Systems and methods for controlling position
Inventors
Levendowski, Daniel J. • Zavora, Timothy • Westbrook, Philip R. • Mitrovic, Mirko • Veljkovic, Bratislav • Berka, Chris • Trejo, Jonny
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8783264-B2
Publication Date
2014-07-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods for controlling the position of a user of a wearable positional therapy device are provided. The wearable position therapy device can be configured to monitor and store physiological signals that can be used to assess sleep quality and sleeping position of a user. The device can be configured to be worn around the head, the neck, or body of the user. The device can be configured to provide feedback to a user if the user is sleeping or is positioned in a target position to induce the user to change positions. The feedback can be provided by one or more haptic motors that can be configured to provide various levels of feedback and the level of feedback can be customized based on the user's reaction to the feedback.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a wearable position therapy device for influencing the position of a user by detecting a position of the user from positional signal data generated by a position detector. The device includes a haptic feedback generator configured to generate tactile feedback and a microcontroller in communication with the position detector and the haptic feedback generator. The microcontroller receives and analyzes the positional signal data to determine whether the user is in a target position, and is configured to delay feedback upon the device being turned on or a reset operation.
During the delay period, the device provides the user with an opportunity to fall asleep in the target position, including embodiments where feedback is not provided when the user is in the target position during the delay period. After the delay period, if it is determined that the user is still in the target position, the microcontroller generates a control signal to cause the haptic feedback generator to provide tactile feedback intended to induce the user to change to a different, non-target position. The device can incorporate sleep-related determinations that gate when feedback resumes, including snoring detection and/or movement-based determinations.
The disclosed implementations also describe delaying feedback to collect baseline sleep data while providing the user with an opportunity to fall asleep, and then determining whether the user is in the target position. The device can use the resulting determinations to control whether tactile feedback is generated to induce position change. The implementations further include positional sensing and optional snoring detection with a microphone as additional inputs used for sleep state determination.
Claims Coverage
The document provides three independent claims. Across these independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on position detection combined with delayed tactile feedback to allow sleep, followed by haptic feedback only if the user remains in the target position, with optional sleep-state gating and baseline sleep data collection.
Wearable position therapy device with position detector and delayed tactile feedback
A wearable position therapy device comprising a position detector configured to generate positional signal data to determine a position of the user; a haptic feedback generator configured to generate tactile feedback; and a microcontroller configured to receive and analyze the signal data to determine whether the user is in a target position, delay feedback for a delay period upon device turn-on or reset, provide no feedback if the user is in the target position during the delay period, and generate a control signal after the delay to cause tactile feedback to induce a change to a different, non-target position.
Method for influencing position with sleep opportunity delay and post-delay haptic feedback
A method comprising collecting positional signal data to determine a position of the user while the user is wearing the wearable position therapy device; determining whether the user is positioned in a target position based at least in part on the positional signal data, while, in response to the device being turned on or a reset operation, delaying feedback for a delay period to provide an opportunity to fall asleep; if the user is in the target position during the delay period, not providing feedback; and if the user is in the target position following the delay period, generating haptic feedback to induce a change to a different, non-target position.
Wearable position therapy device with baseline sleep data collection during delay
A wearable position therapy device comprising a position detector configured to generate positional signal data; a haptic feedback generator configured to generate tactile feedback; and a microcontroller configured to receive and analyze positional signal data, delay feedback for a delay period to collect baseline sleep data and provide an opportunity to fall asleep, determine whether the user is in a target position, and if it is determined that the user is in the target position following the delay period, generate a control signal to cause tactile feedback to induce a change to a different, non-target position.
Overall, the independent claims require position detection and a tactile feedback generator controlled by a microcontroller that delays feedback upon turn-on or reset to allow falling asleep, and then provides tactile feedback if the user remains in the target position after the delay. Dependent claim refinements further extend this gating using sleep-related determinations such as snoring detection and/or movement-based criteria, and include baseline sleep data collection.
Stated Advantages
Delays tactile feedback upon device turn-on or reset to provide the user with an opportunity to fall asleep in the target position.
Avoids providing feedback when the user is determined to be in the target position during the delay period.
Induces the user to change from the target position to a different, non-target position when the user remains in the target position after the delay.
Supports sleep-related gating of feedback using snoring detection and/or movement detection, as further refined in dependent claims.
Collects baseline sleep data during the delay period before determining whether to provide tactile feedback after the delay.
Documented Applications
Wearable positional therapy for treating sleep-disordered breathing such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), using detection of sleeping position and sleep state with positional sensing and optional snoring detection.
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