Described is a system including a sensor and a processing arrangement. The sensor measures data corresponding to a patient's breathing patterns. The processing arrangement analyzes the breathing patterns to determine whether the breathing patterns are indicative of a REM sleep state. In another embodiment, the processing arrangement analyzes the breathing patterns to determine whether the breathing patterns are indicative of one of the following states: (i) a wake state and (ii) a sleep state. In another embodiment, a neural network analyzes the data to determine whether the breathing patterns are indicative of one of the following states: (i) a REM sleep state, (ii) a wake state and (iii) a sleep state. In another embodiment, the processing arrangement analyzes the data to determine whether the breathing pattern is indicative of an arousal.

Systems and methods for inducing natural sleep in a subject is provided. In some aspects, the method includes inducing a first sleep state; monitoring a first plurality of characteristics of a brain of the subject to verify the subject is in the first sleep state; inducing a second sleep state after the subject has been in the first sleep state for a predetermined amount of time; and monitoring a second plurality of characteristics of the brain of the subject to verify the subject is in the second sleep state.

A dream stimulator may include a substrate and a plurality of electrodes positioned along a first side of the substrate. The stimulator also may include a stimulator coupled to the substrate. At least one lead may couple the plurality of electrodes to the stimulator. Additionally, a band may be positioned along a second side of the substrate and about each of the plurality of electrodes.

A dream stimulator may include a substrate and a plurality of electrodes positioned along a first side of the substrate. The stimulator also may include a stimulator coupled to the substrate. At least one lead may couple the plurality of electrodes to the stimulator. Additionally, a band may be positioned along a second side of the substrate and about each of the plurality of electrodes.

A method for detecting sleep for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is disclosed. Discrete values of a control signal generated by a pressure controller to regulate delivered pressure at the patient are measured over a predefined time window encompassing one or more respiratory cycles. A baseline control signal value is generated from a weighted average of the measured discrete values of the control signal. Estimates of a respiratory cycle period, an inspiration control time, and an expiration control time are then generated. Estimates of one or more secondary control signal properties for each of the respective inspiration control time and expiration control time are generated. Pressure to the patient is increased in response to an evaluation of the estimates of the one or more secondary control signal properties being indicative of the patient reaching a sleep state.

Apparatuses (including devices, kits, and systems) and methods to non-invasively and chemically (rather than thermally) activate thermoreceptors to modulate sleep. For example, described herein are apparatuses including topical compositions that stimulate thermoreceptors on the subject's skin (e.g., forehead, hands, and/or feet) for a period of time to induce a sensation of temperature (heat or cold) without significantly altering the person's actual skin temperature to improve sleep quality, including reducing sleep-onset latency, enhancing depth of sleep, and/or extending the amount of time a subject sleeps. The subject may be suffering from insomnia or some other sleep disorder.

Apparatuses (including devices, kits, and systems) and methods to non-invasively and chemically (rather than thermally) activate thermoreceptors to modulate sleep. For example, described herein are apparatuses including topical compositions that stimulate thermoreceptors on the subject's skin (e.g., forehead, hands, and/or feet) for a period of time to induce a sensation of temperature (heat or cold) without significantly altering the person's actual skin temperature to improve sleep quality, including reducing sleep-onset latency, enhancing depth of sleep, and/or extending the amount of time a subject sleeps. The subject may be suffering from insomnia or some other sleep disorder.

Methods for detecting a patient disconnecting from a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy device are disclosed. A cyclical pressure difference signal is derived based upon measurements from a patient interface pressure sensor and from a source pressure sensor. The pressure difference signal is integrated to generate a resultant integral signal for each respiratory cycle, which is comprised of at least one inspiratory phase and at least one expiratory phase as represented by the corresponding portions of the pressure difference signal. A pressure source of the CPAP therapy device is deactivated in response to a disconnect condition being evaluated from the integral signal. In one embodiment, the disconnect condition is the integral signal exceeding a predefined disconnect threshold. In other, it is a slope value corresponding to a rate of increase of the integral signal exceeding a predefined threshold for a predefined duration.

A method and apparatus to improve sleep aid efficacy are provided. The method comprises monitoring the sleeping patterns of a user utilizing a non-intrusive sleep monitoring device. The method further correlates the user's sleep quality and sleep quantity with use of the sleep aid. In one embodiment, the method adjusts the sleep aid based on the sleep statistics. The efficacy of sleep aids is increased by monitoring user's sleep patterns continuously.

An interactive therapeutic blanket system is disclosed. The interactive therapeutic blanket system provides a set of selectable features that serve to address mental health therapeutic user needs. In one embodiment, a user selects a selectable blanket configuration using a system interface and a blanket system controller controls a set of active blanket devices to the selectable blanket configuration. In one feature, the set of active blanket devices include a set of vibration devices operating according to a temporally-referenced vibration regimen. In another feature, the set of active blanket devices include a set of pressure devices to impart discrete pressure to a user at discrete body locations.