Systems, methods, and devices for smart humidification

Abstract

To provide methods, systems, and devices for providing a personalized humidification level.SOLUTION: A control system receives, from a first sensor, one or more environmental parameters regarding conditions of the environment. The control system receives, from a second sensor, one or more physiological parameters associated with a user within the environment. The control system determines an action associated with a desired change in the humidity within the environment based, at least in part, on the one or more environmental parameters and the one or more physiological parameters. The control system causes, at least in part, a performance of the action associated with the change in the humidity in the environment based, at least in part, on moisture output by a humidifier module. The methods and devices perform the same functionality as the control system.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (Cross-reference of related applications) This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 928,911, filed on 31 October 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] (Technical field) This disclosure generally relates to systems, methods, and devices that provide smart humidification. [Background technology]

[0003] Conventional humidifier devices, which may be standalone humidifier devices or humidifier modules integrated into other devices or systems such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, include only a humidity sensor and simply adjust humidification to reach a target humidity setpoint. However, merely attempting to adjust humidity according to a setpoint may be insufficient to provide benefits to the user. This is because the setpoint may not be correct for the environment in which the humidifier device is located, the location of the humidifier device in that environment may be incorrect, or the humidifier device may not take into account the user's specific circumstances, such as the user being unwell and / or suffering from a respiratory illness or disease.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for methods, systems, and devices that provide smart humidification to mitigate or correct the above problems. [Overview of the project]

[0005] According to one implementation of the present disclosure, a method for providing individual humidification levels is disclosed. Various aspects of this method include receiving one or more environmental parameters relating to the conditions of a given environment from a first sensor. Various aspects of this method also include receiving one or more physiological parameters associated with a user in that environment from a second sensor. Various aspects of this method also include determining an action associated with a desired change in humidity in that environment, at least in part on the one or more environmental parameters and the one or more physiological parameters. Various aspects of this method also include bringing to at least part the implementation of an action associated with a change in humidity in that environment, at least in part on the moisture output by a humidifier module. The humidifier module is configured to output moisture to change the humidity in that environment.

[0006] A further aspect of this implementation includes an operation in which the operation is a change in the location of a humidifier module within the environment. A further aspect of this implementation includes an operation in which the operation is a recommendation to the user regarding the destination of the humidifier module based on the change in location. A further aspect of this implementation includes a method that processes one or more environmental parameters and one or more physiological parameters to determine the location of the humidifier module relative to the user within the environment. This change in location is based on the location of the humidifier module relative to the user. A further aspect of this implementation includes one or more environmental parameters including audio information associated with the environment. A further aspect of this implementation includes one or more physiological parameters including audio information associated with the user. A further aspect of this implementation includes the environment including one or more other users. With respect to this aspect, the method includes determining that the user is more vulnerable than one or more other users within the environment. A further aspect of this implementation includes the user being a person at high vulnerability, at least in part, based on having an asthma attack, coughing fits, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or another respiratory illness. A further aspect of this implementation includes receiving one or more weather parameters indicating conditions outside the user's environment, and determining one or more optimal conditions for the humidifier module based on one or more environmental parameters and one or more weather parameters. The determined action associated with a desired change in humidity is at least in part based on that optimal condition. A further aspect of this implementation includes the one or more physiological parameters including heart rate, body temperature, activity level, hydration level, one or more sounds produced by the user, or a combination thereof. A further aspect of this implementation includes an electronic device associated with the user. The method then includes receiving one or more other physiological parameters from the electronic device. The determination of the action associated with a desired change in humidity in the environment is based on one or more environmental parameters, physiological parameters, other physiological parameters, or a combination thereof.A further embodiment of this implementation includes one or more other physiological parameters from the electronic device being age, sex, body mass index, one or more medical conditions, one or more underlying diseases, current self-reported level regarding previous comfort levels, or a combination thereof. A further embodiment of this implementation includes one or more of the first and second sensors being integrated into the electronic device. A further embodiment of this implementation includes one or more sounds correlated with respiratory rate, respiratory depth, respiratory quality, cough, wheezing, whistling, snoring, or a combination thereof. A further embodiment of this implementation includes one or more environmental parameters being temperature, atmospheric pressure, air quality, wind cooling, location, or a combination thereof. A further embodiment of this implementation includes a step of identifying the effect of humidity changes based on one or more physiological parameters of the user. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the humidifier module being integrated into a respiratory therapy system. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the respiratory therapy system being a positive airway pressure device. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the humidifier module being integrated into a heating, ventilation, and / or air conditioning system. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the second sensor being one of a passive acoustic sensor, an active acoustic sensor, a passive radio frequency sensor, an active radio frequency sensor, a passive infrared sensor, an active infrared sensor, an optical sensor, or an image sensor. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the first sensor, the second sensor, or a combination thereof being integrated into a wristwatch, a ring, a bracelet, a necklace, a patch, clothing, a mattress, a vehicle seat, or a combination thereof. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the system being a standalone device.

[0007] According to another implementation of the present disclosure, a method of providing smart humidification includes controlling a humidifier module configured to output moisture to change the humidity in the environment of the humidifier module under a first set of conditions. This method further includes monitoring, in response to the first set of conditions, whether there is a change in humidity in the environment. This method further includes at least partially issuing an alert for repositioning the humidifier module within the environment, at least partially based on monitoring whether there is a change in humidity.

[0008] A further aspect of this implementation includes that monitoring whether there is a change in humidity includes receiving information indicating a change in humidity from one or more sensors. A further aspect of this implementation includes receiving location information indicating the location of the humidifier module relative to the one or more sensors or the user from at least one of the one or more sensors. A further aspect of this implementation includes determining, based at least in part on this location information, a new location for repositioning the humidifier module in the environment relative to the one or more sensors or the user. A further aspect of this implementation includes receiving sound information from one or more sound sensors configured to detect sound in the environment. This implementation further includes processing the sound information to determine the location of the humidifier module in the environment. This implementation further includes determining a new location for repositioning the humidifier module, at least partially based on the sound information. A further aspect of this implementation includes that the sound information includes information indicating the location of the user in the environment. A further aspect of this implementation includes that the new location is relative to the user.

[0009] According to another implementation of the present disclosure, a method for optimizing individual humidification includes receiving, from one or more sensors, a first set of one or more physiological parameters associated with a user in an environment. The method further includes adjusting one or more operating conditions of a humidifier module configured to output moisture to effect a change in the humidity of the environment. The method further includes receiving, from one or more sensors, a second set of one or more physiological parameters associated with a user in the environment. The method further includes determining an effect on the user associated with the change in humidity, based at least in part on a comparison of the first set and the second set of one or more physiological parameters.

[0010] Further aspects of this implementation include one or more of the first or second set of physiological parameters including respiratory parameters. Further aspects of this implementation include that the change in the humidity of the environment is within a pre-defined range. Further aspects of this implementation include at least partially effecting a change in one or more operating conditions of an air purifier configured to remove particles from the air in the environment, based at least in part on the first set of one or more physiological parameters, the second set of one or more physiological parameters, the effect on the user associated with the change in humidity, or a combination thereof.

[0011] According to another implementation of the present disclosure, the method includes receiving information regarding the operation of a humidifier unit from a respiratory therapy system comprising a humidifier unit configured to provide an airflow for respiratory therapy to a user's airway via a user interface and configured to output moisture to the airflow. The method further includes receiving, from a first sensor, one or more environmental parameters regarding the conditions of the environment of the respiratory therapy system. The method further includes adjusting one or more operating parameters of the humidifier unit or a humidifier module, based at least in part on the information regarding the operation of the humidifier unit and the one or more environmental parameters, the humidifier module being configured to output moisture to change the humidity within the environment of the humidifier unit.

[0012] A further embodiment of this implementation includes the step of receiving one or more physiological parameters from a second sensor that are associated with a user in the device's environment. Adjustment of these one or more operational parameters is at least in part based on these one or more physiological parameters. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the fact that these one or more physiological parameters are associated with a leak in the user interface, and that the adjustment of these one or more operational parameters is based on minimizing dryness of the user's airway based on that leak. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the humidifier unit being an anhydrous humidifier unit.

[0013] Another implementation of this disclosure discloses a method for providing individual environmental conditions. This method includes receiving one or more environmental parameters relating to the conditions of a given environment from a first sensor. This method includes receiving one or more physiological parameters associated with a user in that environment from a second sensor. This method includes determining an action associated with a desired change in the conditions within that environment, at least partially based on the one or more environmental parameters and the one or more physiological parameters. This method includes bringing at least partially to fruition the execution of the action associated with the change in the conditions within that environment, at least partially based on the operation of an environmental modification module. The environmental modification module is configured to modify the environmental conditions of a system.

[0014] A further embodiment of this implementation includes an action instructing a user to move an environmental modification module. A further embodiment of this implementation includes a step of processing one or more environmental parameters and one or more physiological parameters to determine the position of the environmental modification module relative to the user in that environment. The desired location change is at least partially based on the current position of the environmental modification module relative to the user. A further embodiment of this implementation includes a step of receiving one or more weather parameters indicating conditions outside the user's environment. This method further includes a step of determining one or more optimal conditions for the environmental modification module based on one or more environmental parameters and one or more weather parameters. This action includes changing the operational output at least partially based on the operation of the environmental modification module, the operational output being at least one of humidification, dehumidification, heating, cooling, and air quality modification. A further embodiment of this implementation includes a step of receiving one or more other physiological parameters from an electronic device associated with the user. Determining the action associated with a desired change in conditions within that environment is based on one or more environmental parameters, physiological parameters, other physiological parameters, or a combination thereof.

[0015] Another implementation of the present disclosure discloses a system that provides individual humidification levels. This system includes a control system comprising one or more processors and a memory storing machine-readable instructions. The control system is coupled to the memory, and when a machine-executable instruction in the memory is executed by at least one of the one or more processors of the control system, any one or more of the above implementations are executed.

[0016] According to another implementation of this disclosure, a system for providing individual humidification levels is disclosed. This system includes a control system configured to implement one or more of the methods of the above implementations.

[0017] According to another implementation of this disclosure, a computer program product is disclosed which, when executed by a computer, includes instructions causing the computer to perform any one or more of the above implementations. The computer program product may be in a non-temporary computer-readable medium.

[0018] According to one implementation of the present disclosure, a system is configured to provide individual humidification levels. The system includes a humidifier module configured to output moisture to change the humidity in the environment of the system. The system further includes a memory storing machine-readable instructions and a control system having one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to execute machine-readable instructions to receive one or more environmental parameters relating to the conditions of the environment from a first sensor. The one or more processors are further configured to execute machine-readable instructions to receive one or more physiological parameters associated with a user in the environment from a second sensor. The one or more processors are further configured to execute machine-readable instructions to determine an action associated with a desired change in humidity in the environment, at least partially based on the one or more environmental parameters and the one or more physiological parameters. The one or more processors are further configured to execute machine-readable instructions to bring about an action associated with a change in humidity in the environment, at least partially based on the moisture output by the humidifier module.

[0019] A further aspect of this implementation includes an operation in which the operation is a change in the location of a humidifier module within the environment. A further aspect of this implementation includes an operation in which the operation is instructing the user to move the humidifier module based on a change in location brought about by a recommendation output by the one or more processors. A further aspect of this implementation includes the one or more processors being configured to process one or more environmental parameters and one or more physiological parameters and execute machine-readable instructions to determine the location of the humidifier module relative to the user within the environment. This change in location is based on the location of the humidifier module relative to the user. A further aspect of this implementation includes the one or more environmental parameters and one or more physiological parameters including audio information associated with the user and the environment. A further aspect of this implementation includes the environment including one or more other users. The one or more processors are configured to execute machine-readable instructions to determine that the user is more vulnerable than one or more other users within the environment. A further aspect of this implementation includes the user being a person at high vulnerability, at least in part, to having an asthma attack, a coughing fit, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or another respiratory illness. A further aspect of this implementation includes the one or more processors being configured to receive one or more weather parameters indicating conditions outside the user's environment and to execute machine-readable instructions to determine one or more optimal conditions for a humidifier module based on the one or more environmental parameters and the one or more weather parameters. This operation includes modifying the humidification output at least in part based on these optimal conditions. A further aspect of this implementation includes the one or more physiological parameters including heart rate, body temperature, activity level, hydration level, one or more sounds generated by the user, or a combination thereof. A further aspect of this implementation includes the system including an electronic device associated with the user.The one or more processors are configured to execute machine-readable instructions to receive one or more physiological parameters from the electronic device. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the one or more physiological parameters from the electronic device including age, sex, body mass index, one or more medical conditions, one or more underlying diseases, self-reported sleep quality, current self-reported level of previous comfort levels, or a combination thereof. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the integration of one or more of a first sensor and a second sensor into the electronic device. A further embodiment of this implementation includes one or more sounds correlated with breathing rate, breathing depth, breathing quality, cough, wheezing, whistling, snoring, or a combination thereof. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the one or more environmental parameters including temperature, atmospheric pressure, air quality, wind cooling, location, or a combination thereof. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the one or more processors being configured to execute machine-readable instructions to identify the effect of humidity changes based on one or more of the user's physiological parameters. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the humidifier module being integrated into a respiratory therapy system. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the respiratory therapy system being a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the humidifier module being integrated into an HVAC system. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the second sensor being one of a passive acoustic sensor, an active acoustic sensor, a passive radio frequency sensor, an active radio frequency sensor, a passive infrared sensor, an active infrared sensor, an optical sensor, or an image sensor. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the first sensor, the second sensor, or a combination thereof being integrated into a wristwatch, a ring, a bracelet, a necklace, a patch, clothing, a mattress, a vehicle seat, or a combination thereof. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the system being a standalone device.

