Position Sensitive Illumination for Patient Path Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lighting systems for patients with sleeping disorders or those who need to navigate in the dark at night often disturb bed partners and fail to provide targeted illumination, affecting circadian rhythms and sleep quality.
Innovation Solution
A position-sensitive illumination system that automatically turns on when the patient sits up or assumes a specific position and turns off when lying down, using sensors and adjustable illumination sources to minimize disturbance and provide focused lighting along the patient's intended path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a room light or bedside lamp is switched on to provide illumination, then the patient can read or navigate, but the bed partner is disturbed by stray light
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination is localized to specific areas (reading area, path to bathroom) rather than illuminating the entire room. The system uses multiple directional light sources that can be independently controlled to illuminate only where needed, minimizing stray light that would disturb the bed partner.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system is divided into multiple independent light sources distributed throughout the room, each controllable separately. This allows illumination of specific zones (bedside reading area, walkway to bathroom) without illuminating the entire space, thereby reducing disturbance to the bed partner while maintaining necessary illumination.
2Ease of operation
If strong illumination is provided to wake the patient, then the patient becomes alert, but the patient cannot fall asleep again easily
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination intensity and spectral composition are dynamically adjusted based on the patient's needs and the time of night. The system can provide brighter, more alerting light when the patient needs to wake up, then gradually transition to dimmer, warmer light as the patient prepares to return to sleep, minimizing disruption to circadian rhythms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes multiple parameters of the illumination including intensity, color temperature, and duration based on detected patient activity and time of night. This allows the light to be effective for waking while minimizing the negative impact on the ability to fall back asleep by gradually reducing stimulation.
3Illumination intensity
If a night light is used to illuminate the vicinity, then the area is lit, but only a defined space is illuminated rather than the intended path
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-identifies and illuminates the patient's likely path of movement (e.g., from bed to bathroom) based on typical nighttime routines. Motion sensors detect when the patient begins to move, and the system proactively illuminates the anticipated path rather than waiting for the patient to reach a predefined zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination pattern dynamically follows and anticipates patient movement. Motion-activated sensors detect the patient's movement and redirect illumination to follow the patient's path, providing adaptive lighting that adjusts to the patient's actual behavior rather than illuminating fixed zones.
4Extent of automation
If automated position sensing is added to control illumination, then the system can switch on/off automatically, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical position-sensing mechanisms with optical or electromagnetic sensors that detect patient position or movement indirectly. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while maintaining automated control capability through simpler electronic sensing elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensors serve multiple functions: detecting patient presence, determining patient position, triggering illumination, and potentially monitoring sleep patterns. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite the high level of automation.
Data Source
AI summary
A position sensitive illumination system for a patient includes an illumination source and at least one sensor structured and configured to selectively activate the illumination source in dependence of movement of the patient. Illumination source and/or sensor may be provided to one or more portions of a patient interface, e.g., a mask assembly, to thereby allow automatic activation of the illumination source when the patient moves to a predetermined position. Illumination source provides a directed lighted path for the patient as the patient moves about, e.g., during nocturnal visits to the bathroom, thereby avoiding the awakening of a bed partner.