SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRAINING AND PROMOTING A CONDITIONED REFLEX INTERVENTION DURING SLEEP

• US 20110065979A1
• Filed: 09/14/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sleep Methods, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sleep Methods, Inc.
• Inventors: Lehrman, Michael L., Halleck, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,574,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0016 by the smell sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0072 with application of electrical currents
• 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 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/40 Respiratory characteristics

Abstract

An apparatus and method for causing a conditioned reflex in a person. The apparatus includes a detector configured to detect a physiological condition of the person, the physiological condition associated with an onset of a sleep apnea event. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to transmit a stimulus to the person upon a detection of the physiological condition. The controller is also configured to determine if the physiological condition is still occurring. The controller is further configured, upon a determination that the physiological condition is still occurring, to repeat the transmitting and determining steps.

Claims

1. An apparatus for causing a conditioned reflex in a person, comprising:

a detector configured to detect a physiological condition of the person, the physiological condition associated with an onset of a sleep apnea event; and

a controller configured to;

transmit a stimulus to the person upon a detection of the physiological condition;

determine if the physiological condition is still occurring; and

upon a determination that the physiological condition is still occurring, repeat the transmitting and determining steps.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stimulus is configured to induce the person to take an action to counter the physiological condition.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the action is one of:

swallowing, turning over, clearing a throat, tilting a head, and extending a jaw forward.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the person while the person is asleep.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the physiological condition is one of a snore, a cessation of breathing, a high blood pressure, a rapid heart rate, and a rapid breathing rate.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stimulus is selected from a plurality of predetermined stimuli, each predetermined stimulus associated with a predetermined physiological condition, the stimulus selected based on the detected physiological condition.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stimulus is one of:

a whispered cue from a voice synthesizer, a vibration, a tone, and an aroma.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the controller is configured to detect that the person is in a state of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep; and

the stimulus transmitted to the person is an electrical stimulus configured to cause neck muscles in the person to move a neck of the person backwards.

9. A method for causing a conditioned reflex in a person, comprising:

detecting a physiological condition of the person, the physiological condition associated with an onset of a sleep apnea event;

upon a detection of the physiological condition, transmitting a stimulus to the person;

determining if the physiological condition is still occurring; and

upon a determination that the physiological condition is still occurring, repeating the transmitting and determining steps.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the stimulus is configured to induce the person to take an action to counter the physiological condition.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the action is one of:

swallowing, turning over, clearing a throat, tilting a head, and extending a jaw forward.

12. The method as set forth in claim 9, further comprising the step of:

monitoring the person while the person is asleep.

13. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the physiological condition is one of:

a snore, a cessation of breathing, a high blood pressure, a rapid heart rate, and a rapid breathing rate.

14. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the stimulus is selected from a plurality of predetermined stimuli, each predetermined stimulus associated with a predetermined physiological condition, the stimulus selected based on the detected physiological condition.

15. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the stimulus is one of:

a whispered cue from a voice synthesizer, a vibration, a tone, and an aroma.

16. The method as set forth in claim 9, further comprising the step of:

detecting that the person is in a state of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, wherein the stimulus transmitted to the person is an electrical stimulus configured to cause neck muscles in the person to move a neck of the person backwards.

17. A method for training a conditioned reflex in a person, comprising:

transmitting a stimulus to the person, wherein the person is in preparation for sleep and the stimulus is configured to induce the person to take an action to counter a physiological condition;

waiting for a predetermined time period; and

repeating the transmitting and waiting steps for a first plurality of repetitions.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the stimulus is one of:

a whispered cue from a voice synthesizer, a vibration, a tone, and an aroma.

19. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the action is one of:

swallowing, turning over, clearing a throat, tilting a head, and extending a jaw forward.

20. The method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising the step of:

repeating the transmitting and waiting steps for a second plurality of repetitions, wherein the waiting time period for the second repetitions is longer than the waiting time period for the first repetitions.