External device that continuously monitors for OSDB and delivers audio stimulation therapy
First Claim
1. A monitoring and therapy system comprising:
- an in-the-ear canal probe configured to be disposed within the ear canal of a subject and configured to non-invasively sense at least one physiological parameter of the subject with at least one sensor, wherein the at least one physiological parameter is indicative of respiration cessation of the subject, and wherein the in-the-ear canal probe includes an inflatable balloon configured to position the at least one sensor proximate to tissue within the ear canal upon inflation, the at least one sensor operatively coupled to a surface of the balloon;
an analyzing device operatively coupled to the in-the-ear canal probe, wherein the analyzing device is configured to analyze the at least one sensed physiological parameter and configured to determine respiration cessation of the subject based on the analysis; and
a stimulating device configured to stimulate the subject with the in-the-ear canal probe to mitigate the respiration cessation of the subject, wherein the stimulating is based on the determination and includes providing an audible message to the subject without waking the subject, wherein the audible message reminds the subject to breath and/or turn on a side of the subject.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A physiological parameter measuring device (14) is disposed within or near an ear canal of a subject (16) to non-invasively sense at least one physiological parameter of the subject which one physiological parameter is associated with at least one physiological condition of the subject. An analyzing device (48) is operatively coupled to the physiological parameter measuring device (14) to analyze the sensed physiological parameter and detect the physiological condition of the subject (16). Based on the detection and analysis of the physiological condition of the subject (16), a stimulating device (20) stimulates the subject (16) with the physiological parameter measuring device (14) within or near the ear canal of the subject (16) to mitigate the physiological condition of the subject (16).
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A monitoring and therapy system comprising:
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an in-the-ear canal probe configured to be disposed within the ear canal of a subject and configured to non-invasively sense at least one physiological parameter of the subject with at least one sensor, wherein the at least one physiological parameter is indicative of respiration cessation of the subject, and wherein the in-the-ear canal probe includes an inflatable balloon configured to position the at least one sensor proximate to tissue within the ear canal upon inflation, the at least one sensor operatively coupled to a surface of the balloon; an analyzing device operatively coupled to the in-the-ear canal probe, wherein the analyzing device is configured to analyze the at least one sensed physiological parameter and configured to determine respiration cessation of the subject based on the analysis; and a stimulating device configured to stimulate the subject with the in-the-ear canal probe to mitigate the respiration cessation of the subject, wherein the stimulating is based on the determination and includes providing an audible message to the subject without waking the subject, wherein the audible message reminds the subject to breath and/or turn on a side of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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inserting an in-the-ear probe which carries sensors and a stimulating device into an auditory canal of a sleeping subject, the in-the-ear probe including an inflatable balloon configured to position at least some of the sensors proximate to tissue within the auditory canal to sense physiological parameters, the at least some of the sensor operatively coupled to a surface of the balloon, the sensors including at least a microphone, light emitting diodes (LEDs) and an infrared (IR) source, and the physiological parameters including at least respiration rate, blood oxygen level (SpO2), and pulse rate; non-invasively sensing the physiological parameters of the subject within an auditory canal of the subject; analyzing the sensed respiration rate, the sensed pulse rate, and the sensed blood oxygen level (SpO2) to determine respiration cessation; and
,in response to determining the respiration cessation of the subject, stimulating the subject with the stimulating device in the auditory canal to mitigate the respiration cessation, wherein the stimulating includes providing a subconscious message to the sleeping subject without waking the subject, wherein the subconscious message reminds the subject to breathe and/or to turn onto a subject side. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for monitoring and treating obstructive sleep disordered breathing (OSDB) comprising:
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an in-the-ear sensing device configured to be disposed within an ear canal of a subject and configured to non-invasively sense a plurality of physiological parameters, including respiration, pulse, and blood oxygen level (SpO2), of the subject with at least one sensor, wherein the physiological parameters are indicative of the OSDB, wherein the at least one sensor includes a microphone sensing the respiration, and wherein the in-the-ear sensing device includes an inflatable balloon configured to position the at least one sensor proximate to tissue within the ear canal upon inflation, the at least one sensor operatively couple to a surface of the balloon; a behind-the-ear monitoring device operatively coupled to the in-the-ear sensing device to communicate with the in-the-ear sensing device, the behind-the-ear monitoring device including; an analyzing device configured to analyze the sensed physiological parameter to determine an OSDB event based on the analysis, wherein the analysis includes comparing a combination of the sensed respiration, the sensed pulse, and the sensed blood oxygen level (SpO2) with a combination of physiological thresholds; and a device disposed in the in-the-ear sensing device configured to stimulate the subject to mitigate the OSDB event, wherein the stimulating is based on the determined OSDB event. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification