Methods and systems of Pavlovian sleep induction

• US 11,369,771 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2019
• Issued: 06/28/2022
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Remedy Inc.
• Original Assignee: Remedy Inc.
• Inventors: Lazarovich, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuhlman, Catherine B
• Application Number:
  US16/568,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20200129727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4809 Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• 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: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0016 by the smell sense
• 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 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 : Packaging for specific medical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 : Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 : Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 : Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/14 : Electro-oculogram [EOG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/18 : Rapid eye-movements [REM]
• 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 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 : Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity

Abstract

A Pavlovian conditioned reflex sleep induction kit includes at least one physiological sensor, wherein the at least one physiological sensor is configured to detect at least a physiological parameter of a user and transmit a detection signal to an automatically activated scent diffuser, wherein the automatically activated scent diffuser is configured to receive an electronic activation signal and to diffuse a scent as a function of the electronic activation signal, a control circuit configured to receive the detection signal from the at least one physiological sensor, to ascertain that the user is entering a hypnagogic state, and to transmit the electronic activation signal to the automatically activated scent diffuser, thereby conditioning the user to respond to subsequent sensing of the same scent. For later use, a user-activated scent diffuser is provided, that diffuses the same scent upon activation by a user, to thereby trigger the conditioned reflex to fall asleep.

Claims

1. A method of inducing a Pavlovian association of a scent with sleep initiation, the method comprising:

detecting, by a control circuit using at least a physiological sensor, at least a physiological parameter of a user;

determining, by the control circuit and as a function of the detected at least a physiological parameter, a user'"'"'s entry into a sleep cycle is imminent, wherein the determining comprises;

comparing the detected at least a physiological parameter to a physiological indicator associated with the user;

determining that the detected at least a physiological parameter indicates a state of pre-sleep relaxation;

determining, using a linear regression machine-learning model, a pattern associated with the detected at least a physiological parameter;

calculating an average time from detection of indication of pre-sleep relaxation to detection of entry into a sleep state associated with the user as a function of the pattern;

predicting a user'"'"'s time of entry into the sleep cycle based on the average time; and

determining the user'"'"'s entry into the sleep cycle is imminent at a time point between the indication of pre-sleep relaxation and the predicted time of entry into the sleep cycle; and

triggering, by the control circuit and using a scent diffuser controlled by the logic circuit, a release of a scent when the user'"'"'s entry into the sleep cycle is determined to be imminent, wherein the scent diffuser comprises a scent source, and wherein the scent source is in the form of a film.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the user'"'"'s entry into the sleep cycle is imminent further comprises:

detecting a first physiological parameter of the at least a physiological parameter at a first time;

detecting a second physiological parameter of the at least a physiological parameter at a second time subsequent to the first time; and

determining that the second physiological parameter indicates a greater degree of relaxation than the first physiological parameter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the scent is not released until triggering.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising deactivating, by the control circuit, the scent diffuser.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

ascertaining, by the control circuit, that the user has entered the sleep cycle; and

deactivating the scent diffuser as a function of the ascertainment.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

determining, by the control circuit, that a time limit has passed after triggering the release of the scent; and

deactivating the automatically activated scent diffuser as a function of the determination.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said triggering step comprises detecting signals indicative of entry into early sleep stage N1, and, in response thereto, triggering scent diffusion, and

said deactivating step comprises detecting signals indicative of a transition from sleep stage 2 into sleep stage 3 and, a predetermined period of time thereafter, deactivating scent diffusion.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said triggering step comprises detecting electrocardiogram (ECG) signals indicative of an early N1 state and, in response thereto, triggering scent diffusion, and said deactivating step comprises measuring passage of a predetermined period of time after said activating step, and then deactivating scent diffusion.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said predetermined period of time is 10 minutes.

10. A system for inducing a Pavlovian conditioned reflex association of a scent with sleep initiation, the system comprising:

a physiological sensor, wherein the physiological sensor is configured to detect at least a physiological parameter of a user and to transmit a detection signal, said detection signal including the detected physiological parameter;

an automatically activated scent diffuser, wherein the automatically activated scent diffuser is configured to receive an electronic activation signal and diffuse a scent as a function of the electronic activation signal; and

a control circuit configured to;

receive the detection signal from the physiological sensor, determine, as a function of the received detection signal, that a user'"'"'s entry into a sleep cycle is imminent, wherein the determining comprises;

comparing the detected at least a physiological parameter to a physiological indicator associated with the user;

determining that the detected at least a physiological parameter indicates a state of pre-sleep relaxation;

determining, using a linear regression machine-learning model, a pattern associated with the detected at least a physiological parameter;

calculating an average time from detection of indication of pre-sleep relaxation to detection of entry into a sleep state associated with the user as a function of the pattern;

predicting a user'"'"'s time of entry into the sleep cycle based on the average time; and

determining the user'"'"'s entry into the sleep cycle is imminent at a time point between the indication of pre-sleep relaxation and the predicted time of entry into the sleep cycle; and

transmit the electronic activation signal to the automatically activated scent diffuser when the user'"'"'s entry into the sleep cycle is determined to be imminent, wherein the scent diffuser comprises a scent source, and wherein the scent source is in the form of a film.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the physiological sensor includes at least an electrophysiologic sensor.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least an electrophysiologic sensor includes an electrocardiogram.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least an electrophysiologic sensor includes an electroencephalogram.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the physiological sensor includes a body temperature sensor.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the physiological sensor includes a motion sensor.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the physiological sensor is incorporated in a wearable device.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the automatically activated scent diffuser includes an aperture with an electronically activated door.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the automatically activated scent diffuser is further configured to stop diffusing the scent, upon reception of a deactivation signal.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the control circuit is further configured to transmit, to the automatically activated scent diffuser, the deactivation signal.

20. A Pavlovian conditioned reflex sleep induction kit, the kit comprising:

a physiological sensor, wherein the physiological sensor is configured to detect at least a physiological parameter of a user and transmit a detection signal, said detection signal indicating the detected at least a physiological parameter of the user;

an automatically activated scent diffuser, wherein the automatically activated scent diffuser is configured to receive an electronic activation signal and diffuse a scent as a function of the detection signal;

a control circuit configured to;

receive the detection signal from the physiological sensor, determine, as a function of the received detection signal, that a user'"'"'s entry into a sleep cycle is imminent, wherein the determining comprises;

comparing the detected at least a physiological parameter to a physiological indicator associated with the user;

determining that the detected at least a physiological parameter indicates a state of pre-sleep relaxation;

determining, using a linear regression machine-learning model, a pattern associated with the detected at least a physiological parameter;

calculating an average time from detection of indication of pre-sleep relaxation to detection of entry into a sleep state associated with the user as a function of the pattern;

predicting a user'"'"'s time of entry into the sleep cycle based on the average time; and

determining the user'"'"'s entry into the sleep cycle is imminent at a time point between the indication of pre-sleep relaxation and the predicted time of entry into the sleep cycle; and

transmit the electronic activation signal to the automatically activated scent diffuser when the user'"'"'s entry into the sleep cycle is determined to be imminent; and

a user-activated scent diffuser that diffuses the scent upon activation by the user, wherein the scent diffuser comprises a scent source, and wherein the scent source is in the form of a film.