Smart pillow cover and alarm to improve sleeping and waking

• US 10,232,139 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2016
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chrona Sleep, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Chrona Sleep, Inc.
• Inventors: Hang, Zimin, Sakran, Blake, Sze, Alan, Vaidyan, Shaun
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P
• Application Number:
  US15/181,222
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 600 26- 28
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0016 by the smell sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0083 especially for waking up
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/14 Electro-oculogram [EOG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/30 Blood pressure A61M2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 : Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 : Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A pillow cover device for promoting for a user restorative sleep and minimizing sleep inertia and fatigue upon waking comprising at least one non-invasive brain stimulator for stimulation of the brain at various selected frequencies; an alarm; sensors to monitor sleep; and a microprocessor, wherein the sensors provide the microprocessor data regarding the state of sleep of the user; wherein the microprocessor calculates brain activity indicating deep sleep slow-wave activity and activates the at least one brain stimulator to emit low frequency tones.

Claims

1. A system for improving sleep, the system comprising:

a pillow or pillow topper configured to support a user'"'"'s head;

a pillow monitoring portion positioned on or in the pillow or pillow topper; and

an alarm portion including a buzzer, a radio or a light

the pillow monitoring portion wired or wirelessly connected to the alarm portion,

the monitoring portion including a sensor, a processor electronically connected to the sensor, a speaker and a vibrator, and

the speaker configured to emit acoustic stimulation having a stimulation frequency of less than 1 Hz.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an accelerometer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to detect at least one of body temperature, temperature gradients, blood pressure, heart rate, galvanic skin response, eye movement, or other body movement.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to process information from the sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the alarm portion further includes a timer.

6. A method for improving waking, the method comprising:

providing a monitoring portion on or in a pillow or pillow topper, the monitoring portion including a sensor, a processor electronically connected to the sensor, a speaker configured to emit a beat frequency, and a vibrator;

determining, via the sensor and the processor, if the sleeping patient is entering a wake-up window, and if so,

determining, via the processor, if a waking time has been reached, and if so

activating the speaker to emit a beat frequency tone to improve wakefulness, the beat frequency tone between about 8 Hz and about 12 Hz.