[0020] According to several implementations of this disclosure, a system configured to provide smart humidification is disclosed. The system includes a humidifier module configured to output moisture to change the humidity in an environment of the humidifier module. The system also includes a memory storing machine-readable instructions and a control system having one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to execute their machine-readable instructions to control the humidifier module under a first set of conditions. The one or more processors are further configured to execute their machine-readable instructions to monitor for any change in humidity in its environment in response to the first set of conditions. The one or more processors are further configured to execute their machine-readable instructions to issue alerts to reposition its humidifier module in its environment, at least partially based on monitoring for any change in humidity.

[0021] A further aspect of this implementation includes the presence of one or more sensors within the environment. In this case, monitoring for changes in humidity includes receiving information indicating changes in humidity from at least one of these one or more sensors. A further aspect of this implementation includes the one or more processors being configured to execute machine-readable instructions from at least one of these one or more sensors to receive location information indicating the location of the humidifier module relative to one or more sensors or a user. A further aspect of this implementation includes the one or more processors being configured to execute machine-readable instructions to determine, at least partially, a new location for repositioning the humidifier module in the environment relative to one or more sensors or a user, based at least partially on this location information. A further aspect of this implementation includes the one or more processors being configured to execute machine-readable instructions to receive sound information from one or more sound sensors configured to detect sounds within the environment, to process the sound information to determine the location of the humidifier module within the environment, and to determine, at least partially, a new location for repositioning the humidifier module. A further aspect of this implementation includes the fact that the sound information includes information indicating the user's location within the environment. A further aspect of this implementation includes the fact that the new location is relative to the user.

[0022] According to one implementation of the present disclosure, a system is configured to optimize individual humidification levels. The system includes a humidifier module configured to output moisture to change the humidity in the environment of the device. The system further includes a memory storing machine-readable instructions and a control system having one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to execute machine-readable instructions to receive one or more of a first set of physiological parameters associated with a user in its environment from the one or more sensors. The one or more processors are further configured to execute machine-readable instructions to adjust one or more operating conditions of the humidifier module to result in a change in the humidity of its environment. The one or more processors are further configured to execute machine-readable instructions to receive one or more of a second set of physiological parameters associated with a user in its environment from the one or more sensors. The one or more processors are further configured to execute machine-readable instructions to determine the effect on the user of the change in humidity, at least in part on a comparison of the one or more of the first set and the second set of physiological parameters.

[0023] A further embodiment of this implementation includes that one or more physiological parameters are respiratory parameters. A further embodiment of this implementation includes that changes in the humidity of the environment are within a predefined range. A further embodiment of this implementation includes that the system includes an air purifier configured to remove particulate matter from the air in the environment. In this case, the one or more processors are configured to execute machine-readable instructions to bring about at least partially a change in one or more operating conditions of the air purifier, based at least partially on one or more physiological parameters of a first set, one or more physiological parameters of a second set, the effects on the user associated with changes in humidity, or a combination thereof.

[0024] According to one implementation of the present disclosure, a humidifier device is configured to operate in conjunction with a respiratory therapy system configured to provide an airflow to a user for respiratory therapy, the respiratory therapy system comprising a humidifier unit configured to output moisture into the airflow. The humidifier device includes a humidifier module configured to output moisture to change the humidity in the environment of the humidifier unit. The humidifier device further includes a memory storing machine-readable instructions and a control system having one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to execute those machine-readable instructions to receive information from the respiratory therapy system regarding the operation of the humidifier unit. The one or more processors are further configured to execute those machine-readable instructions to receive one or more environmental parameters from a first sensor regarding the environmental conditions of the respiratory therapy system. The one or more processors are further configured to execute those machine-readable instructions to adjust one or more operating parameters of the humidifier unit or humidifier device based at least in part on the information regarding the operation of the humidifier unit and the one or more environmental parameters.

[0025] A further embodiment of this implementation includes the fact that one or more processors are configured to execute machine-readable instructions to receive one or more physiological parameters associated with a user in the device's environment from a second sensor. Adjustment of these one or more operating parameters may be based at least in part on these one or more physiological parameters. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the fact that these one or more physiological parameters are associated with leaks in a user interface, and the adjustment of these one or more operating parameters is based on minimizing dryness of the user's airway based on the leaks. A further embodiment of this implementation includes the fact that the humidifier unit is an anhydrous humidifier unit.

[0026] According to one implementation of the present disclosure, a system is provided configured to provide individual environmental conditions. The system includes an environmental modification module configured to modify the environmental conditions of the system. The system further includes a memory storing machine-readable instructions and a control system having one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to execute machine-readable instructions to receive one or more environmental parameters relating to the environmental conditions from a first sensor. The one or more processors are further configured to execute machine-readable instructions to receive one or more physiological parameters associated with a user in the environment from a second sensor. The one or more processors are further configured to execute machine-readable instructions to determine an action associated with a desired change in the conditions within the environment, at least partially based on the one or more environmental parameters and the one or more physiological parameters. The one or more processors are further configured to execute machine-readable instructions to bring about an action associated with a change in the conditions within the environment, at least partially based on the operation of the environmental modification module.

[0027] A further aspect of this implementation includes its operation instructing the user to move the environmental modification module based on a location change brought about by a recommendation output by the one or more processors. A further aspect of this implementation includes the one or more processors being configured to process one or more environmental parameters and one or more physiological parameters and to execute machine-readable instructions to determine the location of the environmental modification module relative to the user in that environment. The desired location change may be based at least in part on the current location of the environmental modification module relative to the user. A further aspect of this implementation includes the one or more processors being configured to receive one or more weather parameters indicating conditions outside the user's environment and to execute machine-readable instructions to determine one or more optimal conditions for the environmental modification module based on the one or more environmental parameters and one or more weather parameters. This operation may be changing an operational output at least in part on the operation of the environmental modification module. This operational output may be at least one of humidification, dehumidification, heating, cooling, and air quality modification. A further aspect of this implementation includes an electronic device associated with the user. These one or more processors can be configured to execute machine-readable instructions to receive one or more other physiological parameters from their electronic devices. Determining the behavior associated with a desired change in conditions within that environment may be based on one or more environmental parameters, physiological parameters, other physiological parameters, or a combination thereof.

[0028] The above summary is not intended to illustrate any specific embodiment or aspect of the present invention. Further features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description and figures below. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0029] [Figure 1] This is a functional block diagram of a system that provides individual humidification according to several implementation forms of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the system environment, depicting the system user and their bedmate, relating to several implementations of this disclosure. [Figure 3] This shows an example time series of a sleep session relating to several implementations of this disclosure. [Figure 4] This figure shows an exemplary sleep progression diagram associated with the sleep session in Figure 3, relating to several implementations of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] This is a process flow diagram of a method for providing individual humidification levels according to several implementations of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] This is a process flow diagram of a method for providing smart humidification related to several implementation forms of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] This is a process flow diagram of a method for optimizing individual humidification levels in several implementation forms of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] This is a process flow diagram of a method for providing individualized humidification in conjunction with a respiratory therapy system, relating to several implementations of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0030] While various modifications and alternative forms are possible for this disclosure, specific implementations and embodiments of this disclosure are shown as examples in the drawings and are described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that this is not intended to limit this disclosure to any particular form, and that this disclosure encompasses all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives that fall within the spirit and scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

[0031] For the sake of simplicity, the singular form is used for all components disclosed herein where appropriate; however, the use of the singular form does not mean that the description is limited to only one of each component.

[0032] The methods, systems, and devices of this disclosure provide individualized humidification based on the personal requirements of a user(s). For example, in the general population, dry air (relative humidity (RH) less than 40%) can cause problems induced at varying levels. Some people are unaffected at 30% RH (e.g., only develop dry skin), while others are more likely to experience respiratory deterioration (especially when combined with low temperatures) due to dryness of the nasal passages and worsening airway inflammation. Therefore, individualized humidification by the methods, systems, and devices of this disclosure can mitigate or prevent respiratory deterioration. Individualized humidification may include adjusting the humidification level to best address symptoms of discomfort or respiratory problems, such as allergies, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). The methods, systems, and devices of this disclosure can provide automated individualized control over humidity, with the ultimate goal being improved respiration. Improved respiration can be associated, for example, with increased comfort and a reduction in the frequency or severity of illness or disease.

[0033] The methods, systems, and devices of this disclosure can measure a user's physiological parameters and control the humidity of the user's environment. In one or more implementations, these physiological parameters can be detected by using room, area, or building management sensors and / or systems, and / or input by the user, such as through electronic devices.

[0034] In one or more implementations, this method, system, and device can learn changes in humidity based on physiological and / or environmental parameters related to the user's respiratory quality. These physiological parameters can be obtained based on audible sounds, detected breathing motion, etc. In one or more implementations, respiratory quality can be obtained based on breathing rate and breathing depth, and may be a standalone value, or a comparison to population normative values ​​based on age, sex, location (related to air quality, temperature, weather, climate, etc.), or an individual target "good" breathing curve and parameters. These physiological parameters may be heart rate, body temperature, body mass index (BMI), activity level, hydration level, medical condition, underlying disease, or ongoing therapy.

[0035] In one or more implementations, the quality of respiration can be determined by detecting inhalation, pauses, and exhalation, as well as by estimating other indicators including respiratory rate and respiratory depth (for example, to detect shallow breathing, shallow rapid breathing, or normal breathing). This can be achieved by a number of contact or non-contact sensors, as described below. Other markers such as coughing, wheezing, whistling, and snoring during sleep can also be detected.

[0036] In one or more implementations, individual humidification can be provided to the user by adjusting the humidity in the user's environment, such as by coordinating the operation of a humidifier module, thereby achieving the user's desired physiological state. For example, a user may have a cold or other illness that affects their breathing. The desired physiological state may relate to, for example, the user's breathing comfort level. The humidity in the environment can be controlled through the operation of the humidifier module to achieve a desired humidity level that improves the user's breathing, reduces the user's cough, or alleviates any other respiratory-related illness. Various aspects of this disclosure enable the automation of this process so that the user does not need to know which humidity level improves the physiological state. Rather, this process can independently detect the user's illness related to this physiological state, and then control the humidity in the environment to improve this physiological state.

[0037] The methods of this disclosure can also improve other physiological states. For example, in one or more implementations, the user's physiological state may be a desired sleep state (e.g., wakefulness or sleep) or a desired sleep stage (e.g., N1, N2, REM, etc.), both of which are further described below. Humidity in the environment, such as ambient humidity in the air and / or humidity generated by a humidifier in a respiratory therapy system, can be controlled to achieve a desired sleep state and / or sleep stage throughout one or more sleep sessions. The user's physiological parameters, associated with detecting the user's sleep state and / or sleep stage, can be detected. Implementations of this disclosure can then, for example, adjust one or more operating conditions of a humidifier module and / or humidifier of a respiratory therapy device to bring about a change in the humidity of the environment, thereby achieving a desired sleep state (e.g., sleep) and / or a desired sleep stage (e.g., REM or N3) or a desired sleep stage pattern throughout a portion of a sleep session or throughout a sleep session. The effects on sleep state and / or sleep stages can be associated with users having specific physiological conditions, such as having a cold, or they can be independent of users having specific physiological conditions, such as normal, healthy users getting enough rest at night.

[0038] In one or more implementations, these methods, systems, and devices may include providing recommendations based on the location of a humidifier module or humidifier in an environment, and adapting the humidity target range. For example, even if the correct target humidity level exists, there may not be a correct target location for the humidifier module or humidifier device in an environment such as a room. The location of the humidifier module or humidifier device can be sensed, for example, based on the same sound detection used to detect audible sounds emitted by the user or the user's breathing related to changes in humidity.

[0039] Referring to Figure 1, a system 100 providing individual humidification levels according to several implementations of the present disclosure is shown. System 100 includes a humidifier module 102, a control system 110, a memory device 114, and an electronic interface 119. System 100 further includes one or more sensors 130. System 100 is located in an environment 108. Within the environment 108, there is one or more users 109.

[0040] The humidifier module 102 may be a room or area-specific humidifier module, such as an evaporator using a filter wick and fan, an impeller humidifier using a rotating disk, a steam vaporizer that heats water to produce steam, an ultrasonic humidifier that uses vibration to produce steam, or a centralized humidifier integrated into a household or commercial heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning unit (HVAC unit).

[0041] In one or more implementations, the humidifier module 102 can be included in a respiratory therapy system 120, such as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device within the system 100. Alternatively or additionally, the humidifier module 102 may be separate from the respiratory therapy system 120. Alternatively, the humidifier module 102 may be in a heating, ventilation, and / or air conditioning system, a local humidifier, or a separate device that affects humidity. Thus, the humidifier module 102 may be a standalone device or may be contained within one. This standalone device, also referred to as the humidifier device, may also include one or more of the control system 110, a memory device 114, one or more sensors 130 (e.g., a first sensor and / or a second sensor described later), and an electronic device and / or user device 116 (described later). Such a standalone device may be configured to operate in conjunction with the respiratory therapy system 120 used by a user 109, particularly if the respiratory therapy system 120 has humidifying capabilities.

