ELECTROMECHANICAL TACTILE STIMULATION DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20100318007A1
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Relaxasleep, LLC
• Original Assignee: Relaxasleep, LLC
• Inventors: O'BRIEN, DONALD J.
• Application Number:
  US12/482,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20100318007A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/00 Apparatus for passive exercising A61H5/00 takes precedence; Vibrating apparatus driving means for vibrating A61H23/00; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 11/00 Belts, strips or combs for massage purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 19/44 Having substantially cylindrical shape, e.g. dildos
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5002 Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5035 Several programs selectable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5048 Audio interfaces, e.g. voice or music controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5058 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/081 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/62 Posture
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/004 With mechanical drive, e.g. spring mechanism or vibrating unit being hit for starting vibration and then applied to the body of a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0218 with alternating magnetic fields producing a translating or oscillating movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/04 Devices for pressing such points, e.g. Shiatsu or AcupressureMassage or pressure on general areas A61H9/00 - A61H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• 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 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated

Abstract

A device for stimulating a sleeper is disclosed. The device comprises a tactile electromechanical stimulator positioned against the sleeper'"'"'s back proximate the sleeper'"'"'s lower spine. The stimulator is actuated by a control circuit and powered by a power source. In one embodiment, the control circuit can be programmed to occasionally actuate the stimulator to promote more restful sleep. In one embodiment, the control circuit includes a receiver, and a transmitter is included that is adapted to transmit an actuation signal upon detection of excess noise or motion from the sleeper. The receiver, upon receiving the actuation signal, can actuate the stimulator for a randomized period of time via one or more randomized output pulses generated by a controller in communication with the receiver.

Claims

1. An external electromechanical tactile stimulation device adapted to be positioned against a person'"'"'s lower spine, the device comprising:

a belt; and

an electromechanical stimulus unit coupled to the belt, the electromechanical stimulus unit comprising;

at least two vibrators configured to be centered about a person'"'"'s lower spine;

a controller in communication with the at least two vibrators to control actuation of the at least two vibrators;

a battery that provides power for operation of the controller and the at least two vibrators; and

a switch that selects between a responsive mode and a standalone mode;

wherein, in the responsive mode, the controller is configured to actuate the at least two vibrators in response to control signals received from one or more remote sensors; and

wherein, in the standalone mode, the controller is configured to occasionally actuate the at least two vibrators in a randomized manner.

2. The tactile stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the electromechanical stimulus unit is inserted within a pocket of a flexible enclosure coupled to the belt.

3. The tactile stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the electromechanical stimulus unit is removably attached to the belt.

4. The tactile stimulation device of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor in communication with the controller, wherein the controller adjusts an intensity level of the at least two vibrators based on the detected pressure.

5. The tactile stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the electromechanical stimulus unit is mounted on a flexible circuit board.

6. The tactile stimulation device of claim 1, further comprising a receiver for receiving actuation signals from a remote sensory input device when the controller is operating in the responsive mode.

7. The tactile stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises stored instructions that, upon being executed thereon, output a sequence of randomized output pulses having randomized pulse widths and randomized wait times between successive output pulses.

8. The tactile stimulation device of claim 7, wherein a range of the randomized pulse widths is adjustable.

9. A sleep enhancement system, the system comprising:

a remote control unit, the remote control unit comprising;

a sensory input device configured to detect a sensory input associated with a sleeping person;

a signal processing module configured to generate a digital actuation signal when the sensory input exceeds a specified threshold level;

a transmitter configured to transmit the actuation signal; and

a tactile stimulus unit in communication with the remote control unit the tactile stimulus unit comprising;

a receiver in communication with the transmitter and configured to receive the actuation signal;

at least one tactile stimulator configured to be positioned proximate the sleeping person'"'"'s lower spine, the at least one tactile stimulator configured to exert pressure on a skin surface adjacent its position; and

a controller in communication with the at least one tactile stimulator to control actuation of the at least one tactile stimulator for a predetermined period of time in response to the received actuation signal from the remote control unit;

wherein the specified threshold level is adjustable by a user;

wherein the controller is configured to output a sequence of output pulses having randomized pulse widths and randomized pause times between successive output pulses for the predetermined period of time.

10. The sleep enhancement system of claim 9, wherein the at least one tactile stimulator is a vibrator.

11. The sleep enhancement system of claim 9, wherein a range of the randomized pulse widths is adjustable.

12. The sleep enhancement system of claim 9, wherein an intensity level of the at least one tactile stimulator is adjustable.

13. The sleep enhancement system of claim 9, wherein the sensory input device is a microphone or a motion detector.

14. The sleep enhancement system of claim 9, wherein the sensory input device is a pressure sensor.

15. A method of enhancing sleep, the method comprising:

positioning one or more tactile stimulators against a person'"'"'s skin at a location proximate the intersection between lumbar and sacral regions of the person'"'"'s spinal column;

actuating the one or more tactile stimulators to produce randomized vibrations in response to an actuation signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the actuation signal comprises a randomized sequence of pulses generated by a programmable controller in communication with the one or more tactile stimulators, each pulse having a randomized pulse width.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising detecting pressure exerted between the person'"'"'s skin and a contact surface via a pressure transducer.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising automatically adjusting the intensity of the vibrations in response to the detected pressure.

19. An external electromechanical apparatus for enhancing sleep, the apparatus comprising:

one or more tactile stimulators configured to be placed against a person'"'"'s back proximate the lower spine;

a controller configured to occasionally actuate the one or more tactile stimulators in a random manner;

a power supply; and

a power control circuit configured to provide power from the power supply to the one or more tactile stimulators and the controller.