerenic acid is present in the extract, the content of valepotriates in the extract is substantially reduced with respect to its content in the root, and the content of valerenic acids in the extract is not substantially reduced with respect to its content in the root; and minimizing the yield of unstable valepotriates. The valerenic acid derivative, where present, is preferably selected from acetoxyvalerenic acid, hydroxyvalerenic acid, valerenal, valerenol.

Methods, devices and systems for improving sleep (including reducing sleep onset and maintenance of sleep duration), enhancing, or increasing sleep, including (but not limited to) treating sleeping disorders such as insomnia.

A computer-implemented method of assessing a mental state of a subject (106) includes receiving (302), as input, a heartbeat record (200) of the subject. The heartbeat record comprises a sequence of heartbeat data samples obtained over a time span which includes a pre-sleep period (208), a sleep period (209) having a sleep onset time (224) and a sleep conclusion time (226), and a post-sleep period (210). At least the sleep onset time and the sleep conclusion time are identified (304) within the heartbeat record. A knowledge base (124) is then accessed (306), which comprises data obtained via expert evaluation of a training set of subjects and which embodies a computational model of a relationship between mental state and heart rate characteristics. Using information in the knowledge base, the computational model is applied (308) to compute at least one metric associated with the mental state of the subject, and to generate an indication of mental state based upon the metric. The indication of mental state is provided (310) as output.

A novel apparatus and method is described for sleep monitoring and control by providing tactile stimulation to a user as the user attempts to fall asleep which can be employed for intensive sleep retraining for the treatment of insomnia. A motion response to the tactile stimulation from the user is sensed indicating the user is still awake. The tactile stimulation is periodically repeated and the motion response is evaluated until sleep onset is determined. Following a relatively short set time asleep (e.g. approximately 3 minutes) the user is awakened and the process is reinitiated within a half hour. The technique can be implemented in a small device configuration comparable to a large ring which can be held to a single finger of the user by a band. The single finger both receives the tactile stimulation and provides a motion response and can provide feedback directly to the user.

Systems and methods for evaluating a patient condition using autonomic balance information involve providing an implantable cardiac device that acquires a cardiac waveform from a patient. One or more characteristics associated with autonomic balance of the patient are detected and used to evaluate a patient condition, such as sleep onset, sleep stage, cardiac vulnerability over a predetermined duration, and sleep disordered breathing. Patient activity levels may be sensed and used to evaluate the patient's condition, such as for determining a level of systemic stress. Characteristics associated with the autonomic balance include calculating an LF / HF ratio waveform and / or determining one or more morphological features of the LF / HF ratio waveform. Coordination with a patient-external device may facilitate transmission of information about one or more of the cardiac waveform, the one or more characteristics associated with the autonomic balance, and a marked cardiac waveform.

Methods, systems and devices for enhancing sleep, including enhancing the quality of sleep, reducing sleep onset time, increasing total sleep time, treating insomnia, and / or treating other neurological disorders by non-invasive temperature regulation of the frontal cortex prior to and / or during sleep. Described herein are thermal applicators that include phase change materials and / or evaporative cooling, as well as headgear for securing the applicators comfortably against the appropriate region of the user's head.

Methods and apparatuses for improving sleep by transdermal electrical stimulation (TES). In general, described herein are methods for applying TES to a subject, and particularly the subject's head (e.g., temple / forehead region) and / or neck with an TES waveform adapted to improve sleep, including reducing sleep onset (falling to sleep) more quickly and / or lengthening the duration of sleep. TES waveform(s) particularly well suited to enhancing sleep are also described herein.

A computer-implemented method of assessing a stress condition of a subject (106) includes receiving (302), as input, a heartbeat record (200) of the subject. The heartbeat record comprises a sequence of heartbeat data samples obtained over a time span which includes a pre-sleep period (208), a sleep period (209) having a sleep onset time (224) and a sleep conclusion time (226), and a post-sleep period (210). At least the sleep onset time and the sleep conclusion time are identified (304) within the heartbeat record. A knowledge base (124) is then accessed (306), which comprises data obtained via expert evaluation of a training set of subjects and which embodies a computational model of a relationship between stress condition and heart rate characteristics. Using information in the knowledge base, the computational model is applied (308) to compute at least one metric associated with the stress condition of the subject, and to generate an indication of stress condition based upon the metric. The indication of stress condition is provided (310) as output.

A computer-implemented method of assessing a mental state of a subject (106) includes receiving (302), as input, a heartbeat record (200) of the subject. The heartbeat record comprises a sequence of heartbeat data samples obtained over a time span which includes a pre-sleep period (208), a sleep period (209) having a sleep onset time (224) and a sleep conclusion time (226), and a post-sleep period (210). At least the sleep onset time and the sleep conclusion time are identified (304) within the heartbeat record. A knowledge base (124) is then accessed (306), which comprises data obtained via expert evaluation of a training set of subjects and which embodies a computational model of a relationship between mental state and heart rate characteristics. Using information in the knowledge base, the computational model is applied (308) to compute at least one metric associated with the mental state of the subject, and to generate an indication of mental state based upon the metric. The indication of mental state is provided (310) as output.

Disclosed is an apparatus for treating a respiratory disorder. The apparatus comprises a pressure device, and a controller, including at least one processor, configured to control the pressure device to: supply, upon initiation of treatment, a flow of pressurized air to the airway of a patient at a treatment pressure according to a pre-sleep profile of pressure versus time, increase, upon detection of sleep onset of the patient, the treatment pressure to a predetermined therapeutic pressure according to a bridging profile of pressure versus time, and supply the flow of pressurized air to the airway of the patient at a therapeutic pressure.

An eyelid position sensor system for an ophthalmic lens comprising an electronic system is described herein for determining at least one of drowsiness or sleep onset of the wearer. The eyelid position sensor system is part of an electronic system incorporated into the ophthalmic lens. The electronic system in at least one embodiment includes a power source, power management circuitry, one or more sensors, clock generation circuitry, control algorithms and circuitry, and an alert mechanism. The eyelid position sensor system is utilized to determine eyelid position and use this information to determine if the wearer is asleep or awake.