Patch system for monitoring and enhancing sleep and circadian rhythm alignment

Inventors

Fernandes, Gustavo E. • Van Reen, Eliza

Assignees

Circadian Positioning Systems Inc

Abstract

Disclosed are novel compositions, devices, patches, systems and methods that are useful for estimating, determining, modulating and/or improving the sleep/wake and/or circadian phase of a subject (e.g., a human subject) by the dispensing of measured quantities of agents to a subject or into an environment of the subject and the continuous monitoring and/or tracking of the subject's consciousness (e.g., sleep/wake) patterns. In certain aspects, the compositions, devices, patches, systems and methods disclosed herein are capable of delivering one or more agents to a subject in response to measured consciousness patterns estimations and circadian phase estimations, thereby aligning the subject's circadian biology to the external environment and improving the quality and duration of sleep.

Core Innovation

The described invention provides a system for aligning an about 24 hour circadian phase of one or more subjects to a desired schedule by dispensing olfactory agents. The system includes an olfactory dispensing unit configured to dispense olfactory agents and a control unit configured to actuate the olfactory dispensing unit and store data from one or more sensors. The sensors estimate and track activity and inactivity data and collect and monitor consciousness pattern data for the one or more subjects.

The olfactory dispensing unit and the control unit are in electronic communication, and the user interface and the control unit are in electronic communication to receive control commands and input from a user. Dispensing of the olfactory agents modulates the about 24 hour circadian phase of the one or more subjects in response to a condition of the one or more subjects and an environment of the one or more subjects as iteratively measured by the one or more sensors. In this manner, the system aligns the one or more subjects' about 24 hour circadian phase to the desired schedule.

The invention also includes wearable skin-patch and system embodiments that continuously monitor sleep/wake and related consciousness patterns using signals that include actigraphy, polysomnography signals, skin temperature, and environmental light exposure. The system estimates and tracks circadian phase and provides olfactory-agent dispensing to shift circadian timing, and the document describes outcomes associated with alerting or soporific olfactory agents, including reaction time changes and nap sleep metrics such as total sleep time, sleep latency, and wake.

Claims Coverage

The partial content includes two independent claims: one to a system and one to a method. Across these independent claims, there are inventive features focused on dispensing olfactory agents to modulate an about 24 hour circadian phase using iteratively measured subject and environmental conditions from sensors, with electronic communication among the olfactory dispensing unit, control unit, and user interface.

Both independent claims require an olfactory dispensing unit controlled by a control unit using iteratively measured sensor data about subject condition, including consciousness pattern data, and the environment, with electronic communication and user interface control, to modulate an about 24 hour circadian phase toward a desired schedule.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications