Systems and methods for optimization of sleep and post-sleep performance

• US 8,784,293 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2013
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Brain Monitoring
• Original Assignee: Advanced Brain Monitoring
• Inventors: Berka, Christine, Popovic, Djordje, Levendowski, Dan, Davis, Gene, McConnell, Catherine, Yanagi, Matthew A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Christine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reddy, Sunita
• Application Number:
  US13/910,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20130303837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 600/27, 600/26
• US Class Current: 600/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0672 Nasal cannula assemblies for oxygen therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/161 with means for measuring the humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0066 with heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/82 Internal energy supply devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/14 Electro-oculogram [EOG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/30 : Blood pressure A61M2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 : Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 : Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity

Abstract

Systems and methods for optimizing sleep and post-sleep performance. In an embodiment, a system comprising a device and sleep mask are provided. The mask may comprise electroencephalographic (EEG) sensors and one or more stimulation elements configured to stimulate the senses of a wearer of the mask. The mask may be releasably and electrically coupled to a device which receives EEG signals from the mask, determines current and target sleep states based, at least in part, on the EEG signals, and uses this determination to tailor a sleep architecture of the wearer by controlling the stimulation elements. The mask may be a soft mask which utilizes conductive thread embroidered into one or more textile layers. In an embodiment, the stimulation elements may comprise one or more heating elements, electroluminescent panels, and speakers. In addition, the EEG sensors may comprise hybrid sensors comprising hydrogel in a conductive spacer fabric.

Claims

1. A system for tailoring sleep architecture, the system comprising:

one or more coupling elements configured to electrically couple a device to a mask;

the mask, wherein the mask is configured to be worn by a user, and wherein the mask comprises

one or more electroencephalographic sensors, wherein each of the one or more electroencephalographic sensors comprises hydrogel in a conductive spacer fabric,

a heater element configured to generate heat, wherein the heater element comprises insulated first conductive thread electrically coupled to one or more of the one or more coupling elements,

a visual element configured to generate light, wherein the visual element comprises one or more electroluminescent panels, and second conductive thread electrically coupled to one or more of the one or more coupling elements; and

the device, wherein the device comprises a controller comprising one or more modules that, when the device is electrically coupled to the mask,

receive one or more electroencephalographic signals from the one or more electroencephalographic sensors,

determine a current sleep state and a target sleep state based, at least in part, on the one or more electroencephalographic signals, and,

if the current sleep state and the target sleep state are different, control the heater element and the one or more electroluminescent panels, via the one or more coupling elements, to guide the user to the target sleep state.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second conductive threads comprises silver-coated conductive thread.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the mask comprises one or more textile layers, and wherein each of the first and second conductive threads is embroidered into one or more of the one or more textile layers.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the mask further comprises an insulating foam layer and an external cover.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the mask is configured such that, when the mask is worn by a user, the one or more electroencephalographic sensors are positioned on the user'"'"'s forehead and the one or more electroluminescent panels are positioned over the user'"'"'s eyes.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more electroencephalographic sensors are configured to acquire two channels of electroencephalographic data from the user'"'"'s forehead against a passive reference electrode.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more electroencephalographic sensors are configured to acquire one channel of electroencephalographic data from the user'"'"'s forehead and utilize at least one electrode as an active reference.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more coupling elements comprise a first set of coupling elements and a second set of coupling elements which are configured to releasably connect to the first set of coupling elements, wherein the mask comprises the first set of coupling elements, wherein the device comprises a back side and a front side, and wherein the back side of the device comprises the second set of coupling elements and the front side of the device comprises a display, such that, when the second set of coupling elements of the device is releasably connected to the first set of coupling elements of the mask, the display is visible.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more modules are configured to display data related to a sleep architecture on the display.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the mask further comprises an audio element configured to generate sound, wherein the audio element comprises one or more speakers, and third conductive thread electrically coupled to one or more of the one or more coupling elements.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein, when the device is electrically coupled to the mask, the one or more modules of the controller further control the audio element, via the one or more coupling elements, to guide the user to the target sleep state.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the mask is configured such that, when the mask is worn by a user, the one or more speakers are positioned over the user'"'"'s ears.

13. A system for tailoring sleep architecture, the system comprising:

a mask configured to be worn by a user, wherein the mask comprises

one or more electroencephalographic sensors, wherein each of the one or more electroencephalographic sensors is configured to acquire electrical activity from the user and output one or more electroencephalographic signals based on the acquired electrical activity, and

a plurality of stimulation elements, wherein each of the plurality of stimulation elements is configured to provide one or more sensory stimuli to the user, and wherein the plurality of stimulation elements comprise a heater element and one or more electroluminescent panels; and

a device comprising a controller comprising one or more modules that are configured to, when the device is electrically coupled to the mask,

receive the one or more electroencephalographic signals from the one or more electroencephalographic sensors,

determine a current sleep state and a target sleep state based, at least in part, on the one or more electroencephalographic signals, and,

if the current sleep state and the target sleep state are different, control the heater element and the one or more electroluminescent panels to guide the user to the target sleep state.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the system further comprises one or more conductive attachment elements that electrically couple the device to the mask.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more conductive attachment elements comprise a first set of attachment elements and a second set of attachment elements which correspond to the first set of attachment elements, wherein the mask comprises the first set of attachment elements and the device comprises the second set of attachment elements, and wherein the mask and the device are configured to be electrically coupled when the first set of attachment elements are coupled with the second set of attachment elements.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first set of attachment elements comprise one or more conductive snap halves and wherein the second set of attachment elements comprise one or more corresponding conductive snap halves.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the mask further comprises a sensor layer comprising one or more electroencephalographic sensor sites and conductive thread which electrically couples the one or more electroencephalographic sensor sites to one or more of the one or more conductive attachment elements.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the one or more electroencephalographic sensor sites comprises a hybrid electroencephalographic sensor comprising hydrogel in conductive spacer fabric.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the heater element comprises a heating layer comprising insulated conductive thread which is electrically coupled to one or more of the one or more conductive attachment elements, wherein the insulated conductive thread is configured to emanate heat.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the insulated conductive thread comprises silver-coated conductive thread insulated in plastic.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the mask further comprises an audio layer comprising one or more speakers and conductive thread which electrically couples the one or more speakers to one or more of the one or more conductive attachment elements.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the mask further comprises a visual layer comprising the one or more electroluminescent panels and conductive thread which electrically couples the one or more electroluminescent panels to one or more of the one or more conductive attachment elements.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the device comprises a display, and wherein the one or more modules are configured to display data related to a sleep architecture of the user on the display.