Sleep assessment using a home sleep system

• US 10,561,362 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2016
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Reich, Debra, Ware, Laura, Freed, Jonathan, Read, Jack, Keshavan, Leela, Mulcahey, Brian David
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Rex R
• Application Number:
  US15/267,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20180078198A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0255 Recording instruments specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0803 Recording apparatus specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4803 Speech analysis specially adapted for diagnostic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4806 Sleep evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence; devices for inducing sleep A61M21/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4815 Sleep quality
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• 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 2205/3303 : Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 : Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 : remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 : Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 : Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/42 : Rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

A sleep assessment device is provided for, including biometric sensors for detecting a heart rate, respiration, or movement of a user. The device detect a user'"'"'s sleep state by reading signals from the biometric sensor and logs detected information in a sleep record. The device then compares the logged information to a thumbprint of sleep patterns indicative of sleep disorders and outputs an indication of potential sleep disorders based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A sleep assessment device comprising:

at least one contactless biometric sensor for detecting at least one of a heart rate, respiration, or movement of a first user, the at least one contactless biometric sensor including one of an RF sensor, a laser, or an image-based monitoring system;

a microphone configured to use beamforming to detect sound emanating from the first user;

at least one speaker;

a processor; and

memory;

wherein said processor is configured to detect the first user'"'"'s sleep state by reading signals from said at least one contactless biometric sensor;

wherein said processor is further configured to log information in a sleep record, including biometric information detected during a period the first user is sleeping;

wherein said processor is configured to compare said logged information in said sleep record to a thumbprint of sleep patterns and output an indication of potential sleep disorders based on said comparison; and

wherein said processor is further configured to generate a noise-masking sound based on sounds emanating from the first user that are detected by said microphone, and said at least one speaker is configured to play said noise-masking sound, and

wherein said at least one speaker is one of a pair of headphones for a second user to wear or a pair of earbuds for the second user to wear.

2. The sleep assessment device of claim 1, wherein the thumbprint is a thumbprint of a normal sleep pattern.

3. The sleep assessment device of claim 1, wherein the thumbprint is a thumbprint of a known sleep disorder.

4. The sleep assessment device of claim 3, wherein the sleep disorder is one of:

sleep apnea, sleep talking, sleep walking, and snoring.

5. The sleep assessment device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to output a notification of a potential sleep disorder.

6. The sleep assessment device of claim 5, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting the notification of a potential sleep disorder.

7. The sleep assessment device of claim 1, further comprising at least one direct biometric sensor, wherein said processor is configured to detect the first user'"'"'s sleep state by reading signals from said at least one direct biometric sensor.

8. The sleep assessment device of claim 7, wherein said at least one direct biometric sensor is a blood oxygen sensor.

9. The sleep assessment device of claim 2, wherein said processor is further configured to detect sound while the first user is sleeping and log sound information into said sleep record.

14. The sleep assessment device of claim 1, wherein said speakers are further configured to play noise-canceling sounds.

15. The sleep assessment device of claim 14, wherein said noise-canceling sounds are modified according to said noise-masking sound.

10. A method for providing an indication of a potential sleep disorder comprising:

providing at least one contactless biometric sensor for detecting at least one of a heart rate, respiration, or movement of a first user, the at least one contactless biometric sensor being one of an RF sensor for directing RF signals towards the first user, measuring a strength of a backscattered signal, and analyzing the backscattered signal to determine a state of various vital signs of the first user over time, a laser for measuring minor skin deflections caused by the first user'"'"'s heart rate and blood pressure, or an image-based monitoring system whereby skin deflections caused by heartbeats and blood pressure may be observed and analyzed over time through a camera;

providing at least one microphone and using beamforming to detect sound emanating from the first user;

providing at least one speaker;

detecting the first user'"'"'s sleep state by reading signals from said at least one contactless biometric sensor;

logging information in a sleep record, including biometric information relating to the quality of the first user'"'"'s sleep;

comparing said logged information in said sleep record to a thumbprint of sleep patterns;

determining whether a potential sleep disorder exists based on said comparison;

providing an indication that a potential sleep disorder exists;

generating a noise-masking sound based on noises that are detected by said at least one microphone; and

playing said noise-masking sound through said at least one speaker;

wherein said noise-masking sound is determined based on detected sounds emanating from the first user,

wherein said at least one speaker is one of a pair of headphones for a second user to wear or a pair of earbuds for the second user to wear.

11. The method claim 10, further comprising providing at least one direct biometric sensor and reading signals from said at least one direct biometric sensor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said at least one direct biometric sensor is a blood oxygen sensor.

13. The method claim 10, further comprising:

reading signals from said at least one microphone; and

logging sound information in said sleep record.