85 results about "Sleep pattern" patented technology

A system and method for detecting, monitoring and analyzing physiological characteristics. Signals from a subject are acquired from a suite of sensors, such as temperature, carbon dioxide, humidity, light, movement, electromagnetic and vibration sensors, in a passive, non-invasive manner. The signals are processed, and physiological characteristics are isolated for analysis. The system and method are to analyze sleep patterns, as well as to prevent bed sores or detect conditions such as illness, restless leg syndrome, periodic leg movement, sleep walking, or sleep apnea. However, numerous other applications of the invention are also disclosed.

A device is disclosed for treating sleep and breathing disorders of a patient, along with the method of using the device. The device includes a processor for receiving sensor inputs, processing the received sensor inputs, and generating commands through output devices. A first sensor is positionable for receiving breathing sound information emitted from one of the mouth and nose of a patient. The second sensor is positionable on a patient for receiving breathing sounds information from a patient's chest cavity. A third sensor is positionable for receiving information relating to the amount of chest expansion of a patient. A first output device is provided that is capable of providing an auditory signal to a patient. A second output device is capable of providing an electrical signal to a muscle group of a patient that simulates a human touching event. The first, second and third sensors, and the first and second output devices are operatively coupled to the processor to permit the processor to receive information input from the sensors, process the input information to the detect the existence of a sleep-breathing disorder event, and to generate command to at least one of the first and second output devices. The command is capable of directing the at least one output device to provide a series of progressively intrusive stimuli designed to condition the patient to terminate the sleep breathing disorder event, and ultimately, return to a more normal sleep pattern.

A sleep efficiency monitor and methods for pacing and leading a sleeper through an optimal sleep pattern. Embodiments of the present invention include a physiological characteristic monitor for monitoring the sleep stages of a sleeper, a sensory stimulus generator for generating stimulus to affect the sleep stages of a sleeper, and a processor for determining what sleep stage the sleeper is in and what sensory stimulus is needed to cause the sleeper to move to another sleep stage. A personalized sleep profile may also be established for the sleeper and sleep guided in accordance with the profile parameters to optimize a sleep session. By providing sensory stimulus to a sleeper, the sleeper may be guided through the various sleep stages in an optimal pattern so that the sleeper awakens refreshed even if sleep is disrupted during the night or the sleeper's allotted sleep period is different than usual. Embodiments of the invention also involve calibration of the sleep guidance system to a particular sleeper.

A clustering based load adaptive sleeping protocol for ad hoc networks includes a plurality of nodes forming a cluster, where the nodes in the cluster are partitioned into n groups. This partitioning is performed based on the node ID (e.g. node_id modulo n). The cluster head transmits a beacon at fixed intervals. The beacon interval is divided into N slots, where N is a multiple of n. Node sleep/activation times are synchronized to the beacon interval slots. The node's group number is used to determine the slots within a beacon interval that a node begins it s sleep cycle. Therefore, no additional signaling is required between nodes to indicate sleep patterns. The sleeping time of each node may be increased when extended periods of inactivity are detected according to an adaptive procedure.

A method of automated sleep behavior modification for insomnia and other sleep problems using a computerized treatment system including: determining a baseline sleep pattern of a user and storing in the system data indicative of the baseline sleep pattern; generating a sleep behavior regimen based on the stored sleep pattern data and a behavior modification algorithm, wherein the algorithm generates sleep inducement behavior prompts; prompting the user to perform a predetermined sleep inducement behavior at a time determined by the regimen; tracking the sleep behavior of the user and storing data indicative of the tracked sleep behavior; modifying the regimen based on the tracked sleep behavior, and prompting the user to perform the predetermined sleep inducement behavior at a time determined by the modified regimen.

A method of controlling presentation of content to a user is provided. The method involves the operation of a set-top box device to present audio/video content to the user. The method collects sensor data at the set-top box device, and then determines, from the sensor data, that the user is likely to be asleep. The method continues by initiating, with the set-top box device, at least one change to presentation characteristics associated with the audio/video content. For example, the set-top box device could lower the volume of the presentation device and/or lower the brightness of the display.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for analyzing a sleep structure according to non-restrictive weight detection. The apparatus includes load cells one installed in the predetermined locations of a bed and configured to detect the weight of a target person; low-pass filters for outputting low-pass filtered signals that belong to the outputs of the load cells; high-pass filters for outputting high-pass filtered signals that belong to the outputs of the load cells; a multiplexer for selecting any one from among the outputs of the low-pass filters and the high-pass filters; a controller configured to detect information about the target person's sleep from the low-pass filtered signals and the high-pass filtered signals, which belong to the outputs of the high-pass filters and the low-pass filters, respectively, and are input through the multiplexer, and determine the target person's sleeping pattern; and a display unit for displaying determination results of the controller.

