Lucid dream stimulator, systems, and related methods

• US 10,300,240 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2018
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aladdin Dreamer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aladdin Dreamer, Inc.
• Inventors: Weiss, Craig, Shambroom, John R., Roth, Thomas, Wong-Simpkins, Carolyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P
• Application Number:
  US15/958,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20180236202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 600 26- 28
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0016 by the smell sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/005 images, e.g. video
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0066 with heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0072 with application of electrical currents
• 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 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 Packaging for specific medical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/06 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/18 Rapid eye-movements [REM]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 : Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 : Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 : for treating a mental or cerebral condition

Abstract

A method for communicating with devices may include monitoring brain activity of a subject via an EEG monitoring system coupled to the subject. The method also may include detecting a predefined state of brain activity of the subject. Further, based on the detecting the predefined state, the method may include wirelessly transmitting instructions from the EEG monitoring system to the at least one household device to adjust a setting of the at least one household device.

Claims

1. A method for communication with a device, comprising:

monitoring brain activity of a subject via an EEG monitoring system coupled to the subject;

detecting a predefined state of brain activity of the subject;

comparing a first time with a predefined window of time;

determining the first time is not within the predefined window of time;

wherein the device includes at least one household device, and based on the detecting the predefined state and the determining the first time is not within the predefined window of time, delaying wireless transmission of instructions to the at least one household device from the EEG monitoring system to adjust a setting of the at least one household device;

comparing a second time with the predefined window of time;

determining the second time is within the predefined window of time; and

based on the detecting the predefined state and the determining the second time is within the predefined window of time, wirelessly transmitting the instructions to the at least one household device from the EEG monitoring system to adjust the setting of the at least one household device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one household device includes one or more of a thermostat, an HVAC system, a fan, a heater, a light, a television, an audio system, a beverage maker, a door lock, a window covering, a garage door, or an alarm.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined state of brain activity corresponds to an EEG pattern indicative of the subject falling asleep.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined state of brain activity corresponds to an EEG pattern indicative of the subject waking up from sleep.

5. The method of claim 1, further including:

applying transcranial stimulation to the subject.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the setting of the at least one household device includes one or more of an on/off setting or a level setting, the method further including:

monitoring at least one of a temperature or a perspiration level of the subject.

7. The method of claim 6, further including:

based on the monitoring the at least one of the temperature or perspiration level, adjusting a comfort setting of an environment of the subject, and wherein adjusting a comfort setting of the environment includes adjusting a temperature of the environment.

8. The method of claim 1, further including detecting whether a light is on or off via a light sensor associated with the EEG monitoring system coupled to the subject.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting whether an eyelid of the subject has been closed.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the monitored brain activity of the subject.

9. A method for communication with a device, comprising:

monitoring brain activity of a subject via an EEG monitoring system coupled to the subject;

detecting a change in brain activity of the subject;

detecting whether an eyelid of the subject has been closed; and

based on the detecting the change in brain activity and the detecting whether the eyelid of the subject has been closed, dynamically adjusting a setting of an environment of the subject via the device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the setting of the environment includes a temperature of the environment.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein dynamically adjusting the setting of the environment includes changing an on/off setting or a level setting of at least one household device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein detecting the change in brain activity includes detecting that the subject is falling asleep.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein detecting the change in brain activity includes detecting that the subject is waking up from sleep.

29. The method of claim 9, further including:

after detecting a change in brain activity of the subject, comparing a current time with a predefined window of time;

based on the comparing, determining the current time is within the predefined window of time; and

delaying adjusting a setting of the environment of the subject.

30. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing the monitored brain activity of the subject.

14. A method for communication with a device, comprising:

monitoring brain activity of a subject via an EEG monitoring system coupled to the subject;

monitoring at least one of a temperature or a perspiration level of the subject;

detecting a predefined state of brain activity of the subject;

wherein the device includes a television; and

based on the detecting the predefined state and/or the monitoring of the at least one of the temperature or the perspiration level of the subject, pausing and/or rewinding playback of a program displayed on the television.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the device is a first device, the method further including instructing at least one second device to adjust a setting of the second device, wherein the second device includes one or more of a thermostat, an HVAC system, a fan, a heater, a light, an audio system, a beverage maker, a door lock, a window covering, a garage door, or an alarm.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein detecting the predefined state of brain activity includes detecting that the subject is falling asleep.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein detecting the predefined state of brain activity includes detecting that the subject is waking up from sleep.

18. The method of claim 15, further including:

after the detecting the predefined state of brain activity, comparing a current time with a predefined window of time;

based on the comparing, determining the current time is not within the predefined window of time; and

delaying the instructing the second device to adjust the setting of the second device or delaying pausing and/or rewinding playback of the program displayed on the television.

19. The method of claim 14, further including:

after the detecting the predefined state of brain activity, comparing a current time with a predefined window of time;

based on the comparing, determining the current time is within the predefined window of time; and

delaying the instructing the second device to adjust the setting of the second device or delaying pausing and/or rewinding playback of the program displayed on the television.

20. A method for communication with a device, comprising:

monitoring brain activity of a subject via an EEG monitoring system coupled to the subject;

monitoring at least one of a temperature or a perspiration level of the subject;

detecting a predefined state of brain activity of the subject;

wherein the device includes at least one household device, and based on the detecting the predefined state and/or the monitoring of the at least one of the temperature or the perspiration level of the subject, instructing at least one household device to adjust a setting of the at least one household device; and

storing the monitored brain activity of the subject and the at least one of the temperature or perspiration level of the subject via a system synced with the EEG monitoring system.

21. The method of claim 20, further including:

correlating EEG data received from the EEG monitoring system and the at least one of the temperature or perspiration level of the subject; and

based on the correlating, determining one or more patterns in the EEG data.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein detecting the predefined state of brain activity includes detecting that the subject is falling asleep.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein detecting the predefined state of brain activity includes detecting that the subject is waking up from sleep.

24. The method of claim 20, further including:

after the detecting the predefined state of brain activity, comparing a current time with a predefined window of time;

based on the comparing, determining the current time is not within the predefined window of time; and

delaying the instructing the at least one household device to adjust the setting of the at least one household device.

25. The method of claim 20, further including:

after the detecting the predefined state of brain activity, comparing a current time with a predefined window of time;

based on the comparing, determining the current time is within the predefined window of time; and

delaying the instructing the at least one household device to adjust the setting of the at least one household device.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one household device includes one or more of a thermostat, an HVAC system, a fan, a heater, a light, a television, an audio system, a beverage maker, a door lock, a window covering, a garage door, or an alarm.