Dynamic Apnea Therapy Surface with Multi-Occupant Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dynamic support systems for apnea therapy often employ aggressive methods to prevent supine sleep, which may not be necessary or comfortable for all users, and lack the ability to adjust therapy based on multiple occupants sharing a common sleep surface.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic person support system that includes a control unit and lateral rotation actuator, which computes and adjusts the maximum supine position duration based on apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) values and sleep states of multiple occupants, using sensors to detect sleep states and control the rotation of support planes to maintain optimal sleep positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aggressive methods are used to prevent supine sleep, then apnea therapy effectiveness is improved, but user comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the support surface configuration based on real-time detection of sleep position and duration. Instead of using fixed aggressive positioning, the system adapts the degree of lateral rotation and support plane orientation based on whether the user has exceeded their personal maximum supine position duration threshold, creating a dynamic therapy that balances effectiveness with comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of supine position duration threshold based on individual user characteristics and apnea severity. By computing personalized maximum supine position durations and adjusting therapy intensity accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between preventing apnea events and maintaining user comfort, rather than applying uniform aggressive positioning to all users.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a common sleep surface is shared by multiple occupants, then device versatility is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is divided into multiple independently controllable support planes or zones, each equipped with its own sensors and actuators. This segmentation allows the system to detect and respond to the sleep states of different occupants independently, maintaining measurement precision for each user even when sharing a common sleep surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different therapy parameters and control strategies to different regions of the support surface based on local occupancy detection. Each support plane can be independently adjusted to provide appropriate lateral rotation and positioning for the specific occupant in that region, enabling precise local control while maintaining overall system versatility for multiple users.
Data Source
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AI summary
Dynamic support surface technologies configure a person support surface in various ways, including configurations in which the person support surface at least temporarily assumes an apnea therapy position, such as a progressive lateral tilt or a ramp-like position.