A sleeping person is monitored by a system having a sensor unit and a base unit. The sensor unit outputs a sensor signal corresponding to each of at least two body function parameters of a sleeping person, such as a heart-rate, a respiratory rate and/or a body temperature of the sleeping person. The base unit determines whether an alarm condition is present based on each sensor signal output from the sensor unit and, in response to a detected alarm condition, generating an actuation signal for actuating an audible signal, such as a recording of a voice of a caregiver, in proximity of the sleeping person. The sensor unit also includes a shock-delivering device, and the base unit generates an actuation signal for actuating the shock-delivering device for stimulating the sleeping person to do one of breathe and enter a less deep sleep pattern.

A sleep assist article and associated method for establishing proper breathing patterns. An adhesive tape body is releasably secured upon a face of a person and exhibits an inner aperture defined by an inner edge surface, and through which upper and lower lips of the person extend. The body establishes a check valve in a first inhalation stage, to facilitate breathing through the person's nasal passages while inhibiting inhaling orally. The body further operates to permit exhaling orally, and while concurrently inhibiting nasal exhalation. The device optimizes an oxygen intake percentage within a user's lungs, as well as an associated oxygen saturation during repetitive breathing cycles associated with an induced sleep pattern and to improve sleep cycles, reduce incidences of sleep apnea, and to provide other health benefits.

A system and method for sleep disorder diagnosis and treatment are disclosed. A particular embodiment is configured to: generate a first user interface for sleep disorder diagnosis, the first user interface including a plurality of questionnaires for prompting user input on a plurality of queries related to a user's sleep patterns, at least one questionnaire including queries related to the user's potential Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) condition; generate a second user interface for sleep disorder treatment, the second user interface including a plurality of sleep disorder therapies to guide the user through a particular sleep disorder therapy automatically selected for the user based on the user's responses captured and processed by the first user interface, the second user interface being further configured to capture and retain a sleep log, the second user interface being further configured to generate a sleep efficiency assessment; and detect an OSA condition in the user by use of a breathing disturbance metering system in wireless data communication with the first user interface and the second user interface.

Systems and methods for evaluating the effectiveness of a person to perform a task based on his/her preceding or predicted sleep pattern are provided. An interface allows a user to use actual sleep data or predicted sleep data to produce predictions of the task effectiveness of a person to perform a particular task. The predictions may be in tabular, graphical, or tabular and graphical format. The interface may also represent the effectiveness of a user based on the actual or predicted sleep data in conjunction with an actual or predicted work schedule or pattern. The results can be correlated to sunlight in the user's location, and can also account for changes in the users location (transmeridian shifts), sunlight during the user's sleep cycle (shift work), and other schedule modifying events.

The present invention relates to the use of a growth hormone (GH) secretagogue, such as a ghrelin-like compound, for the preparation of a medicament for the prophylaxis or treatment of ghrelin deficiency, and/or undesirable symptoms associated therewith, in an individual at risk of acquiring partial or complete ghrelin deficiency resulting from a medical treatment and/or from a pathological condition. The present invention also relates to use of a secretagogue compound for the preparation of a medicament for the prophylaxis or treatment of one or more of: loss of fat mass, loss of lean body mass, weight loss, cachexia, loss of appetite, immunological dysfunction, malnutrition, disrupted sleep pattern, sleepiness, reduction in intestinal absorption and/or intestinal mobility problems in an individual suffering from, or at risk of suffering from, ghrelin deficiency. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of a secretagogue, such as a ghrelin-like compound, for the production of a medicament for preventing weight increase in an individual either: a) being converted from a hyperthyroidic state to euthyroid state, or b) in remission from being converted from a hyperthyroidic state to euthyroid state.

This invention relates to the use of a probiotic bacterial strain in the manufacture of a medicament or therapeutic nutritional composition for improving the maturation of sleep patterns in infants, young children or young animals and/or for reducing sleep disturbances and/or improving sleep patterns in humans or animals at any age.

Methods to prepare a bio-replenishment (BioRep) with specific combinations of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), lactoferrin (LF) and ribonuclease (RNAse) to restore regular sleep pattern are described. Additionally, compositions of functional delivery systems that recreate both alternate phases of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep cycles are disclosed. These methods and compositions have implications in the clinical management of various sleep disorders including insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders and obstructive sleep apnea.

The present disclosure relates to a method for detection of an abnormal sleep pattern based on a dataset of Electrooculography (EOG) signals obtained from a sleeping subject over a time interval, the method comprising the steps of dividing the time interval into a plurality of subintervals, each subinterval preferably corresponding to a sleep epoch, classifying each subinterval in terms of sleep stages, thereby obtaining a temporal sleep stage pattern, wherein a subject having an uncharacteristic temporal distribution of sleep stages is characterized as having an abnormal sleep pattern.

Streamlined and integrated patient care and health information management systems and methods for reducing the need for costly, near constant patient monitoring by providing system components that allow healthcare professionals to view the most important data for a number of patients in varying physical locations in a seamless manner are disclosed. Various components of the system can be used to monitor patients; measure, record, and track vital signs; and coordinate patient care in an automated fashion. Patients that have a achieved a relatively stable condition during a recovery process, but who still require or would benefit from near constant, or frequent vital sign monitoring can be provided with one or more body worn vital sign sensors. These patient worn sensors can track vital sign and other information about patients, including patient movement, activity, and sleep patterns.