Patent classifications
A61B5/4818
System and method of detecting sleep disorders
An apparatus for detecting sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, includes a housing insertable into an ear canal of a subject. A sensor disposed within the housing measures a position of the subject's head relative to an axis of gravity. A transducer is responsive to the sensor and is capable of creating a stimulus detectable by the subject under certain conditions. In various embodiments, a controller receives signals corresponding to a pitch angle and a roll angle of the subject's head measured by the sensor, determines if the pitch and roll angles correspond to a sleep apnea inducing position, and causes the transducer to generate a stimulus upon determining that the subject's head is in the sleep apnea inducing position more than a predetermined threshold number of times. Various parameters of the stimulus may be modified with successive stimulus generation until a non-sleep apnea inducing position is detected.
Monitoring, predicting, and treating clinical episodes
Apparatus and methods are described including identifying that a subject suffers from sleep apnea. Positive airway pressure (PAP) is applied to the subject via a mask placed on a face of the subject. A respiratory-related parameter of the subject is sensed, while the mask is on the face of the subject, and a need of the subject for respiratory support is assessed, responsively to the respiratory-related parameter. In accordance with the assessed need, the mask is configured to regulate the PAP provided to the subject's face. Other applications are also described.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS AND MONITORING SLEEP-DISORDERED BREATHING
A method and system are disclosed for use in monitoring/screening/diagnosing sleep or wake state of a subject or patient. The method generally includes monitoring the patient's activity during one or more sleep sessions comprising a plurality of intervals known as epochs. The sleep/wake state of the subject is determined during each epoch of the session using actigraphy data obtained during the monitoring session. The actigraphy data provides information about the activity of a patient during an epoch. The sleep or wake state is determined based on a ratio of the activity count during an epoch to the activity count during a preceding epoch. If the ratio is greater than a first activity threshold, then a “wake” indication may be provided by, for example, the system. Alternatively, or additionally, a “wake” indication may be determined if the activity count during the epoch is greater than a threshold.
HEALTHCARE APPARATUS FOR CALCULATING STRESS INDEX
A healthcare apparatus includes a BCG sensor; a camera; and a processor configured: to detect a ROI) corresponding to the face from the color facial image; to convert the detected first color image into a black and white image to acquire a first black and white image; to convert the detected second color image into a black and white image to acquire a second black and white image; to apply the acquired first black and white image and the acquired second black and white image to a predetermined trained algorithm model to output a remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) signal waveform of the subject; to calculate a first stress index based on the first heart rate variability; to calculate a second stress index based on the second heart rate variability; and to output a stress index of the subject based on the first stress index and the second stress index.
Apparatus, system, and method for monitoring physiological signs
An apparatus, system, and method monitors the motion, breathing, heart rate and sleep state of subjects, e.g., humans, in a convenient, non-invasive/non-contact, and low-cost fashion. More particularly, the motion, breathing, and heart rate signals are obtained through processing applied to a raw signal obtained in a non-contact fashion, typically using a radio-frequency sensor. Periods of sleep disturbed respiration, or central apnea can be detected through analysis of the respiratory signal. The mean heart rate, and derived information, such as the presence of cardiac arrhythmias can be determined from the cardiac signal. Motion estimates can be used to recognize disturbed sleep and periodic limb movements. The sleep state may be determined by applying a classifier model to the resulting streams of respiratory, cardiac and motion data. A means for display of the sleep state, respiratory, cardiac, and movement status may also be provided.
Methods and systems for remote sleep monitoring
Methods and systems for remote sleep monitoring are provided. Such methods and systems provide non-contact sleep monitoring via remote sensing or radar sensors. In this regard, when processing backscattered radar signals from a sleeping subject on a normal mattress, a breathing motion magnification effect is observed from mattress surface displacement due to human respiratory activity. This undesirable motion artifact causes existing approaches for accurate heart-rate estimation to fail. Embodiments of the present disclosure use a novel active motion suppression technique to deal with this problem by intelligently selecting a slow-time series from multiple ranges and examining a corresponding phase difference. This approach facilitates improved sleep monitoring, where one or more subjects can be remotely monitored during an evaluation period (which corresponds to an expected sleep cycle).
Systems and methods for improving sleep disordered breathing
A neuromodulation system is provided herein. The system can include a cuff electrode, an electronics package, which can be part of a neuromodulation device; an external controller; a sensor; and a computing device. The neuromodulation device can include an antenna including an upper and a lower coil electrically connected to each other in parallel. The computing device can execute a closed-loop algorithm based on physiological sensed data relating to sleep.
MAXILLARY AND MANDIBULAR DEVICES THAT INCREASE THE SMALLEST CONCENTRIC AIRWAY CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF A USER FOR IMPROVEMENTS DURING PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
Methods of lowering heart rate during physical activity for a user in need of an increase in their smallest concentric airway cross-sectional area include providing the person with a mandibular repositioning device having a maxillary tooth covering having a driver flange protruding laterally outward on a right and left side proximate a backmost teeth mold and a mandibular tooth covering having a protrusive flange extending cranially therefrom positioned to have a posterior side engaged with the anterior side of each driver flange. The anterior side of each driver flange has a convex curvature, and the posterior side of each protrusive flange has a concave-to-convex curvature from its base toward its most cranial point and a convex portion of the concave-to convex curvature engages the convex curvature of the driver flange in a rest position, and downward movement of the mandibular piece moves the user's mandible forward as well.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING, PREDICTING AND ENHANCING BRAIN AGE AND OTHER ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL METRICS OF A SUBJECT
Some systems, devices and methods detailed herein provide a system for use in determining metrics of a subject. The system can provide, as an output, a function-metric value determined based on a defined relationship between physiological measures and a chronological age.
HUMAN BODY SENSING MAT
A human body sensing mat for sensing the movement of a human body, comprises: a substrate; a sensor array including a plurality of fiber sensors for generating signals according to a distance to a specific object, and disposed on the substrate; and a driving unit for applying a voltage to the sensor array, wherein the sensor array includes a plurality of sensing lines arranged in parallel in a first direction, and regarding the plurality of sensing lines, a first distance between neighboring sensing lines connected to different electrodes is greater than a second distance between neighboring sensing lines connected to the same electrode. The human body sensing mat can analyze user's movements and biometric signals regardless of the user's posture.