REM-Sleep Directed Visual Alarm System and Method

• US 20090207028A1
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alan Kubey, Andrew Davidson
• Original Assignee: Alan Kubey, Andrew Davidson
• Inventors: Davidson, Andrew, Kubey, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,956,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4857 Indicating the phase of biorhythm clocks or watches with indicators for biological cycles G04B19/264
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head

Abstract

The present apparatus and method for using the same detects REM in a sleeping mammal and awakens the mammal after the cessation of a specific episode of REM. The system comprises an alarm setting means for setting a predetermined wakeup time, a data collection means for collecting physiological data from the mammal over time, a processing means for determining the occurrence and cessation of REM and means of providing a stimulation signal for awakening the mammal within a prescribed window of time before said predetermined wakeup time and after the cessation of REM and after the mammal'"'"'s nadir in body temperature with respect to time.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting REM in a sleeping mammal and awakening the mammal after the cessation of REM, the apparatus comprising:

a. an alarm time setting means for setting a predetermined time;

b. data collection means for collecting physiological data from the mammal over time;

c. processing means for processing said physiological data in near real time to detect the occurrence of REM in said mammal; and

d. a means for providing a stimulation signal for awakening said mammal after cessation of REM wherein said cessation of REM occurs within a maximum number of minutes before said predetermined time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said maximum number of minutes is between 60 and 120.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said physiological data comprises an amount of eye movement over time.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said stimulation signal comprises auditory stimulation.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said processing means compares an amount of eye movement during a second time interval relative to an amount of eye movement during a first time interval.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said physiological data further comprises the body temperature of said mammal, wherein said processing means further comprises detecting the nadir of said temperature with respect to time, and wherein said stimulation signal is provided not before said nadir.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said stimulation signal comprises photic stimulation.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said photic stimulation is a light source having a wavelength of between 420-500 nanometers and wherein said light source increases in illumination from a value greater than 0 LUX to a value of not more than 10,000 LUX.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a means for adjusting the ambient lighting of a room.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said photic stimulation is delivered by said ambient lighting.

11. A method of detecting REM sleep in a mammal and awakening the mammal after the cessation of REM sleep, the method comprising the steps of:

a. setting a predetermined time;

b. collecting physiological data from the mammal over time;

c. processing said physiological data in near real time to detect the occurrence of REM in said mammal; and

d. providing a stimulation signal for awakening said mammal after cessation of REM wherein said cessation of REM occurs within a maximum number of minutes before said predetermined time.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said physiological data comprises an amount of eye movement over time, and wherein said processing step determines a relative amount of eye movement based on said physiological data during a second time interval compared to said physiological data during a first time interval, and wherein said relative amount of eye movement falls below a minimum predetermined threshold before said step of providing a stimulation signal.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein said physiological data further comprises the body temperature of said mammal, wherein said processing means further comprises determining a nadir of said body temperature with respect to time and wherein said nadir occurs before said step of providing a stimulation signal.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said stimulation signal comprises photic stimulation.

15. An method of awakening a sleeping mammal, the method comprising the steps of:

a. collecting physiological data from the mammal over time, the physiological data comprising an amount of eye movement over time and the mammal'"'"'s body temperature;

b. processing said physiological data in near real time to detect the cessation of REM in said mammal and for detecting the nadir of said body temperature with respect to time; and

c. providing a stimulation signal for awakening said mammal after cessation of REM and not before said body temperature nadir.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

a. setting a predetermined time; and

b. wherein said collecting step occurs after a maximum number of minutes before said predetermined time.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein said maximum number of minutes is between 60 and 120.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein said processing means compares an amount of eye movement during a second time interval relative to an amount of eye movement during a first time interval.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein said stimulation signal comprises a photic stimulation having a wavelength of between 420-500 nanometers and wherein said light source increases in illumination from a value greater than 0 LUX to a value of not more than 10,000 LUX.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a means for adjusting the ambient lighting of a room and wherein said photic stimulation is delivered by said ambient lighting.