Skin Temperature Measurement in Monitoring and Control of Sleep and Alertness
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring sleep in a subject comprising measuring within a prescribed interval skin temperature of a predetermined region of the subject'"'"'s body and comparing said measured skin temperature of said predetermined region with a predetermined temperature threshold, measuring motor activity of said subject'"'"'s body in said interval and classifying said subject as being asleep or being awake based on whether the skin temperature of said predetermined region is above or below said temperature threshold and on said motor activity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method of an arrangement for monitoring sleep in a subject by measuring within a prescribed interval skin temperature of a predetermined region of the subject'"'"'s body and a motion sensor for sensing motion of the subject, comparing the measured skin temperature of the predetermined region with a predetermined temperature threshold, and classifying the subject as being asleep or awake based on whether the skin temperature of the predetermined region is above or below the temperature threshold and on the motion data. In alternative aspects the invention relates to methods of and arrangements for manipulating sleep, as well as monitoring or manipulating alertness.
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Citations
35 Claims
- 1. A method of monitoring sleep in a subject comprising measuring within a prescribed interval skin temperature of a predetermined region of the subject'"'"'s body and comparing said measured skin temperature of said predetermined region with a predetermined temperature threshold, measuring motor activity of said subject'"'"'s body in said interval and classifying said subject as being asleep or being awake based on whether the skin temperature of said predetermined region is above or below said temperature threshold and on said motor activity.
- 7. A sleep monitoring arrangement comprising at least one temperature sensor for measuring within a prescribed interval skin temperature of a predetermined region of a subject'"'"'s body and to render measured skin temperature data, a motion detector for measuring motor activity of said subject'"'"'s body in said interval and a processor arranged to receive said measured skin temperature data of said predetermined region as well as said motor activity, a memory storing a predetermined temperature threshold and a computer program with instructions and data allowing said processor to compare said measured skin temperature of said predetermined region with said predetermined temperature threshold and classify said subject as being asleep or being awake based on whether the skin temperature of said predetermined region is above or below said temperature threshold and on said motor activity.
- 11. A method of promoting sleep in a subject, the method comprising controlling skin temperature of one or more selected portions of said body within a predetermined temperature range associated with a state of sleep of said subject.
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14. (canceled)
- 17. A sleep manipulating arrangement comprising a computer arrangement and one or more temperature manipulation units, the computer arrangement being arranged to control said skin temperature of one or more selected portions of a subject'"'"'s body within a predetermined temperature range associated with a state of sleep of said subject via said one or more temperature manipulation units.
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19. (canceled)
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25. A method of monitoring alertness in a subject comprising continuously or periodically measuring skin temperature;
- wherein an increase in said skin temperature during an interval is indicative of a reduction in alertness during said interval.
- View Dependent Claims (26)
- 27. An alertness monitoring arrangement comprising at least one temperature sensor for measuring within a prescribed time interval skin temperature and to render measured skin temperature data, a processor arranged to receive said measured skin temperature data, a memory storing a predetermined temperature threshold and a computer program with instructions and data allowing said processor to compare said measured skin temperature data with said predetermined temperature threshold, and to classify said subject as being alert if the measured skin temperature is below said temperature threshold and as being non-alert if the measured skin temperature is above said temperature threshold.
- 29. A method of manipulating a level of alertness of a subject, comprising i) continuously or periodically measuring skin temperature, and ii) manipulating a skin temperature such as to remain within a predetermined temperature range associated with a predetermined level of alertness.
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30. (canceled)
Specification