[0042] When humidity is high (e.g., above 60% RH), the dehumidifier function can be used to reduce the possibility of mold buildup, dust mite infestation, and other issues in environments 108 (such as rooms) that could worsen respiratory illnesses if not managed. In one or more implementations, the humidifier module 102 may also include a dehumidifying unit (not shown). Such a dehumidifying unit may include a fan that cools a metal plate and captures condensed moisture from the air, a desiccant on a wheel that absorbs water from the air, warms up, and expels the collected moisture, and / or a centralized dehumidifier integrated into a household or commercial heating and ventilation system.

[0043] Although disclosed throughout as a humidifier module 102, in one or more implementations, the humidifier module 102 may be any type of environmental modification device or module within a device. Other examples of the humidifier module 102 include, for example, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, a heater with or without a humidifier, an air conditioning unit with or without a humidifier, an air purifier, etc. Therefore, the humidifier module 102 may also be any unit capable of modifying the environmental parameters of its environment. Furthermore, descriptions relating to humidity modification or control may also include changes to the operating conditions of the environmental modification device. Changes to operating conditions may be based on changes to at least one output, such as humidification, dehumidification, heating, cooling, or modification of air quality.

[0044] Environment 108 can be any enclosed or partially enclosed area, such as a room (e.g., a room in a house, office, or hotel), a building, or a vehicle (e.g., a passenger car, truck, train, or airplane cabin). For example, Environment 108 could be an entire house or apartment building, or a specific room (e.g., if HVAC covers multiple areas).

[0045] The environment 108 is surrounded by an external area 118. The external area is generally considered to have no humidity controlled or affected by the humidifier module 102. Therefore, the external area 118 could be, for example, outside the room or outside the house.

[0046] The control system 110 includes one or more processors 112 (hereinafter, processor 112). The control system 110 is generally used to control (e.g., operate) various components of system 100 and / or to analyze data acquired and / or generated by the components of system 100. The processors 112 may be general-purpose or special-purpose processors or microprocessors. Although Figure 1 shows one processor 112, the control system 110 may include any appropriate number of processors (e.g., one processor, two processors, five processors, ten processors, etc.) which may reside in a single housing or located separately from one another. The control system 110 can be, for example, coupled to the housing of the user device 116 and / or one or more housings of the sensor 130, and / or located inside them. The control system 110 can be centralized (in one such housing) or distributed (in two or more physically separate housings). In such an implementation configuration, which includes two or more housings for housing the control system 110, the housings can be located close to and / or far apart from each other.

[0047] The control system 110 generally controls various components of system 100 and / or analyzes data acquired and / or generated by the components of system 100. The control system 110 executes machine-readable instructions stored in memory device 114 or different memory devices. The control system 110 may implement one or more engines of system 100. An engine is a combination of hardware and software configured to perform a specific function. One or more processors of the control system 110 may be general-purpose or special-purpose processors and / or microprocessors.

[0048] Although the control system 110 is shown and illustrated in Figure 1 as a separate and distinct component of system 100, in several implementations it is integrated with and / or directly connected to the humidifier module 102. For example, the control system 110 can be connected to and / or located within the housing of the humidifier module 102 or any combination thereof.

[0049] The memory device 114 stores machine-readable instructions that can be executed by the processor 112 of the control system 110. The memory device 114 may be any suitable computer-readable storage device or media, such as a random or serial access memory device, a hard drive, a solid-state drive, or a flash memory device. Although the system 100 is shown as including a single memory device 114, it is intended to include any suitable number of memory devices (e.g., one memory device, two memory devices, five memory devices, ten memory devices, etc.). The memory device 114 may be any suitable computer-readable storage device or media, such as a random or serial access memory device, a hard drive, a solid-state drive, or a flash memory device. The memory device 114 may be connected to and / or located within the housing of the humidifier module 102, and / or located within any one or more housings of the sensors 130. Similar to the control system 110, the memory device 114 can be centralized (within one housing) or distributed (within two or more physically separate housings).

[0050] In some implementations, the memory device 114 (Figure 1) stores a user profile associated with the user. The user profile may include, for example, demographic information associated with the user, biometric information associated with the user, medical information associated with the user, self-reported user feedback, sleep parameters associated with the user (e.g., sleep-related parameters recorded from one or more previous sleep sessions), or any combination thereof. Demographic information may include, for example, information indicating the user's age, gender, race, family history, employment status, education level, socioeconomic status, or any combination thereof. Medical information may include, for example, information indicating one or more medical conditions associated with the user, the user's medication use, or both. Medical information data may further include the results or scores of the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) and / or the scores or values ​​of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Self-reported user feedback may include information indicating a self-reported subjective sleep score (e.g., poor, average, good), a self-reported subjective stress level, a self-reported subjective fatigue level, a self-reported subjective health status, recent life events experienced by the user, or any combination thereof.

[0051] The electronic interface 119 is configured to receive data (e.g., physiological data and / or audio data) from one or more sensors 130, which can be stored in a memory device 114 and / or analyzed by the processor 112 of the control system 110. The electronic interface 119 can communicate with one or more sensors 130 using wired or wireless connections (e.g., using RF communication protocols, WiFi communication protocols, Bluetooth® communication protocols, IR communication protocols, via a cellular network, via any other optical communication protocol, etc.). The electronic interface 119 may include an antenna, a receiver (e.g., an RF receiver), a transmitter (e.g., an RF transmitter), a transceiver, or any combination thereof. The electronic interface 119 may also include another processor and / or another memory device which are identical or similar to the processor 112 and memory device 114 described herein. In some implementations, the electronic interface 119 is connected to or integrated with a user device 116 and / or a humidifier module 102. In other implementations, the electronic interface 119 is connected to or integrated with the control system 110 and / or the memory device 114 (for example, within the housing).

[0052] As described above, in some implementations, system 100 optionally includes a respiratory system 120 (also referred to as a respiratory therapy system). The respiratory system 120 may include a device 122 (also referred to as a respiratory pressure therapy device), a user interface 124, a conduit 126 (also referred to as a tube or air circuit), a display device 128, a humidifier tank and / or humidifier 129, or any combination thereof. In some implementations, one or more of the control system 110, memory device 114, display device 128, sensor 130, and humidifier 129 are part of the respiratory device 122.

[0053] Respiratory pressure therapy (unlike negative pressure therapy, such as tank ventilators or positive / negative pressure external ventilators (cuirass)) refers to applying a controlled target pressure, nominally positive to the atmosphere, to the inlet of the user's airway throughout the user's entire respiratory cycle. Respiratory systems 120 are commonly used to treat individuals suffering from one or more sleep-related breathing disorders (e.g., obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, or mixed sleep apnea), other respiratory disorders such as COPD, or other disorders that may occur during sleep or wakefulness and lead to respiratory failure.

[0054] The breathing device 122 is generally used to generate pressurized air delivered to a user (for example, using one or more motors that drive one or more compressors). In some implementations, the breathing device 122 generates a continuous, constant air pressure delivered to the user. In other implementations, the breathing device 122 generates two or more predetermined pressures (for example, a first predetermined air pressure and a second predetermined air pressure). In yet another implementation, the breathing device 122 is configured to generate a variety of different air pressures within a predetermined range. For example, the breathing device 122 can deliver at least about 6 cmH2O, at least about 10 cmH2O, at least about 20 cmH2O, from about 6 cmH2O to about 10 cmH2O, from about 7 cmH2O to about 12 cmH2O, and so on. The breathing device 122 can also deliver pressurized air at a predetermined flow rate between, for example, about -20 L / min and about 150 L / min while maintaining positive pressure (relative to ambient pressure). In some implementations, the control system 110, the memory device 114, the electronic interface 119, or any combination thereof can be connected to and / or located within the housing of the respiratory device 122.

[0055] The user interface 124 engages with a portion of the user 109's face and delivers pressurized air from the breathing device 122 to the user 109's airway to help prevent airway narrowing and / or obstruction during sleep. This may also increase the user 109's oxygen intake during sleep. Depending on the therapy applied, the user interface 124 may form a tight seal with, for example, a region or portion of the user 109's face, thereby facilitating gas delivery at a pressure sufficiently different from the ambient pressure to produce a therapeutic effect, such as a positive pressure of approximately 10 cmH2O relative to the ambient pressure. In other forms of therapy, such as oxygen delivery, the user interface may not include a seal sufficient to facilitate the delivery of gas to the airway at a positive pressure of approximately 10 cmH2O.

[0056] As shown in Figure 2, in some implementations, the user interface 124 is or includes a face mask that covers the user's nose and mouth. Alternatively, the user interface 124 is or includes a nasal mask that provides air to the user's nose, or a nasal pillow mask that delivers air directly to the user's nostrils. The user interface 124 may include a strap assembly having multiple straps (e.g., including hook-and-loop fasteners) for positioning and / or stabilizing the user interface 124 on a portion of the user interface 124 on a desired position on the user (e.g., the face), and a shape-conforming cushion (e.g., silicone, plastic, foam, etc.) that helps provide an airtight seal between the user interface 124 and the user. The user interface 124 may also include one or more vents to allow carbon dioxide and other gases exhaled by the user 210 to escape. In other implementations, the user interface 124 includes a mouthpiece (e.g., a night guard mouthpiece molded to fit the user's teeth, a mandibular repositioning device, etc.).

[0057] The conduit 126 allows air to flow between two components of the breathing system 120, such as the breathing device 122 and the user interface 124. In some implementations, this conduit 126 may have separate branches for inhalation and exhalation. In other implementations, a single branch conduit is used for both inhalation and exhalation.

[0058] One or more of the breathing device 122, user interface 124, conduit 126, display device 128, and humidification tank and / or humidifier 129 may include one or more sensors (e.g., pressure sensors, flow sensors, or more generally, any of the other sensors 130 described herein). These one or more sensors can be used, for example, to measure the air pressure and / or flow rate of the pressurized air supplied by the breathing device 122.

[0059] The display device 128 is generally used to display images (one or more) including still images, moving images, or both, and / or information about the breathing device 122. For example, the display device 128 can provide information about the status of the breathing device 122 (e.g., whether the breathing device 122 is on or off, the pressure of the air delivered by the breathing device 122, the temperature of the air delivered by the breathing device 122, etc.) and / or other information (e.g., a sleep score or therapy score (also referred to as the myAir® score), the current date / time, personal information of user 210, etc.). In some implementations, the display device 128 functions as a human-machine interface (HMI), including a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to display images (one or more) as an input interface. The display device 128 may be an LED display, an organic EL display, a liquid crystal display, etc. The input interface may be, for example, a touchscreen or contact-sensing substrate, a mouse, a keyboard, or any sensor system configured to sense input made by a human user interacting with the breathing device 122.

[0060] The humidifying tank and / or humidifier 129 is connected to or integrated with the breathing device 122 and includes a water reservoir that can be used to humidify the pressurized air delivered from the breathing device 122. The breathing device 122 may include a heater that heats the water in the humidifying tank 129 to humidify the pressurized air provided to the user. In addition, in some implementations, the conduit 126 may also include a heating element (e.g., connected to and / or embedded in the conduit 126) that heats the pressurized air delivered to the user. In other implementations, the breathing device 122 or the conduit 126 may include an anhydrous humidifier 129 (e.g., a humidifier without a water tank). The anhydrous humidifier 129 may incorporate sensors that mediate other sensors located elsewhere in the system 100.

[0061] The respiratory system 120 can be used as a ventilator or positive airway pressure (PAP) system, such as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system, an automated positive airway pressure (APAP) system, a biphasic or variable positive airway pressure (BPAP or VPAP) system, or any combination thereof. A CPAP system delivers a predetermined air pressure to the user (determined, for example, by a sleep physician). An APAP system automatically changes the air pressure delivered to the user, for example, based at least in part on respiratory data associated with the user. A BPAP or VPAP system is configured to deliver a first predetermined pressure (e.g., inspiratory positive airway pressure or IPAP) and a second predetermined pressure lower than the first predetermined pressure (e.g., expiratory positive airway pressure or EPAP).

[0062] Referring to Figure 2, a portion of system 100 (Figure 1) is shown in several implementation configurations. A user 210 of the respiratory system 120 (e.g., one of the user(s) 109 in Figure 1) and a bedmate 220 (e.g., one of the user(s) 109 in Figure 1) are located in bed 230 and lying on mattress 232. A user interface 124 (e.g., a full-face mask) may be worn by user 210 during a sleep session. The user interface 124 is fluidically connected to and / or connected to a respiratory device 122 via a conduit 126. The respiratory device 122 delivers pressurized air to user 210 via the conduit 126 and user interface 124 to increase air pressure in user 210's throat, helping to prevent airway obstruction and / or narrowing during sleep. The respiratory device 122 can be positioned on a nightstand 240 directly adjacent to the bed 230, as shown in Figure 2, or more generally, on any surface or structure that is generally adjacent to the bed 230 and / or the user 210.

[0063] Referring again to Figure 1, as will be described in more detail below, the sensor 130 may include a first sensor 130a and a second sensor 130b. The first sensor 130a may be any one or more of the sensors 130 that can detect environmental parameters relating to the conditions of the environment 108. These environmental parameters may be audio-based, optical-based, touch-based, motion-based, etc. In one or more implementations, the first sensor 130a may be a temperature sensor and / or a humidity sensor. The humidity sensor may include a capacitive sensor (humidity-dependent capacitor), a resistive sensor (measuring electrical changes in a conductive polymer / treated substrate), and a thermal conduction sensor (difference in thermal conductivity between dry air and humid air). In one or more implementations, the first sensor 130a may be a standalone sensor that is attached to the system 100, embedded in the environment 108 (e.g., the walls / ceilings of a smart building), or integrated into another electronic device in the environment 108, such as a smart speaker or television with a microphone for detecting the location of the user 109 and the humidifier module 102.

[0064] The second sensor 130b may be any one or more of the sensors 130 capable of detecting one or more physiological parameters of a user(s) 109. For example, the second sensor 130b may be an acoustic sensor, a resistance sensor, a capacitance sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a MEMS accelerometer sensor, an optical sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a charged thin-film sensor, or other types of sensors. These physiological parameters may be, for example, heart rate, body temperature, activity level, hydration level, one or more sounds generated by the user, or a combination thereof, or any other arbitrary physiological parameters.

[0065] In one or more implementations, the second sensor 130b may include and provide information corresponding to one or more physiological parameters input by the user 109. For example, the user 109 may input information about their comfort level, including subjective information related to breathing, such as their comfort level regarding breathing, to the second sensor 130b. The self-reported information input to the second sensor 130b may also include data on the severity / progression of the disease.

[0066] The second sensor 130b may be a standalone sensor attached to system 100, embedded in environment 108 (e.g., a wall / ceiling of a smart building), or integrated into another electronic device within environment 108. Thus, the second sensor 130b may be one or more of the following: a passive acoustic sensor, an active acoustic sensor, a passive radio frequency sensor, an active radio frequency sensor, a passive infrared sensor, an active infrared sensor, an optical sensor, or an image sensor. For example, the second sensor 130b could be one or more passive audio sensors for listening to breathing sounds, one or more active acoustic sensors for processing reflected audio and / or ultrasonic signals from objects, one or more passive radio frequency sensors for processing reflections in electromagnetic signals (e.g., Wi-Fi, cellular, satellite, digital TV or other signals), one or more active radio frequency sensors (e.g., CW, pulsed CW, FSKCW, PSKCW, FMCW, UWB, RF imaging, etc.) for processing reflections, one or more passive infrared and / or active infrared sensors for processing echoes, one or more optical sensors such as image photoplethysmography (PPG). Active and / or passive acoustic sensors may be present inside, for example, smartphones, tablets, smart speakers, car stereos, radios, televisions, etc. The second sensor 130b may also be one or more contact sensors capable of performing the above or alternative sensing functions / modalities, either additionally or as an alternative.

[0067] In one or more implementations, the first sensor 130a, the second sensor 130b, or both, can be separate from or integrated with a wearable device such as a wristwatch, ring, earrings, earphones, bracelet, necklace, patch, clothing, mattress, vehicle seat, or a combination thereof, as further described below.

[0068] More specifically, one or more sensors 130 of system 100 (e.g., a first sensor 130a and a second sensor 130b) may include a pressure sensor 132, a flow sensor 134, a temperature sensor 136, a motion sensor 138, a microphone 140, a speaker 142, a radio frequency (RF) receiver 146, an RF transmitter 148, a camera 150, an infrared (IR) sensor 152, a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor 154, an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor 156, an electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor 158, a capacitance sensor 160, a force sensor 162, a strain gauge sensor 164, an electromyogram (EMG) sensor 166, an oxygen sensor 168, an analyte sensor 174, a moisture sensor 176, a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor 178, or any combination thereof. Generally, one or each of the sensors 130 is configured to output sensor data received and stored in the memory device 114 or one or more other memory devices. The sensors 130 may include electrooculography (EOG) sensors, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) sensors, galvanic skin reaction (GSR) sensors, carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors, or any combination thereof.

[0069] One or more sensors 130 are illustrated and described as including each of the following: pressure sensor 132, flow sensor 134, temperature sensor 136, motion sensor 138, microphone 140, speaker 142, RF receiver 146, RF transmitter 148, camera 150, IR sensor 152, PPG sensor 154, ECG sensor 156, EEG sensor 158, capacitance sensor 160, force sensor 162, strain gauge sensor 164, EMG sensor 166, oxygen sensor 168, analyte sensor 174, moisture sensor 176, and LidAR sensor 178. However, it is more common for one or more sensors 130 to include any combination and any number of each of the sensors described and / or illustrated herein, including one or more of the omitted sensors.

[0070] One or more sensors 130 can be used to generate, for example, physiological data, audio data, or both. Physiological data generated by one or more of the sensors 130 can be used by the control system 110 to determine sleep / wake signals and one or more sleep-related parameters associated with the user during a sleep session. Sleep / wake signals can indicate sleep, wakefulness, relaxed wakefulness, micro-wakefulness, or one or more distinct sleep stages, such as the rapid eye movement (REM) stage, the first non-REM stage (often referred to as "N1"), the second non-REM stage (often referred to as "N2"), the third non-REM stage (often referred to as "N3"), or any combination thereof.

[0071] The sleep / wake signal can also be timestamped to indicate the user's bedtime, wake-up time, and sleep-onset attempt time. The sleep / wake signal can be measured during a sleep session by one or more of the sensors 130 at a predetermined sampling rate, such as one sample per second, one sample per 30 seconds, or one sample per minute. Examples of one or more sleep-related parameters that can be determined about a user during a sleep session based at least partially on the sleep / wake signal include total bedtime, total sleep time, total wake time, sleep latency, wake-up parameters, sleep efficiency, fragmentation index, time to fall asleep, respiratory rate consistency, sleep onset time, wake-up time, sleep disturbance rate, movement count, or any combination thereof.

[0072] Physiological and / or audio data generated by one or more sensors 130 can also be used to determine respiratory signals associated with the user during a sleep session. These respiratory signals generally indicate the user's breathing during the sleep session. Respiratory signals may indicate, for example, respiratory rate, respiratory rate variability, inspiratory amplitude, expiratory amplitude, inspiratory-to-expiratory amplitude ratio, inspiratory-to-expiratory duration ratio, number of events per hour, event patterns, pressure settings of the breathing device 122, or any combination thereof. These events (one or more) may include snoring, apnea, central apnea, obstructive apnea, mixed apnea, hypopnea, mask leakage (e.g., from the user interface 124), lower limb restlessness, sleep disturbance, suffocation, increased heart rate, heart rate variability, dyspnea, asthma attack, epilepticus, seizures, fever, cough, sneeze, snoring, shortness of breath, the presence of illness such as a cold or influenza, and elevated stress levels.

[0073] The pressure sensor 132 outputs pressure data that can be stored in the memory device 114 and / or analyzed by the processor 112 of the control system 110. In some implementations, the pressure sensor 132 is an air pressure sensor (e.g., atmospheric pressure sensor) that generates sensor data indicating the user's breathing (e.g., inhalation and / or exhalation) and / or ambient pressure (e.g., pressure of the environment 108) of the breathing system 120. In such implementations, the pressure sensor 132 can be connected to or integrated with the breathing device 122. The pressure sensor 132 may be, for example, a capacitive sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, an inductive sensor, a resistance sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a strain gauge sensor, an optical sensor, a potentiometric sensor, or any combination thereof. In one example, the pressure sensor 132 can be used to determine the user's blood pressure.

[0074] The flow sensor 134 outputs flow data that can be stored in the memory device 114 and / or analyzed by the processor 112 of the control system 110. In some implementations, the flow sensor 134 is used to determine the airflow rate from the breathing device 122, the airflow rate through the conduit 126, the airflow rate through the user interface 124, or any combination thereof. In such implementations, the flow sensor 134 can be connected to or integrated with the breathing device 122, the user interface 124, or the conduit 126. The flow sensor 134 may be a mass flow sensor such as a rotary flow meter (e.g., a Hall effect flow meter), a turbine flow meter, an orifice flow meter, an ultrasonic flow meter, a hot-wire sensor, an eddy current sensor, a membrane sensor, or any combination thereof.

[0075] The temperature sensor 136 outputs temperature data that can be stored in the memory device 114 and / or analyzed by the processor 112 of the control system 110. In some implementations, the temperature sensor 136 generates temperature data indicating the user's core body temperature, the user's skin temperature, the temperature of the air from the respiratory device 122 and / or flowing through the conduit 126, the temperature within the user interface 124, the ambient temperature, or any combination thereof. The temperature sensor 136 may be, for example, a thermocouple sensor, a thermistor sensor, a silicon bandgap temperature sensor or semiconductor-based sensor, a resistance temperature detector, or any combination thereof.

[0076] The motion sensor 138 outputs motion data that can be stored in the memory device 114 and / or analyzed by the processor 112 of the control system 110. The motion sensor 138 can be used to detect the movement of user 109 during a sleep session and / or to detect the movement of any of the components of the respiratory system 120, such as the respiratory device 122, the user interface 124, or the conduit 126. The motion sensor 138 may include one or more inertial sensors, such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetometer. The motion sensor 138 can be used to detect motion or acceleration associated with an arterial pulse, such as a pulse in or around user 109's face and proximal to the user interface 124, and can be configured to detect features of the pulse, such as shape, velocity, amplitude, or volume.

[0077] The microphone 140 outputs sound data that can be stored in the memory device 114 and / or analyzed by the processor 112 of the control system 110. The audio data generated by the microphone 140 can be reproduced as one or more sounds (one or more) during a sleep session (e.g., sounds from user 109) to determine one or more sleep-related parameters (e.g., using the control system 110), as further detailed herein. The audio data from the microphone 140 can also be used to identify events experienced by the user during a sleep session (e.g., using the control system 110), as further detailed herein. The microphone 140 can be connected to or integrated with the breathing device 122, the user interface 124, the conduit 126, or the user device 116.

[0078] Speaker 142 outputs sound waves audible to the user 109 of system 100. Speaker 142 can be used, for example, as an alarm clock, or to play an alert or message to the user 109 (for example, in response to an event). In some implementations, speaker 142 can be used to transmit audio data generated by microphone 140 to the user 109. Speaker 142 can be connected to or integrated with the breathing device 122, user interface 124, conduit 126, or user device 116.

[0079] The microphone 140 and speaker 142 can be used as separate devices. In some implementations, the microphone 140 and speaker 142 can be incorporated into an acoustic sensor 141, for example, as described in WO2018 / 050913, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference. In such an implementation, the speaker 142 generates or emits sound waves at predetermined intervals, and the microphone 140 detects reflections of the sound waves emitted from the speaker 142. The sound waves generated or emitted by the speaker 142 have frequencies inaudible to the human ear (e.g., less than 20 Hz or more than about 18 kHz) so as not to disturb the sleep of the user 109 (or the person sharing a bed in Figure 2, 220). Based at least in part on the data from the microphone 140 and / or speaker 142, the control system 110 can determine the location of the user 109 and / or one or more of the sleep-related parameters described herein. In some implementations, speaker 142 is a bone conduction speaker. In some implementations, one or more sensors 130 include (i) a first microphone which is identical or similar to microphone 140 and integrated into acoustic sensor 141, and (ii) a second microphone which is identical or similar to microphone 140 but separate and distinct from the first microphone integrated into acoustic sensor 141.

[0080] The RF transmitter 148 generates and / or emits radio waves having a predetermined frequency and / or amplitude (e.g., within the high frequency band, within the low frequency band, long wave signal, short wave signal, etc.). The RF receiver 146 detects the reflection of the radio waves emitted from the RF transmitter 148, and this data can be analyzed by the control system 110 to determine the location of the user 109 and / or one or more of the sleep-related parameters described herein. The RF receiver (either the RF receiver 146 and the RF transmitter 148, or another RF pair) can also be used for wireless communication between the control system 110, the breathing device 122, one or more sensors 130, the user device 116, or any combination thereof. Although the RF receiver 146 and the RF transmitter 148 are shown as separate and distinct elements in Figure 1, in some implementations the RF receiver 146 and the RF transmitter 148 are combined as part of an RF sensor 147. In some such implementations, the RF sensor 147 includes a control circuit. Specific forms of RF communication can include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0081] In some implementations, the RF sensor 147 is part of a mesh system. An example of a mesh system is a WiFi mesh system, which may include mesh nodes, mesh routers (one or more), and mesh gateways (one or more), each of which may be mobile / movable or fixed. In such an implementation, the WiFi mesh system includes WiFi routers and / or WiFi controllers, as well as one or more satellites (e.g., access points), each of which includes an RF sensor identical or similar to the RF sensor 147. The WiFi routers and satellites communicate with each other in constant communication using WiFi signals. The WiFi mesh system can be used to generate motion data at least partially based on changes in the WiFi signal between the routers and satellites (one or more) caused by the movement of objects or people partially interfering with the signal (e.g., differences in received signal strength). This motion data may represent motion, breathing, heart rate, walking, falls, behavior, or any combination thereof.

[0082] Camera 150 outputs image data that can be reproduced as one or more images (e.g., still images, videos, thermal images, or a combination thereof) that can be stored in memory device 114. The image data from camera 150 can be used by control system 110 to determine one or more of the sleep-related parameters described herein. For example, the image data from camera 150 can be used to locate the user, determine the time when user 109 enters bed 230 (Figure 2), and determine the time when user 109 leaves bed 230. Camera 150 can also be used to track eye movements, pupil dilation (if one or both of user 109's eyes are open), blink rate, or any changes during REM sleep. Camera 150 can also be used to track user 109's location, which may affect the duration and / or severity of apneic episodes in user 109 with postural obstructive sleep apnea.

[0083] The IR sensor 152 outputs infrared image data that can be reproduced as one or more infrared images (e.g., still images, videos, or both) that can be stored in the memory device 114. The infrared data from the IR sensor 152 can be used to determine one or more sleep-related parameters during a sleep session, including the user 109's temperature and / or movement. The IR sensor 152 can also be used in combination with the camera 150 to measure the presence, location, and / or movement of the user 109. The IR sensor 152 can detect infrared light having wavelengths between approximately 700 nm and 1 mm, for example, while the camera 150 can detect visible light having wavelengths between approximately 380 nm and 740 nm.

