System and Method to Monitor and Assist Individual's Sleep

• US 20160015314A1
• Filed: 07/21/2014
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Withings S.A.
• Original Assignee: Withings S.A.
• Inventors: Dusanter, Florent, Buard, Nadine, Carreel, Eric, Yang, Ruiyi, Joffrey, Villard
• Granted Patent: US 10,278,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0012 Ovulation-period determination for animals A61D17/002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0019 based on measurement of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• 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 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02125 of pulse wave propagation time
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02444 Details of sensor A61B5/02427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0285 Measuring or recording phase velocity of blood waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/029 Measuring or recording blood output from the heart, e.g. minute volume A61B8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1102 Ballistocardiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1126 : using a particular sensing technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 : occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 : for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 : for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 : Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4343 : Pregnancy and labour monitoring, e.g. for labour onset detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 : Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4815 : Sleep quality
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 : Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 : Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 : mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 : Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 : Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 : Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/747 : in case of emergency, i.e. alerting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 : Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/161 : with means for measuring the humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 : by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 : by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0083 : especially for waking up
• 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 2205/3306 : Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 : Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 : Heartbeat rate only
• 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 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/445 : in a horizontal position

Abstract

A sleep assist system to monitor and assist the user'"'"'s sleep, comprising: a bedside device adapted to be positioned near the user'"'"'s bed, the bedside device optionally comprising a loudspeaker, a light source, a microphone, a light sensor, a temperature sensor, a control unit, an air quality sensor, a display unit, a user interface. The system further comprises a first sensing unit positioned in the user'"'"'s bed comprising one or more sensors adapted to sense at least pressure and changes in pressure exerted by the user lying in the bed; an additional sensor device to be in contact with the user'"'"'s body, and to be coupled to the bedside device; the system is configured to correlate the data obtained from both the first sensing unit and the additional sensor device.

Claims

1. A sleep assist system to monitor and assist the user'"'"'s sleep, the sleep assist system comprising:

a bedside device adapted to be positioned near the user'"'"'s bed, the bedside device further comprising at least one of the following;

a loudspeaker, a light source, a microphone, a light sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a control unit, an air quality sensor, a display unit, a user interface;

a first sensing unit adapted to be positioned in the user'"'"'s bed, the first sensing unit comprising one or more sensors adapted to sense at least pressure and/or changes in pressure exerted by the user lying in the bed;

an additional sensor device, adapted to be in contact with the user'"'"'s body, and further adapted to be coupled to the bedside device;

wherein the system is configured to correlate the data obtained from both the first sensing unit and the additional sensor device.

2. The sleep assist system as in claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to:

monitor the user'"'"'s sleep, assess the user'"'"'s sleep cycles and the phase of sleep cycle, and

provide the user with at least one light and sound program, the light and sound program being based on the assessment of the user'"'"'s sleep cycles and the phase of sleep cycle.

3. The sleep assist system as in claim 1, wherein:

the system is configured to monitor the user'"'"'s sleep, assess the user'"'"'s sleep cycles and the phase of sleep cycle,

the additional sensor device is adapted to measure the user'"'"'s heart rate level and variability and/or the respiration level and variability and/or the user'"'"'s skin temperature, and

the system is further configured to assess a current phase of the female menstrual cycle based on an analysis of heart rate level and variability and/or the respiration level and variability and/or the skin temperature during deep sleep phase.

4. The sleep assist system as in claim 1, wherein:

the system is configured to monitor the user'"'"'s sleep, assess the user'"'"'s sleep cycles and the phase of sleep cycle, the first sensing unit is adapted to measure balistography signals and determine the user'"'"'s heart pulse therefrom,

the additional sensor device is adapted to measure the user'"'"'s heart pulse and the user'"'"'s heart rate,

wherein the system is further configured to assess the stiffness of the user'"'"'s arteries based on the measurements of the Pulse Transit Time between the signal measured by the first sensing unit and the signal measured by the additional sensor device.

5. The sleep assist system as in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to monitor the user'"'"'s sleep, assess the user'"'"'s sleep cycles and the phase of sleep cycle, the first sensing unit is adapted to measure balistography signal, and the system is further configured to assess the heart volume stroke and/or its evolutions based on the measurements of the amplitude of the signal measured by the first sensing unit.

6. The sleep assist system as in claim 4, wherein the additional sensor device is adapted to measure the user'"'"'s heart pulse, the first sensing unit is adapted to measure balistography signal, and the system is further configured to assess the blood pressure or at least its evolutions based on the combination of the measurements of arterial stiffness, volume stroke and heart rate.

7. The sleep assist system as in claim 1, wherein the bedside device and/or the first sensing unit are adapted to detect user'"'"'s breathing and/or snoring, and/or the additional sensor device is adapted to detect blood oxygenation, and wherein the sleep assist system is configured to assess whether the user suffers from sleep apnea.

8. The sleep assist system as in claim 1, wherein the system is further adapted provide an alert to third person in the case when the system is used by people with medical condition, elderly people and/or pregnant women and an unexpected situation occurs.

9. The sleep assist system as in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a scale, and wherein the system is configured to correlate the data obtained from the first sensing unit, the additional sensor device, and the scale.

10. The sleep assist system as in claim 1, wherein the additional sensor device further serves as a physical activity monitor, and is adapted to measure parameters related to the physical activity.

11. The sleep assist system as in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal being configured to display the information obtained by the bedside unit, the sensing unit and/or the additional sensor device.

12. The sleep assist system as in claim 11, wherein the mobile terminal is further configured to receive feedback from the user and adjust the sleep assist system accordingly.

13. A sleep assist system to monitor and assist the user'"'"'s sleep, the sleep assist system comprising:

a bedside device adapted to be positioned near the user'"'"'s bed, the bedside device comprising a loudspeaker, a light source, a microphone and a light sensor;

a first sensing unit adapted to be positioned in the user'"'"'s bed, the first sensing unit comprising one or more sensors adapted to sense pressure and/or changes in pressure exerted by the user lying in the bed;

a mobile terminal, configured to be connected at least to the bedside device;

an additional sensor device, adapted to be in contact with the user'"'"'s body, and further adapted to be coupled to the bedside device;

wherein the system is configured to;

monitor the user'"'"'s sleep, assess the user'"'"'s sleep cycles and the phase of sleep cycle, using the first sensing unit and the additional sensor device,

monitor the user'"'"'s environment, using the bedside device,

provide feedback to the user through the mobile terminal, and

provide the user with at least one light and sound program, the light and sound program being based on the assessment of the user'"'"'s sleep cycles and the phase of sleep cycle.