System for sleep stage determination using frontal electrodes
Inventors
Kurtz, Ronald Leon • Wu, Jianping • Weinroth, Aaron Phillip
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9095268-B2
Publication Date
2015-08-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
The described embodiments relate generally to methods, systems and devices for sleep stage determination using frontal electrodes. Certain embodiments relate to a system for sleep stage determination comprising a sensing unit and a processing unit. The sensing unit is positioned over a forehead area of a patient and has first, second and third electrodes for positioning at locations on or adjacent the forehead area for detecting electrical potentials of a human head. The processing unit is coupled to the sensing unit for receiving biological signals corresponding to the detected electrical potentials and processing the biological signals to determine a sleep stage of the patient. The processing of the biological signals is based on a plurality of rules.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a system for sleep stage determination that positions a sensing unit over a forehead area of a head of a patient. The sensing unit includes first, second and third electrodes for positioning at locations on or adjacent the forehead area to detect electrical potentials of a human head, and the detected electrical potentials are used to obtain biological signals for sleep stage processing.
A processing unit receives the biological signals corresponding to the detected electrical potentials and processes the biological signals to determine EEG signals, EOG signals, and EMG signals. The processing includes forming a pre-score based on the EEG signals, the EOG signals, the EMG signals, and a plurality of rules, and then determining a sleep stage of the patient.
Sleep stage determination includes a categorization decision based on the pre-score and the plurality of rules. The system determines whether a sleep stage can be categorized based on the pre-score and the plurality of rules, and if categorization is possible it uses the pre-score and the plurality of rules; if the sleep stage cannot be categorized, the sleep stage is determined based on at least one epoch.
Claims Coverage
The document section provides one independent claim defining a core system architecture and logic for sleep stage determination, comprising a forehead sensing unit, EEG/EOG/EMG signal processing with a pre-score from a plurality of rules, and a decision to either categorize from the pre-score or determine based on at least one epoch. Dependent claims add a pre-processing unit and communication features for transmitting biological signals, including a wireless transmitter and a low-power short-range constraint.
Forehead sensing unit with first, second and third electrodes
A sensing unit positioned over a forehead area, having first, second and third electrodes for positioning on or adjacent the forehead area to detect electrical potentials of a human head.
Processing unit to determine EEG, EOG, EMG and a pre-score from plurality of rules
A processing unit in communication with the sensing unit to receive biological signals corresponding to detected electrical potentials and process them to determine EEG signals, EOG signals, and EMG signals, and to determine a pre-score based on the EEG signals, the EOG signals, the EMG signals, and a plurality of rules.
Sleep stage determination by conditional categorization vs epoch-based determination
Determining the sleep stage by determining whether the sleep stage can be categorized based on the pre-score and the plurality of rules; if categorizable, determining the sleep stage based on the pre-score and the plurality of rules; and if not categorizable, determining the sleep stage based on at least one epoch.
Pre-processing unit within the processing workflow
The processing includes a pre-processing unit in communication with the sensing unit and the processing unit for use in the system for sleep stage determination.
Wireless transmitter to send biological signals to a receiver
A wireless transmitter sends biological signals to a receiver in communication with the processing unit.
Low-power short-range wireless transmitter
The wireless transmitter operates with low-power and short-range transmission.
Overall claim coverage centers on a forehead electrode sensing unit and a processing approach that derives EEG/EOG/EMG, computes a pre-score using a plurality of rules, and conditionally classifies sleep stage using either the rule-based pre-score or epoch-based determination when categorization is not possible. Dependent claims further refine the system by adding a pre-processing unit and defining wireless communication of biological signals to a receiver, including low-power short-range operation.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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