Systems and methods for optimization of sleep and post-sleep performance

Inventors

Berka, Christine • Popovic, Djordje • Levendowski, Dan • Davis, Gene • McConnell, Catherine • Yanagi, Matthew A.

Assignees

Advanced Brain Monitoring Inc

Abstract

Sleep mask for reducing sleep inertia. In an embodiment, the sleep mask comprises a foam layer having a shape that covers both of a human subject's eyes so as to attenuate ambient light. Visual stimulation element(s), configured to emit light, are positioned between the foam layer and the subject's eyes. In addition, a plurality of sensors positioned on the forehead of the subject collect electroencephalogram (EEG), electrooculogram (EOG), and electromyogram (EMG) signals. A soft exterior cover houses the foam layer, the visual stimulation element(s), and the sensors. The sleep mask further comprises processor(s) that determine and record each sleep stage of the subject, determine when to wake the subject, and, when it is determined to wake the subject, control the visual stimulation element(s) to wake the subject using emitted light.

Core Innovation

The invention is a sleep mask for reducing sleep inertia. The sleep mask includes a foam layer shaped to cover both eyes of a human subject when worn, thereby attenuating ambient light, and includes one or more visual stimulation elements positioned between the foam layer and the eyes. The one or more visual stimulation elements are configured to emit light.

The sleep mask further includes a plurality of sensors positioned on a forehead of the human subject and configured to receive signals from the human subject comprising an electroencephalogram (EEG) signal, an electrooculogram (EOG) signal, and an electromyogram (EMG) signal. A soft exterior cover houses at least the foam layer, the one or more visual stimulation elements, and the plurality of sensors, and the sleep mask includes memory and at least one processor.

When the sleep mask is worn, the at least one processor is configured to determine each sleep stage of the human subject, record each determined sleep stage in the memory, determine when to wake the human subject, and, when the processor determines to wake the human subject, control the one or more visual stimulation elements to emit light to wake the human subject. The processor-based sleep stage determination and wake control are used to guide transitions associated with sleep inertia reduction.

Claims Coverage

Independent claim clm-00001 defines a wearable sleep mask architecture with five main inventive features: ambient light attenuation by an eye-covering foam layer, visual light-emitting stimulation between the foam and the eyes, a forehead sensor array receiving EEG/EOG/EMG, a processor with memory for sleep-stage recording and wake decisioning, and light emission controlled to wake the wearer. Dependent claims (listed in the claim set) further refine the sleep-stage determination mechanism and the light output parameters and basis for wake timing.

Across the independent claim, the inventive concept combines eye-covering ambient light attenuation with forehead-based EEG/EOG/EMG sensing to determine sleep stages, records those stages in memory, determines a wake time, and controls visual light emission to wake the wearer.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications