Sleep disorder diagnostic system and method
First Claim
1. A diagnostic system for use in diagnosing a patient with a sleep disorder, comprising:
- at least one item of bed clothing, the at least one item of bed clothing comprising at least one sensor; and
a data recorder in operable communication with the at least one sensor;
wherein the at least one sensor is operable to monitor at least one sleeping disorder related parameter and further operable to communicate the at least one sleeping disorder related parameter to the data recorder,wherein the data recorder is shaped and/or contoured to fit the patient'"'"'s body, the data recorder having a patient-facing surface adapted to be placed closest to and in indirect contact with the patient, the patient-facing surface including a plurality of projections that protrude therefrom and that are adapted to facilitate airflow between the patient'"'"'s body and the data recorder when the data recorder is being worn by the patient and is in use.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and/or methods for diagnosing sleep disorders in a patient are provided. In certain example embodiments, articles of bed clothing and/or bed sheets comprising sensors operable to obtain patient condition data related to sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) are provided to patients. The patient condition data is stored to a data recorder operably connected to the sensors. The sensors and the data recorder may communicate wirelessly. The bed clothing (e.g. wearable articles of clothing, bed sheets or mats, pillows, etc.) may have batteries and/or battery fibers disposed therein to power the sensors. In certain example embodiments, a bed sheet may be physically connected to a power supply and/or the data recorder. In certain example embodiments, a bed sheet and articles of bed clothing both may be provided to the patient.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A diagnostic system for use in diagnosing a patient with a sleep disorder, comprising:
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at least one item of bed clothing, the at least one item of bed clothing comprising at least one sensor; and a data recorder in operable communication with the at least one sensor; wherein the at least one sensor is operable to monitor at least one sleeping disorder related parameter and further operable to communicate the at least one sleeping disorder related parameter to the data recorder, wherein the data recorder is shaped and/or contoured to fit the patient'"'"'s body, the data recorder having a patient-facing surface adapted to be placed closest to and in indirect contact with the patient, the patient-facing surface including a plurality of projections that protrude therefrom and that are adapted to facilitate airflow between the patient'"'"'s body and the data recorder when the data recorder is being worn by the patient and is in use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A diagnostic system for use in diagnosing a patient with a sleep disorder, comprising:
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at least one item of bed clothing, the at least one item of bed clothing comprising at least one sensor; and a data recorder in operable communication with the at least one sensor; wherein the at least one sensor is operable to monitor at least one sleeping disorder related parameter and further operable to communicate the at least one sleeping disorder related parameter to the data recorder, wherein the at least one item of bed clothing further comprises electronically controllable artificial muscle fibers, the artificial muscle fibers being configured to cause the item of bed clothing to contract to more closely fit the patient, and wherein the at least one sensor and the data recorder are operable to communicate via a wireless connection.
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32. A diagnostic system for use in diagnosing a patient with a sleep disorder, comprising:
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two or more articles of bed clothing, the two or more articles of bed clothing comprising at least one sensor; a data recorder in operable communication with the at least one sensor; and an exchange mechanism operable to allow power and/or data to flow between the two or more articles of bed clothing, wherein the at least one sensor is operable to monitor at least one sleeping disorder related parameter and further operable to communicate the at least one sleeping disorder related parameter to the data recorder, and wherein the exchange mechanism comprises a fastener engagably and cablelessly connecting the two or more articles of bed clothing.
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33. A diagnostic system for use in diagnosing a patient with a sleep disorder, comprising:
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at least one item of bed clothing, the at least one item of bed clothing comprising at least one sensor; and a data recorder in operable communication with the at least one sensor; wherein the at least one sensor is operable to monitor at least one sleeping disorder related parameter and further operable to communicate the at least one sleeping disorder related parameter to the data recorder, wherein the at least one item of bed clothing is a bed sheet or mat positioned above and/or below a mattress, and wherein the bed sheet or mat is configured to supply power to the at least one sensor included in a second item of bed clothing to be worn by the patient via at least one contact between the bed sheet or mat and the second item of bed clothing. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for diagnosing a patient with a sleep disorder, the method comprising:
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providing at least one item of bed clothing to the patient, the at least one item of bed clothing comprising at least one sensor; generating a signal corresponding to at least one sleeping disorder related parameter of the patient via the at least one sensor; and
,recording the signal onto a data recorder via a data recorder, the data recorder being shaped and contoured to fit the patient'"'"'s body, the data recorder being formed from or encased in a soft, pliable material structured to enable the data recorder to comfortably form to the patient'"'"'s body in a non-contacting manner. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for diagnosing a patient with a sleep disorder, the method comprising:
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providing at least one item of bed clothing to the patient, the at least one item of bed clothing comprising at least one sensor; generating a signal corresponding to at least one sleeping disorder related parameter of the patient via the at least one sensor; recording the signal onto a data recorder via a data recorder, the data recorder being shaped and contoured to fit the patient'"'"'s body; and
,causing the at least one item of bed clothing to contract to correspondingly cause the at least one item of bed clothing to more closely fit the patient using electronically controllable muscle fibers embedded in the at least one item of bed clothing.
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43. A system for diagnosing a patient with a sleep disorder, comprising:
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at least one item of bed clothing for the patient, the at least one item of bed clothing comprising at least one sensor; means for generating a signal corresponding to at least one sleeping disorder related parameter of the patient; and
,means for recording the signal onto a data recorder, wherein the data recorder is shaped and contoured to fit the patient'"'"'s body, and wherein the at least one item of bed clothing further comprises electronically controllable artificial muscle fibers, the artificial muscle fibers being configured to cause the item of bed clothing to contract during a diagnostic session.
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Specification