Apparatus for use in controlling snoring and sensor unit particularly useful therein

• US 20070277835A1
• Filed: 01/24/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nexense Technologies USA Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nexense, Ltd.
• Inventors: Ariav, Arie, Ravitch, Vladimir
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,988 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/848
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00

Abstract

Apparatus for use in controlling snoring, including: a sensor system for sensing snoring by a person while sleeping, and a stimulus device effective, when actuated by the sensor system, to apply a stimulus to the person for producing a response tending to interrupt the person'"'"'s snoring. The stimulus device includes a vibrator and a band for enclosing a body part of the person and for applying a vibration to the body part. Also described is a force or displacement sensor, which includes a housing filled with a liquid having high transmissivity and low attenuation properties with respect to acoustical waves, and an acoustical transmitter and an acoustical receiver carried by opposed walls of the housing spaced from each other to define between them an acoustical transmission channel of the liquid. The housing is deformable by a force such as to change the length of the acoustical transmission channel in accordance with the applied force. A measuring system measures the transit time of an acoustical wave through the acoustical transmission channel to provide a measurement of the applied force.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in controlling snoring, comprising:

a sensor system for sensing snoring by a person while sleeping;

and a stimulus device effective, when actuated by the sensor system sensing snoring in the person, to apply a stimulus to the person for producing a response tending to interrupt the person'"'"'s snoring;

said stimulus device including a vibrator and a band for enclosing a body part of the person and for applying a vibration to said body part.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibrator includes a motor driven eccentric weight.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said stimulus device further includes a battery for powering said motor.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said sensor system communicates with said stimulus device via a wireless transmitter and receiver.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said sensor system includes a sensor assembly which senses a predetermined phenomenon produced by the person while sleeping and for producing an output corresponding thereto;

and a processor for processing the output of said sensor assembly and for activating said stimulus device when the output indicates a snoring condition.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said system further includes a charger device constructed to receive the stimulus device when not worn by the person in order to recharge the battery therein.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said charger device also includes a display for displaying information indicating the number of times a snoring condition was sensed during a predetermined time period.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said sensor system further comprises a second sensor assembly communicating with said for sensing a snoring condition by a second person;

and a second stimulus device to be worn by the second person for applying a stimulus to the second person when a snoring condition is indicated to be present in the second person;

said charger device being constructed to receive also the second stimulus device for displaying information indicating the number of times a snoring condition by the second person was sensed during a predetermined time period.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the two sensor assemblies are constituted of two separate units each constructed to be received under, over or within a mattress of the respective person;

and wherein said processor is included in one of said sensor assemblies.

10. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said sensor assembly includes a sensor unit, and a pair of plates of larger size than said sensor unit and physically contacting the opposite sides of said sensor unit.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said sensor assembly further includes a plurality of resilient pads alternating with a plurality of elastic springs located between said sensor unit and the outer peripheries of said pair of plates.

12. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said sensor unit senses mechanical vibrations of an external part of the person.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor unit comprises:

a housing filled with a liquid having high transmissivity and low attenuation properties with respect to acoustical waves; and

an acoustical transmitter and acoustical receiver carried by opposed walls of said housing spaced from each other so as to define between said transmitter and receiver, an acoustical transmission channel of said liquid;

said housing being deformable by a force applied to it such as to change the length of said acoustical transmission channel between said transmitter and receiver in accordance with the applied force;

and a measuring system for measuring the transit time of an acoustical wave from said transmitter to said receiver via said acoustical transmission channel to provide a measurement of said applied force.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said liquid has high viscosity properties similar to honey.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said liquid is a silicone oil.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said housing is made of a deformable material.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said transmitter and receiver are each mounted on a damper member having high damping properties to acoustical waves.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said housing is constituted of a main section in the configuration of a hollow button open at one end, and a closure section closing the open end of said main section.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the open end of said main section is formed with an outwardly-extending peripheral flange, and said closure section includes an annular recess receiving said peripheral flange.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said main section of the housing is of circular configuration in cross-section, and said closure section of the housing is of circular configuration of larger diameter than the diameter of said main section.

21. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said housing includes a coiled spring interposed between said opposed walls of the housing effective to bias said opposed walls apart.

22. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said measuring system comprises a processor for changing the frequency of the acoustical waves transmitted by said transmitter to said receiver via said acoustical transmission channel, while maintaining the number of waves in a loop including said acoustical transmission channel as a whole integer irrespective of changes in said applied force;

and for utilizing the changes in frequency to produce a measurement of said transit time, and thereby of said applied force.

23. A force or displacement sensor, comprising:

a housing filled with a liquid having high transmissivity and low attenuation properties with respect to acoustical waves;

an acoustical transmitter and an acoustical receiver carried by opposed walls of said housing spaced from each other so as to define between said transmitter and receiver, an acoustical transmission channel of said liquid;

said housing being deformable by a force applied to it such as to change the length of said acoustical transmission channel between said transmitter and receiver in accordance with the applied force;

and a measuring system for measuring the transit time of an acoustical wave from said transmitter to said receiver via said acoustical transmission channel to provide a measurement of said applied force.

24. The sensor according to claim 23, wherein said liquid has high viscosity properties similar to honey.

25. The sensor according to claim 23, wherein said liquid is a silicone oil.

26. The sensor according to claim 23, wherein said housing is made of a deformable material.

27. The sensor according to claim 23, wherein said transmitter and receiver are each mounted on a damper member having high damping properties to acoustical waves.

28. The sensor according to claim 23, wherein said housing is constituted of a main section in the configuration of a hollow button open at one end, and a closure section closing the open end of said main section.

29. The sensor according to claim 28, wherein the open end of said main section is formed with an outwardly-extending peripheral flange, and said closure section includes an annular recess receiving said peripheral flange.

30. The sensor according to claim 28, wherein said main section of the housing is of circular configuration in cross-section, and said closure section of the housing is of circular configuration of larger diameter than the diameter of said main section.

31. The sensor according to claim 23, wherein said housing includes a coiled spring interposed between said opposed walls of the housing effective to bias said opposed walls apart.

32. The sensor according to claim 23, wherein said measuring system comprises a processor for changing the frequency of the acoustical waves transmitted by said transmitter to said receiver via said acoustical transmission channel, while maintaining the number of waves in a loop including said acoustical transmission channel as a whole integer irrespective of changes in said applied force;

and for utilizing the changes in frequency to produce a measurement of said transit time, and thereby of said applied force.