[0084] The PPG sensor 154 outputs physiological data associated with user 109 that can be used to determine one or more sleep-related parameters, such as heart rate, heart rate pattern, heart rate variability, cardiac cycle, respiratory rate, inspiratory amplitude, expiratory amplitude, inspiratory-to-expiratory ratio, estimated blood pressure parameters (single or multiple), or any combination thereof. The PPG sensor 154 can be worn by user 109, embedded in clothing and / or fabrics worn by user 109, embedded in and / or connected to the user interface 124 and / or its associated headgear (e.g., a strap).

[0085] The ECG sensor 156 outputs physiological data associated with the electrical activity of the user's heart. In some implementations, the ECG sensor 156 includes one or more electrodes positioned on or around a portion of the user's body during a sleep session. The physiological data from the ECG sensor 156 can be used, for example, to determine one or more of the sleep-related parameters described herein.

[0086] The EEG sensor 158 outputs physiological data associated with the electrical activity of the user's brain. In some implementations, the EEG sensor 158 includes one or more electrodes positioned on or around the user's scalp during a sleep session. The physiological data from the EEG sensor 158 can be used, for example, to determine the sleep stage of the user at any given time during a sleep session. In some implementations, the EEG sensor 158 can be integrated into the user interface 124 and / or its associated headgear (e.g., a strap).

[0087] The capacitance sensor 160, force sensor 162, and strain gauge sensor 164 output data that can be stored in the memory device 114 and used by the control system 110 to determine one or more of the sleep-related parameters described herein. The EMG sensor 166 outputs physiological data associated with electrical activity produced by one or more muscles. The oxygen sensor 168 outputs oxygen data indicating the oxygen concentration of a gas (e.g., in the conduit 126 or in the user interface 124). The oxygen sensor 168 may be, for example, an ultrasonic oxygen sensor, an electro-oxygen sensor, a chemical oxygen sensor, an optical oxygen sensor, or any combination thereof. In some implementations, one or more sensors 130 also include a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor, a blood flow sensor, a respiratory sensor, a pulse sensor, a blood pressure sensor, an oximetry sensor, or any combination thereof.

[0088] The analyte sensor 174 can be used to detect the presence of analytes in the exhaled breath of user 109. The data output by the analyte sensor 174 can be stored in the memory device 114 and used by the control system 110 to determine the identity and concentration of any analyte contained in user 109's breath. In some implementations, the analyte sensor 174 is positioned near user 109's mouth to detect analytes contained in the breath exhaled from user 109's mouth. For example, if the user interface 124 is a face mask that covers user 109's nose and mouth, the analyte sensor 174 may be positioned inside the face mask to monitor user 109's mouth breathing. In other implementations, such as if the user interface 124 is a nasal mask or nasal pillow mask, the analyte sensor 174 may be positioned near user 109's nose to detect analytes contained in the breath exhaled through user 109's nose. In other implementations, if the user interface 124 is a nasal mask or nasal pillow mask, the analyte sensor 174 may be positioned near the user 109's mouth. In this implementation, the analyte sensor 174 can be used to detect whether air is inadvertently leaking from the user 109's mouth. In some implementations, the analyte sensor 174 is a volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor that can be used to detect carbon-based chemicals or compounds such as carbon dioxide. In some implementations, the analyte sensor 174 can also be used to detect whether the user 109 is breathing through their nose or mouth. For example, if the presence of an analyte is detected by data output from the analyte sensor 174 positioned near the user 109's mouth or (in implementations where the user interface 124 is a face mask) inside the face mask, the control system 110 can use this data as an indicator that the user 109 is breathing through their mouth.

[0089] The moisture sensor 176 outputs data that can be stored in the memory device 114 and used by the control system 110. The moisture sensor 176 can be used to detect moisture in various areas surrounding the user 109 (e.g., inside the conduit 126 or user interface 124, near the user 109's face, near the connection between the conduit 126 and the user interface 124, near the connection between the conduit 126 and the breathing device 122, etc.). Therefore, in some implementations, the moisture sensor 176 can be connected to or integrated with the user interface 124 or integrated with the conduit 126 to monitor the humidity of the pressurized air from the breathing device 122. In other implementations, the moisture sensor 176 is placed near any area where the moisture level needs to be monitored. The moisture sensor 176 can also be used to monitor the humidity of the surrounding environment surrounding the user 109, such as the air in the user 109's bedroom. The moisture sensor 176 can also be used to track the user 109's biometric response to environmental changes.

[0090] One or more LiDAR sensors 178 can be used for depth sensing. This type of optical sensor (e.g., laser sensor) can be used to detect objects and create a three-dimensional (3D) map of the surrounding environment, such as a living space. LiDAR generally uses pulsed lasers to measure time of flight. LiDAR is also called 3D laser scanning. In one use case of such a sensor, a stationary or mobile device (such as a smartphone) having a LiDAR sensor 178 can measure and map an area more than 5 meters away from the sensor. LiDAR data can be fused with point cloud data estimated by, for example, an electromagnetic RADAR sensor. The LiDAR sensor 178 can also use artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically create a geofence for a RADAR system by detecting and classifying features in space that may pose problems for the RADAR system, such as glass windows (which may be highly reflective to RADAR). LiDAR can also be used to estimate a person's height, as well as changes in height that occur when a person sits down, falls down, etc. LiDAR can be used to form a 3D mesh representation of the environment. In further applications, LiDAR can reflect off solid surfaces through which radio waves pass (e.g., radio wave-transparent materials), enabling the classification of different types of obstacles.

[0091] Although shown separately in Figure 1, any combination of one or more sensors 130 can be integrated and / or connected to any one or more components of system 100, including the breathing device 122, user interface 124, conduit 126, humidifier tank / humidifier 129, control system 110, user device 116, or any combination thereof. For example, the acoustic sensor 141 and / or RF sensor 147 can be integrated and / or connected to the user device 116. In such an implementation, the user device 116 can be considered a secondary device that generates additional or secondary data used by system 100 (e.g., the control system 110) according to some aspects of the present disclosure. In some implementations, the pressure sensor 132 and / or flow sensor 134 are integrated and / or connected to the breathing device 122. In some implementations, at least one of the one or more sensors 130 is not connected to the respiratory device 122, the control system 110, or the user device 116, but is positioned generally adjacent to the user 109 during a sleep session (e.g., positioned on or in contact with a portion of the user 109, worn by the user 109, connected to or positioned on the nightstand 240 (Figure 2), connected to the mattress 232 (Figure 2), connected to the ceiling (e.g., the environment 108), etc.). More commonly, the one or more sensors 130 are positioned at any appropriate location relative to the user 109 so that the one or more sensors 130 can generate physiological data associated with the user 109 (e.g., user 210 and / or bedmate 220 in Figure 2) during one or more sleep sessions.

[0092] By analyzing data from one or more sensors 130, one or more sleep-related parameters can be determined, which may include respiratory signals, respiratory rate, respiratory pattern, inspiratory amplitude, expiratory amplitude, inspiratory-to-expiratory ratio, occurrence of one or more events, number of events per hour, pattern of events, mean duration of events, range of event durations, ratio between different numbers of events, sleep stages, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), or any combination thereof. These one or more events may include snoring, apnea, central apnea, obstructive apnea, mixed apnea, hypopnea, intentional user interface leaks, unintentional user interface leaks, oral leaks, coughing, inability to remain still, sleep disturbances, suffocation, increased heart rate, dyspnea, asthma attacks, epileptic seizures, seizures, increased blood pressure, or any combination thereof. While many of these sleep-related parameters are physiological, some can be considered non-physiological. Other types of physiological and non-physiological parameters can also be determined from data from one or more sensors 130 or other types of data.

[0093] The user device 116 (Figure 1) includes a display device 172. The user device 116 may be a mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop computer. Alternatively, the user device 116 may be an external sensing system, a television (e.g., a smart TV), or another smart home device (e.g., a smart speaker such as Google Home, Amazon Echo, or Alexa). In some implementations, this user device is a wearable device (e.g., a smartwatch). The display device 172 is generally used to display images (one or more) including still images, videos, or both. In some implementations, the display device 172 functions as a human-machine interface (HMI) including a graphic user interface (GUI) configured to display images (one or more) and an input interface. The display device 172 may be an LED display, an OLED display, a liquid crystal display, etc. The input interface may be a touchscreen or contact sensing substrate, a mouse, a keyboard, or any sensor system configured to sense input made by a human user interacting with the user device 116. In some implementations, one or more user devices may be used by and / or included in system 100.

[0094] The blood pressure device 180 is typically used to help generate physiological data for determining one or more blood pressure measurements associated with the user. The blood pressure device 180 may include, for example, at least one of one or more sensors 130 for measuring systolic and / or diastolic blood pressure components.

[0095] In some implementations, the blood pressure device 180 is a blood pressure monitor comprising a user-wearable inflatable cuff and a pressure sensor (e.g., the pressure sensor 132 described herein). For example, as shown in the example in Figure 2, the blood pressure device 180 can be worn on the upper arm of a user 210. In such implementations where the blood pressure device 180 is a blood pressure monitor, the blood pressure device 180 also includes a pump (e.g., a manually operated valve) for inflating the cuff. In some implementations, the blood pressure device 180 is connected to a respiratory device 122 of a respiratory system 120, which delivers pressurized air to inflate the cuff. More commonly, the blood pressure device 180 can be communicatively connected to and / or physically integrated (e.g., within a housing) with a control system 110, a memory device 114, a respiratory system 120, a user device 116, and / or an activity tracker 190.

[0096] The activity tracker 190 is typically used to help generate physiological data for determining activity metrics associated with the user. These activity metrics may include, for example, steps taken, distance traveled, steps uphill, duration of physical activity, type of physical activity, intensity of physical activity, time spent standing, respiratory rate, mean respiratory rate, resting respiratory rate, maximum respiratory rate, respiratory rate variability, heart rate, mean heart rate, resting heart rate, maximum heart rate, heart rate variability, calories burned, blood oxygen saturation, skin electrical activity (also referred to as skin conductance or galvanic skin response), or any combination thereof. The activity tracker 190 includes, for example, one or more of the sensors 130 described herein, such as a motion sensor 138 (e.g., one or more accelerometers and / or gyroscopes), a PPG sensor 154, and / or an ECG sensor 156.

[0097] In some implementations, the activity tracker 190 is a wearable device that the user 109 can wear, such as a smartwatch, wristband, ring, or patch. For example, referring to Figure 2, the activity tracker 190 is worn on the wrist of the user 210. The activity tracker 190 can also be linked to or integrated with clothing or garments worn by the user 109. Alternatively, the activity tracker 190 can also be linked to or integrated (e.g., within the same housing) with the user device 116. The activity tracker 190 can be communicatively linked to or physically integrated (e.g., within the housing) with the control system 110, memory device 114, respiratory system 120, user device 116, and / or blood pressure device 180.

[0098] Although the control system 110 and the memory device 114 are shown and illustrated in Figure 1 as separate and distinct components of system 100, in some implementations the control system 110 and / or the memory device 114 are integrated into the user device 116 and / or the breathing device 122. Alternatively, in some implementations the control system 110 or a part thereof (e.g., the processor 112) may reside in the cloud (e.g., integrated into a server, integrated into an Internet of Things (IoT) device, connected to the cloud, and capable of edge cloud processing), or may reside on one or more servers (e.g., remote servers, local servers, etc., or any combination thereof).

[0099] Although System 100 is shown as including all of the above components, according to the implementations of this disclosure, more or fewer components may be included in System 100 to provide individual humidification. For example, a first alternative system includes a humidifier module 102, a control system 110, a memory device 114, and at least one of one or more sensors 130. In another embodiment, a second alternative system includes a humidifier module 102, a control system 110, a memory device 114, at least one of one or more sensors 130, and a user device 116. In yet another embodiment, a third alternative system includes a humidifier module 102, a control system 110, a memory device 114, a breathing system 120, at least one of one or more sensors 130, and a user device 116. In a further embodiment, a fourth alternative system includes a humidifier module 102, a control system 110, a memory device 114, a breathing system 120, at least one of one or more sensors 130, a user device 116, a blood pressure device 180 and / or an activity tracker 190. In a further embodiment, a microphone 140 included in one or more sensors 130 may include a microphone 242, a feedback microphone, or both. Thus, various systems for analyzing data associated with the user's use of the breathing system 120 can be formed using any(s) of the components of system 100 illustrated and described herein, and / or in combination with one or more other components.

[0100] As described above, one or more user devices 116 may also be present in the environment. One or more user devices 116 may be any electronic device that allows the user to provide information to one or more of the humidifier module 102, memory device 114, control system 110, first sensor 130a, or second sensor 130b, such as a user device. For example, one or more electronic devices 116 may be a mobile phone (smartphone), personal digital assistant, tablet, laptop computer, smart TV, monitor, terminal, health tracker, fitness tracker, smart speaker, smart soundbar, or any combination thereof. Although user device 116 is represented separately from the first sensor 130a and the second sensor 130b, in one or more implementations, the first sensor 130a, the second sensor 130b, or both can be integrated into user device 116. For example, the user device 116 could again be a smartphone or activity tracker 190 capable of detecting the humidity of the environment 108 and the electrocardiogram (ECG) signal and / or respiratory signal and / or hydration level of a user 109 wearing a fitness tracker (for example, by using infrared light). In one or more implementations, one or more sensors in the user device 116 could be one or more of sensors 130a and 130b. For example, in one or more implementations, a microphone and / or speaker in a smartphone could measure the user 109's respiration as disclosed in International Patent Application Publication WO2018 / 050913, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0101] The user device 116 can provide additional physiological parameters that may be provided by the user 109, for example, by using the user interface of the user device 116, even if the user device 116 itself is not sensed. Such additional subjective parameters may include one or more of the following: age, sex, body mass index, one or more medical conditions, one or more underlying diseases, or a combination thereof. These parameters can be stored in the user 109's profile on the user device 116. These physiological parameters may also include subjective information from the user 109 reported through the user device 116, such as reported runny nose, dyspnea, dry skin, chest tightness, cough, amount and color of mucus / sputum, lack of energy, respiratory infection, self-reported sleep quality, and current self-reported level regarding previous comfort levels.

[0102] In one or more implementations, the user device 116 may include information corresponding to one or more physiological parameters, one or more environmental sensors, or a combination thereof, input by the user 109, and may provide this information to the control system 110. In such implementations, the user device 116 can be considered a sensor. Similarly, the user 109 may input information about the user's comfort level, including subjective information related to respiration, such as the user's comfort level regarding breathing, into the user device 116. The user 109 may also input specific parameters related to their environment. Self-reported information input into the user device 116 may also include data on the severity / progression of a medical condition, such as that read from an electronic health record.

[0103] Although this single environment 108 represents only one humidifier module 102, in one or more implementations, there may be multiple humidifier modules 102 in environment 108, or there may be multiple separate environments 108, each having a different humidifier module 102. In one or more implementations, there may be multiple environments 108, each having a configuration similar to that shown in Figure 1. For example, each separate environment 108 may include its own system 100 having a humidifier module 102, a control system 110, and a memory device 114. Processing between multiple control systems 110 can be centralized (locally or remotely, such as in the cloud). Therefore, in one or more implementations, each element in Figure 1 may be a standalone device, a networked device, or part of a home system. Each separate environment 108 can be controlled differently by one or more control systems 106. The differences may be based on events expected for a user 109 in a particular environment. Alternatively, the humidifier module 102 may cover several different environments 108, such as different rooms within a building or different compartments within a vehicle (car, train, airplane, ship, etc.). In this case, the output (humidification, dehumidification, warm air, or hot air) may be changed based on parameters measured by local sensors (e.g., sensors 130 (130a and 130b)) in each environment where the target user 109 is located. In such cases, the output of the humidifier module 102 may be changed by opening and closing various sets of vents to redirect the airflow carrying the output of the humidifier module 102 from one room / compartment to another.

[0104] As used herein, a sleep session can be defined in several ways, for example, based at least in part on the initial start and end times. In some implementations, a sleep session is the duration of time a user is asleep, i.e., a sleep session has a start time and an end time, and the user remains awake until the end time during the sleep session. In other words, time the user is awake is not included in the sleep session. From the first definition of a sleep session, if a user wakes up and falls asleep multiple times during the night, each sleep period separated by those periods of wakefulness constitutes a sleep session.

[0105] Alternatively, in some implementations, a sleep session has a start time and an end time, and during that sleep session, the user can remain awake without the sleep session ending, as long as the continuous time the user is awake is less than the wakefulness duration threshold. The wakefulness duration threshold can be defined as a percentage of the sleep session. The wakefulness duration threshold could be, for example, about 20 percent of the sleep session, about 15 percent of the sleep session duration, about 10 percent of the sleep session duration, about 5 percent of the sleep session duration, about 2 percent of the sleep session duration, etc., or any other arbitrary threshold percentage. In some implementations, the wakefulness duration threshold is defined as, for example, about 1 hour, about 30 minutes, about 15 minutes, about 10 minutes, about 5 minutes, about 2 minutes, etc., or any other arbitrary amount of time.

[0106] In some implementations, a sleep session is defined as the total time from the time the user first goes to bed at night until the time the user last wakes up the following morning. In other words, a sleep session can be defined as the time that begins at a first time (e.g., 10:00 p.m.) on a first date that can be called the current night (e.g., Monday, January 6, 2020) when the user first goes to bed with the intention of sleeping (not if the user first intends to watch TV or use their smartphone before going to sleep), and ends at a second time (e.g., 7:00 a.m.) on a second date that can be called the following morning (e.g., Tuesday, January 7, 2020) when the user first wakes up with the intention of not going to sleep again the following morning.

[0107] In some implementations, users can manually define the start of a sleep session and / or manually end it. For example, a user can manually start or end a sleep session by selecting one or more user-selectable elements displayed on the display device 172 of the user device 116 (Figure 1) (for example, by clicking or tapping).

[0108] Referring to Figure 3, an example time series 300 of a sleep session is shown. Time series 300 is the time of going to bed (t bed ) and the time of falling asleep (t GTS ) and the time of first sleep onset (t sleep ) and the first minute awakening MA1 and the second minute awakening MA2, awakening A, and awakening time (t wake ) and wake-up time (t rise ) and include.

[0109] bedtime t bed This is associated with the time when the user first goes to bed (e.g., bed 230 in Figure 2) before falling asleep (e.g., when the user lies down or sits up in bed). Bedtime t bedcan be identified based at least in part on the in-bed threshold duration to distinguish between the time when the user goes to bed to sleep and the time when the user goes to bed for other reasons (e.g., to watch TV). For example, the in-bed threshold duration can be at least about 10 minutes, at least about 20 minutes, at least about 30 minutes, at least about 45 minutes, at least about 1 hour, at least about 2 hours, and so on. In this specification, the time t of going to bed is described with reference to the bed bed although the time t of going to bed bed more generally can represent the time when the user first takes a seat at some location (e.g., a sofa, a chair, a sleeping bag, etc.) to sleep.

[0110] The time of falling asleep (GTS) is associated with the time (t bed ) when the user first attempts to fall asleep after getting into bed. For example, after getting into bed, the user may engage in one or more activities (e.g., reading, watching TV, listening to music, using the user device 116, etc.) to relax before trying to sleep. The first sleep time (t sleep ) is the time when the user first falls asleep. For example, the first sleep time (t sleep ) can be the time when the user first enters the non-REM sleep stage.

[0111] The waking time t wake is the time associated with the period when the user wakes up without returning to sleep (e.g., rather than waking up in the middle of the night and going back to sleep). After first falling asleep, the user may experience one of more unconscious micro-awakenings (e.g., micro-awakenings MA1 and MA2) having a short duration (e.g., 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, etc.). The user returns to sleep after each of the micro-awakenings MA1 and MA2 rather than at the waking time t wake . Similarly, after first falling asleep, the user may have one or more conscious awakenings (e.g., awakening A) (e.g., waking up to go to the toilet, taking care of a child or pet, sleepwalking, etc.). However, the user returns to sleep after awakening A. Therefore, the waking time t wakeThis can be defined, for example, based at least in part on the arousal threshold duration (for example, the duration for which the user is awake for at least 15 minutes, at least 20 minutes, at least 30 minutes, at least 1 hour, etc.).

[0112] Similarly, wake-up time t rise This is associated with the time when the user leaves bed with the intention of ending the sleep session (not, for example, going to the toilet in the middle of the night, taking care of children or pets, or wandering around). In other words, the wake-up time t rise This is the time when the user last left bed without returning to bed until the next sleep session (e.g., the following night). Therefore, the wake-up time t rise This can be defined, for example, based at least in part on the wake-up threshold duration (e.g., the user is out of bed for at least 15 minutes, at least 20 minutes, at least 30 minutes, at least 1 hour, etc.). The second bedtime t after the sleep session bed It can also be defined at least partially based on the wake-up threshold duration (for example, when the user is out of bed for at least 4 hours, at least 6 hours, at least 8 hours, at least 12 hours, etc.).

[0113] As stated above, the user's first t bed from the final t rise The last awakening time t is determined at least partially based on a predetermined threshold duration after an event (e.g., falling asleep or getting out of bed). wake and / or last wake-up time t rise The threshold duration can be customized to suit the user. For a typical user who goes to bed at night and wakes up and gets up in the morning, any duration between approximately 12 and 18 hours (when the user is awake (t wake ) or wake up (t rise ) then go to bed (t bed ), falling asleep (t GTS ) or sleep (t sleepA threshold time of (until) can be used. For users who spend a long time in bed, a shorter threshold time (e.g., approximately 8 to 14 hours) may be used. This threshold time may be initially selected and / or adjusted later, at least in part, based on a system that monitors the user's sleep behavior.

[0114] Total time in bed (TIB) is the time in bed t bed From wake time rise This is the duration up to t. Total sleep time (TST) is the duration from the time of first sleep onset to the time of wakefulness, excluding conscious and unconscious wakefulness and / or minute wakefulness during that time. Total sleep time (TST) is generally shorter than total time in bed (TIB) (e.g., 1 minute shorter, 10 minutes shorter, 1 hour shorter, etc.). For example, referring to time series 300 in Figure 3, total sleep time (TST) is from the time of first sleep onset t sleep From awakening time t wake However, the durations of the first micro-awakening MA1, the second micro-awakening MA2, and awakening A are excluded. As shown in the figure, in this example, total sleep time (TST) is shorter than total time in bed (TIB).

[0115] In some implementations, total sleep time (TST) can be defined as total sustained sleep time (PTST). In such implementations, total sustained sleep time excludes a predetermined initial portion or duration of the first non-REM stage (e.g., light sleep stage). For example, this predetermined initial portion may be approximately 30 seconds to 20 minutes, approximately 1 minute to 10 minutes, or approximately 3 minutes to 5 minutes. Total sustained sleep time is a measurement of sustained sleep and smooths the sleep / wake sleep progression diagram. For example, upon a user's initial sleep onset, the user may enter a first non-REM stage for a very short period (e.g., approximately 30 seconds), return to a short period (e.g., 1 minute) of wakefulness, and then return to the first non-REM stage. In this example, total sustained sleep time excludes the first instance of the first non-REM stage (e.g., approximately 30 seconds).

[0116] In some implementations, the sleep session is defined by the time of going to bed (t bed It starts with ) and wake-up time (t rise The time that ends at the time of first sleep (t) is defined as total time in bed (TIB). In some implementations, a sleep session is defined as the time that ends at the time of first sleep (t). sleep ) begins, and the wake time (t wake It is defined as ending at t GTS ) begins, and the wake time (t wake It is defined as ending at the time of sleep onset (t). In some implementations, a sleep session is defined as ending at the time of sleep onset (t). GTS It starts with ) and wake-up time (t rise It is defined as ending at bedtime (t). In some implementations, a sleep session is defined as ending at bedtime (t). bed ) begins, and the wake time (t wake It is defined as ending at the time of the first sleep (t). In some implementations, a sleep session is defined as ending at the time of the first sleep (t). sleep It starts with ) and wake-up time (t rise It is defined as something that ends in ).

[0117] Referring to Figure 4, exemplary sleep progression diagrams 400 corresponding to time series 300 (Figure 3) are shown for several implementation configurations. As illustrated, the sleep progression diagram 400 includes a sleep / wake signal 401, a wakefulness stage axis 410, a REM stage axis 420, a light sleep stage axis 430, and a deep sleep stage axis 440. The intersection of the sleep / wake signal 401 and one of the axes 410-440 indicates the sleep stage at any given time during the sleep session.

[0118] The sleep / wake signal 401 can be generated at least in part based on physiological data associated with the user (e.g., generated by one or more of the sensors 130 described herein). The sleep / wake signal may indicate one or more sleep stages, including wakefulness, relaxed wakefulness, micro-wakefulness, REM stage, first non-REM stage, second non-REM stage, third non-REM stage, or any combination thereof. In some implementations, one or more of the first non-REM stage, second non-REM stage, and third non-REM stage may be grouped together and classified as a light sleep stage or a deep sleep stage. For example, a light sleep stage may include the first non-REM sleep stage, and a deep sleep stage may include the second and third non-REM sleep stages. In Figure 4, the sleep progression diagram 400 is shown to include a light sleep stage axis 430 and a deep sleep stage axis 440, but in some implementations, the sleep progression diagram 400 may include axes representing the first non-REM stage, the second non-REM stage, and the third non-REM stage, respectively. In other implementations, the sleep / wake signal may also show respiratory signal, respiratory rate, inspiratory amplitude, expiratory amplitude, inspiratory-to-expiratory amplitude ratio, inspiratory-to-expiratory duration ratio, number of events per hour, event pattern, or any combination thereof. Information describing the sleep / wake signal can be stored in the memory device 114.

[0119] The sleep progression diagram 400 can be used to determine one or more sleep-related parameters, such as sleep latency (SOL), wakefulness during the night (WASO), sleep efficiency (SE), sleep fragmentation index, sleep block, or any combination thereof.

[0120] Sleep latency (SOL) is the time it takes to fall asleep (t GTS ) and first sleep time (t sleepIt is defined as the time between the time the user first attempts to fall asleep and the time the user actually falls asleep. In some implementations, sleep latency is defined as persistent sleep onset latency (PSOL). Persistent sleep latency differs from sleep latency in that it is defined as the duration from the time the user falls asleep to a given amount of sustained sleep. In some implementations, a given amount of sustained sleep may include, for example, at least 10 minutes of sleep within a second non-REM phase, a third non-REM phase, and / or a wake of 2 minutes or less, a first non-REM phase, and / or transitions between them within a REM phase. In other words, persistent sleep latency requires, for example, at least 8 minutes of sustained sleep within a second non-REM phase, a third non-REM phase, and / or within a REM phase. In other implementations, a predetermined amount of sustained sleep may include at least 10 minutes of sleep within the first non-REM phase, the second non-REM phase, the third non-REM phase, and / or within the REM phase after the initial sleep onset time. In such implementations, the predetermined amount of sustained sleep may exclude all minute awakenings (for example, a 10-second minute awakening will not be followed by a resumption of sleep for 10 minutes).

[0121] Nocturnal awakening (WASO) is associated with the total duration of wakefulness a user experiences from the time of initial sleep onset to the time of wakefulness. Therefore, nocturnal awakening includes short-term and minute awakenings during a sleep session, whether conscious or unconscious (e.g., minute awakenings MA1 and MA2 shown in Figure 4). In some implementations, nocturnal awakening (WASO) is defined as persistent nocturnal awakening (PWASO), which includes only total wakefulness durations of a predetermined length (e.g., more than 10 seconds, more than 30 seconds, more than 60 seconds, more than approximately 5 minutes, more than approximately 10 minutes, etc.).

[0122] Sleep efficiency (SE) is determined as the ratio of total time in bed (TIB) to total sleep time (TST). For example, if total time in bed is 8 hours and total sleep time is 7.5 hours, the sleep efficiency for that sleep session is 93.75%. Sleep efficiency represents the user's sleep hygiene. For example, if a user goes to bed and spends time on other activities (e.g., watching television) before falling asleep, sleep efficiency decreases (e.g., the user may be penalized). In some implementations, sleep efficiency (SE) can be calculated based at least partially on total time in bed (TIB) and the total time the user attempts to fall asleep. In such implementations, the total duration the user attempts to fall asleep is defined as the time from the time of sleep onset (GTS) to the time of wake-up as described herein. For example, if total sleep time is 8 hours (e.g., from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.), the time of sleep onset is 10:45 p.m., and the time of wake-up is 7:15 a.m., the sleep efficiency parameter is calculated to be approximately 94% in such an implementation.

[0123] The fragmentation index is determined at least partially based on the number of awakenings during a sleep session. For example, if a user had two minor awakenings (e.g., minor awakenings MA1 and MA2 shown in Figure 4), the fragmentation index could be represented as 2. In some implementations, this fragmentation index is scaled within a predetermined range of integers (e.g., between 0 and 10).

[0124] A sleep block is associated with a transition between any sleep stage (e.g., the first non-REM stage, the second non-REM stage, the third non-REM stage, and / or REM) and the wakefulness stage. Sleep blocks can be calculated, for example, with a resolution of 30 seconds.

[0125] In some implementations, the system and method described herein are used for bedtime (t bed ), sleep onset time (t GTS ), time of first sleep (t sleep ), one or more first minute awakenings (e.g., MA1 and MA2), awakening time (t wake ), wake-up time (t riseThis may include generating or analyzing a sleep-time chart that includes sleep / wake signals in order to determine or identify, or any combination thereof, based at least partially on the sleep / wake signals of the sleep-time chart.

[0126] In other implementations, one or more of the sensors 130 are used to determine the time of going to bed (t bed ), sleep onset time (t GTS ), time of first sleep (t sleep ), one or more first minute awakenings (e.g., MA1 and MA2), awakening time (t wake ), wake-up time (t rise ), or any combination thereof, can be determined or identified, and by extension, a sleep session can be defined. For example, bedtime t bed The time of falling asleep can be determined at least in part on data generated by, for example, the motion sensor 138, the microphone 140, the camera 150, or any combination thereof. The time of falling asleep can be determined at least in part on, for example, data from the motion sensor 138 (e.g., data indicating no user movement), data from the camera 150 (e.g., data indicating no user movement and / or the user has turned off the lights), data from the microphone 140 (e.g., data indicating the user has turned off the TV), data from the user device 116 (e.g., data indicating the user is no longer using the user device 116), data from the pressure sensor 132 and / or the flow sensor 134 (e.g., data indicating the user has turned on the breathing device 122, data indicating the user has put on the user interface 124, etc.), or any combination thereof.

[0127] Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) systems are often used to treat individuals suffering from sleep-related respiratory disorders. Users of CPAP systems typically wear a user interface (such as a mask) that delivers pressurized air from a breathing device to the user's throat, helping to prevent airway narrowing and / or obstruction during sleep, thereby increasing the user's oxygen intake. Many CPAP systems generate audible noise during use that can disrupt or interrupt the user's sleep. This noise often originates from the operation of the motor within the breathing device that generates the pressurized air. Furthermore, noise can also be generated from air leaks in the CPAP system (e.g., from the CPAP system mask). Detecting and canceling such noise during CPAP system operation is useful in helping users and their bedmates achieve quality sleep undisturbed by such noise.

[0128] As described above, the respiratory therapy system 120 may include a humidifier 129 configured to output moisture to the airflow to the user 210, for example, through a conduit 126 connected to a user interface 128 that connects to the user 210's airway (e.g., mouth and / or nose). As will be further described below, the humidifier module 102 and the humidifier 129 can work together to reduce the use of the humidifier 129. In one or more implementations, the respiratory therapy system 120 may be completely without the humidifier 129. In one or more implementations, the respiratory therapy system 120 may be configured to provide positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) disorders or to provide non-invasive ventilation (NIV). The control system 110 may adjust the humidity level to maximize the comfort and effectiveness of NIV when NIV humidification is not provided.

[0129] Referring to Figure 5, a method 500 for providing individual humidification levels is shown. One or more steps of the method 500 described herein can be carried out using one or more of the elements in Figure 1, such as the humidifier module 102, the control system 110, the memory device 114, and one or more sensors 130 (e.g., a first sensor 130a and a second sensor 130b).

[0130] In step 502, the control system 110 receives one or more environmental parameters relating to the conditions of the environment 108 from the first sensor 130a. These one or more environmental parameters may include temperature, atmospheric pressure, air quality, wind cooling, location, or any other environmental parameters disclosed herein, and combinations thereof. In one or more implementations, these one or more environmental parameters may be audio information associated with the environment 108.

[0131] In step 504, the control system 110 receives from the second sensor 130b one or more physiological parameters associated with the user 109 in the environment 108. These physiological parameters may be any of the physiological parameters disclosed herein and / or combinations thereof. In one or more implementations, these one or more physiological parameters may be audio information associated with the user. This audio information may be information about one or more sounds correlated with breathing rate, breathing depth, breathing quality, cough, wheezing, whistling, snoring, or combinations thereof. In one or more implementations, breathing detection may occur as described in International Patent Application Publications WO2007 / 143535 and WO2018 / 050913, which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

[0132] Additionally or alternatively, these one or more physiological parameters may include heart rate, body temperature, activity level, hydration level, one or more sounds generated by the user, or a combination thereof, including any other physiological conditions that may be associated with the user's respiratory illness.

[0133] In one or more implementations, environment 108 may include one or more other users in addition to user 109. The control system 110 can be configured to determine that user 109 is more vulnerable than one or more other users in environment 108. For example, user 109 may be a more vulnerable person based at least in part on having an asthma attack, coughing fits, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or another respiratory illness. Therefore, the control system 110 can be configured to suit the requirements of the person most vulnerable with respect to respiratory problems. That is, settings (such as target RH) are optimized for the person who already has, or is most likely to have, a respiratory problem such as an asthma attack, coughing fits, COPD exacerbation, or another respiratory illness.

[0134] In one or more implementations, system 100 may include a user device 116 associated with user 109. The control system 110 can receive one or more physiological parameters of user 109 from the user device 116. These one or more physiological parameters received from the user device 116 may include user 109's age, sex, body mass index, one or more medical conditions, one or more underlying diseases, or a combination thereof. For example, the “most likely to have respiratory problems” estimation mentioned earlier in the text may be based on one or more physiological parameters provided by the user as subjective information delivered through the user interface of the user device 116.

[0135] In step 504, the control system 110 may optionally receive from the user device 116 one or more other physiological parameters associated with the user 109 in the environment 108. These other physiological parameters may be any of the other physiological parameters described above regarding the user device 116, such as age, weight, and the user's current mood. In one or more implementations, all available parameters are made available to the control system 110 for making the following determination in step 506 and can be input into the classifier.

[0136] In step 506, the control system 110 determines an action associated with a desired change in humidity within the environment 108, at least in part, based on one or more environmental parameters and one or more physiological parameters. In one or more implementations, this action may be a change in the location of the humidifier module 102 within the environment 108. In such an implementation, the control system 110 can process one or more environmental parameters and one or more physiological parameters to determine the location of the humidifier module 102 relative to the user 109 within the environment 108. This change in location may be based on the location of the humidifier module 102 relative to the user 109. In one or more implementations, this action may be instructing the user to move the humidifier module based on a change in location brought about by a recommendation output by the control system 110. This output may be visual, such as on a display associated with the control system 110 and / or the humidifier module 102. This output can be heard, for example, from a speaker associated with the control system 110 and / or the humidifier module 102.

[0137] In one or more implementations, the humidifier module 102 may include one or more fans that direct the output moisture to change the humidity. This determined operation may include determining to change the speed and / or direction of one or more fans to direct the humidified airflow in a specific direction. That specific direction may be determined relative to the user 109, relative to the boundary of the environment 108, or a combination thereof. In one or more implementations, this one or more fan may be controlled to provide ventilation to the environment 108, with or without providing humidity. If the humidifier module 102 is part of a commercial heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system, the above relocation of the humidifier module 102 can be equally achieved by redirecting moisture / cold air or heat from one area (such as part of a passenger compartment in a vehicle, a room or part of a building) to another area, such as by opening and closing various sets of vents that direct hot / cold / dry / humid air.

[0138] In step 508, the control system 110, at least partially based on the moisture output by the humidifier module 102, brings about the implementation of an action associated with a change in the humidity of the environment. This action may involve adjusting the setpoint of the humidifier module 102 to change the humidity of the environment according to an optimal humidity for the user. This optimal humidity, based on these physiological parameters, can benefit the user's current condition, such as if the user 109 is currently suffering from a respiratory illness like a cold.

[0139] In one or more implementations, the control system 110 can further identify the effects of humidity changes based on one or more physiological parameters of the user. The control system 110 can create a feedback loop that allows steps 504, 506, and 508 to be repeated so that optimal conditions can be found based on changes in the physiological state, as will be further discussed below with respect to Figure 7.

[0140] In one or more implementations, the control system 110 can receive one or more weather parameters indicating the state of an area 118 outside of user 109's environment 108, such as outside user 109's house. Based on the one or more environmental parameters and the one or more weather parameters, the control system 110 can further determine one or more optimal conditions for the humidifier module 102. In this case, this operation may involve changing the humidification output based at least partially on the optimal conditions. This allows the control system 110 to target a humidity value somewhere between the ideal level for user 109 and the external environment 118 if it determines that user 109 is likely to go outside (or to another area not under the control of the humidifier module 102). Therefore, the control system 110 can target individual ideal levels using an adaptive approach that targets both the environment and the area 118 outside of environment 108. For example, the optimal level for user 109's respiratory health may be 45%RH, while outdoors it may be 80%RH. The control system 110 can gradually change (e.g., increase) the humidification output to raise the humidity to an external level, for purposes such as reducing the impact of the change. This operation may be accompanied by a change in temperature (heating or cooling) or a decrease in the air purification level (e.g., a decrease in fan speed).

[0141] In one or more implementations, the decision that a user has left environment 108 can be made based on a statistical model, mediated by user 109's electronic diary / calendar, or based on user 109's input.

[0142] In one or more implementations, the control system 110 can transmit a set of personally preferred settings to a humidifier module 102 in the environment 108 when the user 109 enters or leaves the environment 108. For example, the humidifier module 102 may be in an automotive air conditioning system having a humidification control function and a wired or wireless interface connected to a network that communicates with the control system 110. Alternatively, the humidifier module 102 may be a standalone unit with communication capabilities connected to a power source in the vehicle. This allows the user 109 to have settings that minimize the risk of their illness exacerbation both at home and while traveling. In one or more implementations, the control system 110 can activate the humidification function before the user 109 gets in (for example, in an electric vehicle where the system can be operated before the user gets in).

[0143] In one or more implementations, the operation of step 508 may involve adjusting the humidity in the environment 108 (e.g., through the humidifier module 102) and / or the humidity generated by the humidifier 129 of the respiratory therapy system 120 in order to achieve a desired physiological state for the user 109. The physiological state of the user 109 may relate to a desired comfort level that is related to and / or dependent on humidity. This desired comfort level may be a general or default comfort level associated with the user 109. Alternatively, this comfort level may be associated with a specific condition or period of time for the user 109. For example, a specific condition of the user 109 may be that the user has a cold, is suffering from allergies, has a fever, etc. The humidity in the environment 108 or the humidity generated by the humidifier 129 can be controlled by the operation of step 508 to achieve a desired physiological state related to, for example, respiratory illnesses such as respiratory distress such as respiratory rate and coughing, stress responses such as galvanic skin reactions and heart rate variability, dryness of the airways such as the nostrils (provided, for example, via user feedback), sleep state, and sleep stage. For example, if user 109 has a cold, the operation of step 508 may be to control the humidity in the environment 108 to improve user 109's breathing rate and / or to reduce the number or amount of user 109's coughing. The user may become more comfortable as respiratory distress is alleviated.

[0144] Referring to Figure 6, a method for providing smart negligence is provided. One or more steps of the method 600 described herein can be carried out using one or more of the elements in Figure 1, such as the humidifier module 102, the control system 110, the memory device 114, and one or more sensors 130 (e.g., a first sensor 130a and a second sensor 130b).

[0145] In step 602, the control system 110 controls the humidifier module 102 according to a first set of conditions. The first set of conditions may be based, for example, on a humidity setpoint in the environment 108. This setpoint may be based on detected humidity and temperature, as well as a predetermined humidification setting provided by the user.

[0146] In step 604, the control system 110 monitors for any changes in humidity in the environment 108 based on the operation of the humidifier module 102 according to the first set of conditions. This monitoring may lead to a determination of whether the humidifier module 102 is located in a place within the environment 108 that can cause a change in humidity. The impact on the change in humidity may depend on many variables that depend on the location of the humidifier module 102 in the environment 108.

[0147] In one or more implementations, one or more sensors 130, such as a first sensor 130a and a second sensor 130b, are present in the environment. This monitoring may include receiving information indicating a change in humidity from at least one of the one or more sensors 130. The control system 110 may further receive location information from at least one of the one or more sensors 130 (e.g., sensors 130a and 130b) indicating the location of the humidifier module 102 relative to one or more sensors 130 or the user 109. This location information may also be based on the location of the humidifier module 102 relative to the boundaries of the environment 108, such as the walls of a room.

[0148] In one or more implementations, the control system 110 can receive sound information from one or more sound sensors 130 in the environment 108 configured to detect sound. This sound information may include information indicating the location of the user 109 in the environment 108, such as breathing as described above. Based on this, the control system 110 can process this sound information to determine the location of the humidifier module 102 in the environment 108 relative to the user 109. Furthermore, the control system 110 can determine a new location for relocating the humidifier module 102, at least partially based on this sound information. In one or more implementations, this new location may be relative to the user. The decision regarding the relocation of the humidifier module 102 may be based on the user 109 having spent at least a predetermined amount of time at the alternative location. Relocating the humidifier module 102 can be achieved, for example, by sending a message to the user 109 to move the humidifier module 102, or, in the case of a mobile humidifier, by sending a command to a system that controls the movement of the humidifier module 102. In a multi-room or multi-compartment environment, "relocating" the output of the humidifier module 102 can be done by opening and closing various sets of vents to redirect the airflow carrying the output of the humidifier module 102 from one room / compartment to another.

[0149] In step 606, the control system 110 issues an alert to relocate the humidifier module 102 within the environment 108, at least partially based on monitoring for any changes in humidity. In one or more implementations, this alert may simply be intended to move the humidifier module 102 without specifying a location within the environment 108. In this case, the method in Figure 6 can be stopped or repeated until no more alerts are generated.

[0150] In one or more implementations, this alert may include instructions regarding a location to move the humidifier module 102. This location may be relative to the environment 108, for example, based on information received by the control system 110 that is processed to determine the location of the humidifier module 102 within the environment 108. Alternatively, this location may be relative to the user 109, for example, based on information processed by the control system 110 to determine the location of the humidifier module 102 relative to the user 109. The information processed to determine the location relative to the user may be determined by one or more physiological parameters as described above with respect to Figure 5. For example, the control system 110 may determine whether the humidifier module 102 is too close or too far from the user 109 based on the sounds generated by the user 109 and the humidifier module 102. Therefore, by the method shown in Figure 6, user 109 can position the humidifier module 102 in a more ideal location within the environment 108 to better control or influence the humidity within the environment 108. Further details relating to determining the distance to an object based on sound are disclosed in International Patent Application Publication WO2018 / 050913, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0151] In one or more implementations, the determination of the effect on the user may be, as in step 508 above, by achieving a desired physiological state for the user 109. The specific state of the user 109 may be that the user has a cold, is suffering from allergies, has a fever, etc. One or more operating conditions of the humidifier module 102 and / or humidifier 129 can be adjusted to result in a change in the humidity of the environment 108, and this change in the environment 108 is intended to improve the physiological state of the user 109. For example, the humidity in the environment 108 or the humidity generated by the humidifier 129 can be controlled to improve the user's breathing rate, cough, or other respiratory distress conditions.

[0152] In one or more implementations, the desired physiological state of user 109 in relation to the method of Figure 6 or any method disclosed herein may be a desired sleep state (e.g., wakefulness or sleep) or a desired sleep stage (e.g., N1, N2, REM, etc.), as described above with respect to Figures 3 and 4. The humidity in the environment 108 and / or the humidity generated by the humidifier 129 can be controlled to achieve the desired sleep state and / or sleep stage throughout one or more sleep sessions. One or more sets of first and second physiological parameters of the user in steps 602 and 606 can be associated with detecting the sleep state and / or sleep stage of user 109. Adjusting one or more operating conditions of the humidifier module 102 and / or humidifier 129 may result in a change in the humidity of the environment to achieve a desired sleep state (e.g., sleep) and / or a desired sleep stage (e.g., REM or N3) or a desired sleep stage pattern throughout part of a sleep session or throughout the entire sleep session.

[0153] Referring to Figure 7, a method for optimizing individual humidification levels is provided. One or more steps of the method 700 described herein can be carried out using one or more of the elements in Figure 1, such as the humidifier module 102, the control system 110, the memory device 114, and one or more sensors 130 (e.g., a first sensor 130a and a second sensor 130b).

[0154] In step 702, the control system 110 receives one or more physiological parameters of a first set associated with the user 109 in the environment 108 from one or more sensors 130, such as the second sensor 130b. In one or more implementations, this one or more physiological parameters may include one or more respiratory parameters from the respiratory therapy system 120. The one or more physiological parameters of the first set can be used to define a baseline or starting point for optimizing individual humidification levels.

[0155] In step 704, the control system 110 adjusts one or more operating conditions of the humidifier module 102 to result in a change in the humidity of the environment 108. The change in the humidity of the environment 108 is within a predefined range. This adjustment of one or more operating conditions is to make the humidity in the environment 108 more optimal for the user 109 based on one or more physiological parameters of a first set received.

[0156] In step 706, the control system 110 receives one or more physiological parameters from one or more sensors 130 for a second set associated with the user 109 in the environment 108. These one or more physiological parameters may be the same as those in step 702, such as detected respiratory rate and respiratory depth for that person.

[0157] In step 708, the control system 110 determines the effect on the user 109 of the change in humidity, at least in part, based on a comparison of one or more physiological parameters from the first set and the second set. Steps 702-708 can be repeated until the physiological parameters are optimized, such as when the user demonstrates an optimized breathing pattern.

[0158] In one or more implementations, the control system 110 brings about at least partially a change in one or more operating conditions of the user device 116 configured as an air purifier, based at least partially on one or more physiological parameters from a first set, one or more physiological parameters from a second set, the effect on the user associated with humidity changes, or a combination thereof. The combination of air purifier control and humidity can further assist in finding the optimal breathing state for the user 109. The feedback loop shown in Figure 7 provides feedback to accelerate the ultimate goal of improving the user's breathing.

[0159] If one of the users 109 in environment 108 using the smart humidifier is using the respiratory therapy system 120 in conjunction with the humidifier 129 at night, the humidity settings may be synchronized so that a common setting is used to maximize user 109's comfort and minimize the possibility of respiratory illness exacerbation. If there is one user with the respiratory therapy system 120, the control system 110 can receive information about the operation of the respiratory therapy system 120. As a result, the control system 110 can switch the humidifier module 102 to low-power mode or standby mode while user 109 is using the respiratory therapy system 120, and return to high-power mode as user 109 approaches wake-up time (i.e., conserve water and energy while user 109 is receiving humidified air via PAP therapy, but prepare environment 108 to a target individual humidity level before user ends PAP therapy so that user does not experience significant humidity changes).

[0160] One major benefit of individualized humidification by this method, system, and device in conjunction with respiratory therapy system therapy is the ability to reduce mouth leak and address nasal congestion or dry rhinitis or pharyngitis. In the absence of the humidifier 129, the airflow of the respiratory therapy system 120 may exceed the body's ability to heat and humidify the air entering the user's 109 lungs, potentially leading to inflammation of the nasal cavity, and consequently mouth breathing, exacerbating mouth leak. When individualized humidification is provided by the method and system of this disclosure, humidification of the respiratory therapy system 120 may be omitted or reduced to avoid frequently filling the reservoir of the humidifier 129 of the respiratory therapy system 120, while still providing the user 109 with the necessary level of comfort (e.g., avoiding dry nasal congestion). The control system 110 can also help people avoid or minimize mouth breathing even when not using the respiratory therapy system, by enhancing breathing comfort and avoiding nasal congestion, among other things.

[0161] Referring to Figure 8, a method is provided for providing individualized humidification in conjunction with a respiratory therapy system. One or more steps of the method 800 described herein can be carried out using one or more of the system 100 of Figure 1, such as the humidifier module 102, the control system 110, the memory device 114, the respiratory therapy system 120, and one or more sensors 130 (e.g., a first sensor 130a and a second sensor 130b).

[0162] In step 802, the control system 110 receives information from the respiratory therapy system 120 regarding the operation of the humidifier 129. This information may include, for example, whether the humidifier 129 is present, whether it is turned on, its setpoint, and its operating conditions.

[0163] In step 804, the control system 110 receives one or more environmental parameters relating to the state of the environment 108 of the respiratory therapy system 120 from a first sensor, such as the first sensor 130a. These environmental parameters may be any of the above parameters, such as humidity, temperature, and pressure.

[0164] In step 806, the control system 110 adjusts one or more operating parameters of the humidifier 129 or the humidifier module 102 based at least in part on information regarding the operation of the humidifier 129 and this one or more environmental parameters.

[0165] In one or more implementations, the control system 110 receives one or more physiological parameters associated with the user 109 in the environment 108 from a second sensor, such as sensor 130b. Adjustment of this one or more operating parameters may be at least partially based on this one or more physiological parameters. This one or more physiological parameters is associated with a leak in the user interface 124, and the adjustment of this one or more operating parameters is based on minimizing the dryness of the user's airway based on that leak. In one or more embodiments, the humidifier 129 may be an anhydrous humidifier. This leak can be detected based on one or more sensors 130 on the respiratory therapy system 120, or noise generated by a leak in the user interface 124.

[0166] While this disclosure has been described with reference to one or more specific embodiments or implementations, those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications are possible without departing from the intent and scope of this disclosure. Each of these implementations and its clearest modifications is intended to fall within the intent and scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, it is intended that further implementations in various aspects of this disclosure may combine any number of features from any of the implementations described herein.

Claims

1. A custom humidification level providing system configured to provide individual humidification levels for the air supplied to a user, A breathing system that generates pressurized air delivered to the user, A humidifier module configured to output moisture for changing the humidity in the environment of the individual humidification level providing system, and positioned in the environment at a location determined via one or more sensors, Memory that stores machine-readable instructions, To control the humidifier module, In order to receive one or more environmental parameters relating to the conditions of the environment from the first sensor among the one or more sensors, To receive one or more physiological parameters of the user in the environment from a second sensor, among the one or more sensors, which is coupled to the respiratory system, Based on the one or more environmental parameters and the one or more physiological parameters, in order to determine the changes in the humidifier module to obtain the change in humidity in the environment, Based on the moisture output by the humidifier module, in order to bring about the implementation of changes in the humidifier module to obtain the change in humidity in the environment, A system comprising: a control system having one or more processors configured to execute the machine-readable instructions to cause the humidifier module to perform the changes.

2. The one or more processors described above Based on the one or more environmental parameters and the one or more physiological parameters, the system is configured to execute the machine-readable command to determine the location of the humidifier module relative to the user in the environment. The system according to claim 1.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one or more environmental parameters include audio information relating to speech obtained from the environment, or one or more physiological parameters include audio information relating to speech obtained from the user, or both.

4. The environment includes one or more other users, and the one or more processors The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the system is configured to determine, based on the environmental parameters and the physiological parameters, that the user is more vulnerable than the one or more other users in the environment.

5. The one or more processors described above To receive one or more weather parameters indicating conditions outside the user's environment, and The system is configured to execute machine-readable instructions to determine one or more conditions for the humidifier module based on the one or more environmental parameters and the one or more meteorological parameters, The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the change in the humidifier module to obtain the aforementioned change in humidity is based on the aforementioned conditions.

6. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the one or more physiological parameters include heart rate, body temperature, activity level, one or more sounds generated by the user, or a combination thereof, and the one or more environmental parameters include temperature, atmospheric pressure, air quality, or a combination thereof.

7. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising the user's electronic device, wherein one or more processors are configured to execute the machine-readable instructions to receive one or more other physiological parameters from the electronic device, and determining changes in the humidifier module to obtain a change in the humidity in the environment is based on one or more environmental parameters, physiological parameters, other physiological parameters, or a combination thereof.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the one or more other physiological parameters from the electronic device include age, sex, body mass index, one or more medical conditions, one or more underlying diseases, current self-reported level regarding previous comfort levels, or a combination thereof.

9. The system according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein one or more of the sounds correlate with breathing rate, breathing depth, cough, wheezing, whistling, snoring, or a combination thereof.

10. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein one or more processors are configured to execute machine-readable instructions to determine the effect of the change in humidity based on one or more physiological parameters of the user.

11. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the second sensor is one of a passive acoustic sensor, an active acoustic sensor, a passive radio frequency sensor, an active radio frequency sensor, a passive infrared sensor, an active infrared sensor, an optical sensor, or an image sensor.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first sensor, the second sensor, or a combination thereof is integrated into a wristwatch, ring, bracelet, necklace, patch, clothing, mattress, vehicle seat, or a combination thereof.

Images