SLEEP ALERT WRISTBAND

• US 20090273478A1
• Filed: 04/10/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bradford Y. Mei
• Original Assignee: Bradford Y. Mei
• Inventors: Mei, Bradford Y.
• Application Number:
  US12/421,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20090273478A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4809 Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• 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 2230/06 Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

A sleep alert device comprises a sensor adapted for sensing a physiological condition of a user indicative of falling asleep. The sensed physiological condition is compared to a predetermined threshold to determine if the user is falling asleep. An alarm is activated to stimulate and wake the user if the device determines that the user is falling asleep.

Claims

1. A device for keeping a user awake, comprising:

a sensor adapted for sensing a physiological condition indicative of the user falling asleep;

an alarm adapted for stimulating the user; and

a comparator adapted for comparing the sensed physiological condition to a predetermined threshold;

whereby the comparator activates the alarm if the sensed physiological condition substantially meets the predetermined threshold.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a securing member adapted for securing the device to the user.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the securing member is adapted to secure to the user'"'"'s wrist.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the alarm is adapted to emit vibrations.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the alarm is adapted to emit an audio alert.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the alarm includes an ear piece adapted to emit an audio alert.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the sensor includes a motion sensor; and

the comparator includes a timer and the predetermined threshold includes a maximum period of time for the substantial lack of user motion.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor includes a pulse rate sensor and the predetermined threshold includes a minimum pulse rate.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a display adapted for displaying the predetermined threshold.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a control apparatus adapted for adjusting the predetermined threshold.

11. The device of claim 1 further comprising a rechargeable battery to power the device.

12. The device of claim 11 further comprising an electrical connection adapted for charging the rechargeable battery.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising an electronic storage device adapted for storing the sensed physiological condition.

14. The device of claim 13 further comprising an electrical connection adapted for communicating with a computer.

15. The device of claim 14 further comprising computer code, executed on the computer, adapted for analyzing the sensed physiological condition.

16. A method of using a device for keeping a user awake, comprising the steps of:

sensing a physiological condition indicative of the user falling asleep;

comparing the physiological condition to a predetermined threshold; and

stimulating the user in response to the step of comparing.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of sensing includes sensing the user'"'"'s motion and the step of comparing has a predetermined threshold that includes a maximum period of time for the substantial lack of the user'"'"'s motion.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of sensing includes sensing the user'"'"'s pulse rate and the step of comparing has a predetermined threshold that includes a minimum pulse rate.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of stimulating includes a vibration alert.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of stimulating includes an audio alert.