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-9855006-B2
Publication Date
2018-01-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods for assessing compliance with position therapy. In an embodiment, position therapy is provided to a user while the user is wearing a position therapy device. The position therapy comprises, by the device, collecting positional data, determining positions of the user over a time period based on the positional data, and, when it is determined that the user is in a target position, providing feedback to the user to influence the user to change to a non-target position. In addition, the device stores a duration of use in its memory. The duration of use indicates a duration that the user has used the wearable position therapy device in each of one or more positions. An assessment of the user's compliance with the position therapy is then provided based, at least in part, on the duration of use.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to wearable position therapy devices and position therapy systems that influence a user's position during sleep. A wearable position therapy device is positioned proximate a user's neck and includes a position detector that generates positional data used to determine a position of the user. A feedback generator is controlled so that, based on the positional data, positions of the user are determined over a time period and feedback is generated to influence a change in position when a condition is met.
When it is determined that the user is in a supine position, the device controls the feedback generator to provide feedback to a back of the user's neck to influence the user to change to a non-supine position. In response to the device being turned on or a reset operation, the device does not provide feedback for a delay period to provide the user with an opportunity to fall asleep. After the delay period, the device determines whether the user is in a target position and, if so, generates a control signal to cause the feedback generator to provide tactile feedback to induce a change to a different, non-target position.
The systems and methods further store a duration of use in memory, where the duration of use indicates a duration that the user has used the wearable position therapy device in each of one or more positions. One or more software modules provide an assessment of the user's compliance with the position therapy based, at least in part, on the duration of use. Positional data can be supplemented with snoring data collected by a microphone and correlated with the determined positions.
Claims Coverage
This patent document includes three independent claims. Across the independent claims, it covers neck-based position therapy with delayed feedback and duration-of-use storage for compliance assessment.
Wearable neck position therapy system with positional data determining supine status
A wearable position therapy device configured to be positioned proximate a user's neck, comprising memory; a position detector configured to generate positional data for determining a position of the user; a feedback generator; and at least one microcontroller configured to provide position therapy by determining positions of the user over a time period and, when it is determined that the user is in a supine position, controlling the feedback generator to provide feedback to a back of the user's neck to influence the user to change to a non-supine position.
Delayed feedback after turn-on or reset
In response to the device being turned on or a reset operation, not providing feedback for a delay period to provide the user with an opportunity to fall asleep.
Duration of use storage for compliance assessment
Store a duration of use in the memory, wherein the duration of use indicates a duration that the user has used the wearable position therapy device in each of one or more positions; and one or more software modules that provide an assessment of the user's compliance with the position therapy based, at least in part, on the duration of use.
Method of assessing compliance using wearable position therapy feedback
A method for assessing compliance with position therapy using a position therapy device comprising providing position therapy to a user while the user is wearing a wearable position therapy device proximate the user's neck, collecting positional data via a position detector while the user is wearing the device, determining positions of the user over a time period based on the positional data, and when it is determined that the user is in a supine position, providing feedback to a back of the user's neck to influence the user to change to a non-supine position.
Neck-proximate position therapy system with delayed tactile feedback after target-position determination
A position therapy system comprising a position detector configured to be positioned proximate a user's neck and operable to generate positional signal data used to determine a position of the user; a haptic feedback generator operable to generate tactile feedback and configured to be positioned proximate a user's neck; and one or more processors in communication with the position detector and the haptic feedback generator, wherein the microcontroller is operable to receive and analyze the signal data from the position detector, delay feedback for a delay period to provide the user with an opportunity to fall asleep, determine whether the user is in a target position, and if it is determined that the user is in a target position following the delay period, generate a control signal to cause the haptic feedback generator to provide tactile feedback to induce the user to change to a different, non-target position.
Across the independent claims, the core claim scope centers on neck-worn positional sensing to determine user positions over time, conditional generation of tactile feedback to move the user away from a supine/target position, a delay period after turn-on/reset to permit falling asleep, and memory-based storage of duration of use used to provide an assessment of compliance.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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