SYSTEMS, APPARATUS, AND METHODS FOR DETECTION AND MONITORING OF CHRONIC SLEEP DISORDERS

• US 20190104993A1
• Filed: 10/05/2018
• Published: 04/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wesper Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Joan and Irwin Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute
• Inventors: REUVENY, Amir
• Granted Patent: US 10,531,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0247 for compensation or correction of the measured physiological value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0261 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0806 by whole-body plethysmography measuring blood flow using plethysmography A61B5/0295; impedance plethysmography A61B5/053; measuring volume of the body or parts thereof A61B5/1073
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4809 Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4815 Sleep quality
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring a sleep parameter of a user includes an adhesive pad configured to conform to a surface of the user and a flexible element coupled to the adhesive pad. The flexible element includes a conductive fabric, and exhibits a modified electrical property in response to an applied force. The apparatus also includes a power source electrically coupled to the flexible element, and an electrical circuit electrically coupled to the power source and the flexible conductive element. The electrical circuit is configured to detect, during use, a change in an electrical property of the flexible element.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring a sleep parameter of a user, the apparatus comprising:

an adhesive pad configured to conform to a surface of the user;

a flexible element coupled to the adhesive pad, the flexible element configured to exhibit a modified electrical property in response to an applied force;

a power source electrically coupled to the flexible element, the flexible element including a conductive, nonwoven fabric material; and

an electrical circuit electrically coupled to the power source and the flexible element, the electrical circuit configured to detect, during use, a change in an electrical property of the flexible element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible element is in a neutral stress state prior to being coupled to the flexible element, and is in a compressed state upon being coupled to the flexible element.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein, during use, the flexible element transitions from the compressed state, through the neutral stress state, to a tensile state, in response to an inhalation of the user.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the electrical circuit is configured to detect the change in the electrical property of the flexible element during the transition from the compressed state to the neutral stress state.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the electrical circuit is configured to detect the change in the electrical property of the flexible element during the transition from the neutral stress state to the tensile state.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein, during use, the flexible element transitions from the tensile state, through the neutral stress state, to the compressed state, in response to an exhalation of the user.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the electrical circuit is configured to detect the change in the electrical property of the flexible element during the transition from the neutral stress state to the compressed state.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication interface configured to connect with a portable electronic device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the change in the electrical property of the flexible element is responsive to a tension applied to the flexible element during use of the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical property of the flexible element comprises at least one of a resistance or a reactance of the flexible element.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

a motion sensor configured to monitor a position of at least a portion of the user;

a pulse oximeter configured to measure an oxygen saturation level of the user;

or

a microphone configured to detect ambient noises during use of the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive material is one of a conductive textile material or a conductive polymer material.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible element is a first flexible element, the apparatus further comprising a second flexible element not configured to exhibit a modified electrical property in response to an applied force.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible element is a first flexible element, the apparatus further comprising a second flexible element and a third flexible element.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first flexible element extends from the adhesive pad to the second flexible element, the second flexible element extends from the first flexible element to the third flexible element, and the third flexible element extends from the second flexible element to the adhesive pad.

16. A system for monitoring a sleep parameter of a user, the system comprising:

a portable electronic device;

a first patch sensor, including;

a first adhesive pad configured to conform to a first surface of the user,

a first flexible conductive strip coupled to the first adhesive pad, the first flexible conductive strip including a conductive nonwoven fabric and configured to exhibit a modified electrical property in response to an applied force, and

a first electrical circuit electrically coupled to the first flexible conductive strip, the first electrical circuit configured to detect, during use, a change in an electrical property of the first flexible conductive strip; and

a second patch sensor, including;

a second adhesive pad configured to conform to a second surface of the user different from the first surface of the user,

a second flexible conductive strip coupled to the second adhesive pad, the second flexible strip configured to exhibit a modified electrical property in response to an applied force, and

a second electrical circuit electrically coupled to the second flexible conductive strip, the second electrical circuit configured to detect, during use, a change in an electrical property of the second flexible conductive strip,

each of the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit configured to transmit electrical property change data to the portable electronic device for determination of the sleep parameter.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the first flexible conductive strip and the second flexible conductive strip is in a compressed state prior to use, is expanded during use, and substantially returns to the compressed state after use.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first patch sensor or the second patch sensor includes a microphone configured to detect ambient noises during use of the system.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the electrical property change data is used to determine a respiratory airflow of the user.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the electrical property of the first flexible conductive element comprises at least one of a resistance or a reactance of the first flexible conductive element.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the first patch sensor further includes a communication interface configured to connect with the portable electronic device.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the first patch sensor further includes a motion sensorconfigured to monitor a position of at least a portion of the user.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the first patch sensor further includes a pulse oximeter configured to measure an oxygen saturation level of the user.

24. A method, comprising:

adhering an apparatus to a skin of a user, the apparatus including a conductive element configured to exhibit a modified electrical property in response to an applied force, the conductive element comprising a conductive nonwoven fabric;

applying an electric current to the conductive element;

measuring a change in electrical property of the conductive element when the apparatus is adhered to the skin of the user;

calculating, based on the measured change in electrical property of the conductive element, a distortion of the conductive element; and

determining a respiratory effort of the user based on the distortion of the conductive element.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the apparatus further includes:

an adhesive pad configured to conform to a surface of the user;

a power source electrically coupled to the conductive element; and

an electrical circuit electrically coupled to the power source and the conductive element, the electrical circuit configured to detect, during use, the change in electrical property of the conductive element.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the electrical property of the flexible conductive element comprises at least one of a resistance or a reactance of the flexible conductive element.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the apparatus is a first apparatus, the conductive element is a first conductive element, and the distortion of the conductive element is a first distortion of the first conductive element, the method further comprising:

adhering a second apparatus to the skin of a user; and

calculating, based on a measured change in electrical property of a conductive element of the second apparatus, a second distortion of the second conductive element of the second apparatus,

wherein the determining the respiratory effort of the user is based on the first distortion of the first conductive element and the second distortion of the second conductive element.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first distortion of the first conductive element and the second distortion of the second conductive element are used to determine a respiratory airflow of the user.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising identifying, based on the respiratory effort, at least one sleep parameter associated with the user.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one sleep parameter includes at least one of:

insomnia, sleep apnea, periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), and restless leg syndrome (RLS).