Rapid eye movement sleep state detector
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for detecting sleep states, comprising:
- means for detecting movement of an eye and for transmitting an eye movement signal in response thereto; and
means for receiving and evaluating said eye movement signal including;
timing means for timing a predetermined interval, counting means for maintaining a cumulative count of eye movements indicated by said eye movement signal, and establishing a count signal whenever said cumulative count reaches a predetermined number, andindicating means for indicating existence of said predetermined number of detected eye movements within said predetermined interval.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided in which an REM sleep state is accurately identified by detecting and counting a selectable number of eye movements within a selectable time interval. A body movement sensor is used to prevent false indications of REM sleep by inhibiting such indication upon sensing of body movement. An eye movement sensor which uses IR light transmission across an eye is disclosed.
59 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting sleep states, comprising:
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means for detecting movement of an eye and for transmitting an eye movement signal in response thereto; and means for receiving and evaluating said eye movement signal including;
timing means for timing a predetermined interval, counting means for maintaining a cumulative count of eye movements indicated by said eye movement signal, and establishing a count signal whenever said cumulative count reaches a predetermined number, andindicating means for indicating existence of said predetermined number of detected eye movements within said predetermined interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for sensing sleep states, comprising the following steps:
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sensing movements of an eye; counting said sensed eye movements; emitting a count signal whenever a predetermined number of eye movements are sensed; timing a predetermined selected interval; emitting an interval signal upon elapse of said predetermined interval; and indicating existence of a sleep state whenever said count signal occurs prior to the occurrence of said interval signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for detecting sleep states, comprising:
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an eye movement sensor which emits a movement signal upon sensing a movement of an eye; a counter coupled to said eye movement sensor which maintains a cummulative count of movements sensed by said eye movement sensor and which emits a count signal whenever said cummulative count reaches a selected number; a timer which times an interval and which emits a time signal whenever said interval has elapsed; and a sleep state indicator circuit coupled to said counter and said timer which emits a signal whenever said count signal is received before said time signal. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An eye movement sensor, comprising:
means for transmitting an electromagnetic beam across an eye including; means for emitting an electromagnetic beam across an eye such that movement of said eye will cause said to protrude varyingly into said electromagnetic beam thereby causing the amount of electromagnetic energy transmitted in said electromagnetic beam to vary, and means for receiving said electromagnetic beam; and means for generating a signal in response to said varying amounts of electromagnetic energy received by said means for receiving. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
Specification