Reference Slow Wave Activity Metric Determination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for monitoring sleep and enhancing slow wave activity (SWA) require baseline or sham sleep sessions without stimulation, which can be inconvenient and may influence the accuracy of data collection.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilize stimulators and sensors to provide stimulation during sleep sessions and measure SWA, allowing for the determination of a reference SWA metric based on prior stimulation sessions, eliminating the need for baseline sessions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If baseline or sham sleep sessions without stimulation are used to determine reference SWA, then the reference metric can be obtained, but the process becomes inconvenient and may influence data collection accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference SWA metric accuracyVSAvoidconvenience of sleep sessions
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the subject's own stimulation sessions to generate the reference SWA metric, eliminating the need for separate baseline sessions. The reference metric is derived from the subject's individual response characteristics during stimulated sleep, making the system self-referential and removing the burden of additional sham sessions on the subject

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors SWA during stimulation sessions and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust and refine the reference metric. By comparing actual SWA responses during stimulation against predicted responses, the system iteratively improves the accuracy of the reference metric without requiring separate baseline measurements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If baseline sessions without stimulation are required, then reference SWA can be determined, but the number of sleep sessions increases and time is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference SWA metric determinationVSAvoidtotal sleep session time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the reference determination process with the regular stimulation therapy sessions. Instead of separating baseline measurement from treatment, the reference metric is extracted and refined from the same sessions where therapeutic stimulation is delivered, eliminating redundant time loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Each stimulation session simultaneously serves dual purposes: delivering therapeutic benefit and contributing data to refine the reference metric. The subject's own therapeutic sessions generate the reference data, converting what would be wasted time into productive dual-purpose measurements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If sham sessions are used to establish baseline, then reference metric is obtained, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference SWA baselineVSAvoidsession management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts the reference metric determination from the separate baseline session framework and integrates it directly into the stimulation delivery process. By taking out the need for distinct sham sessions and embedding reference measurement within therapeutic sessions, the system reduces procedural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The stimulation sessions serve multiple functions simultaneously: they deliver therapeutic stimulation, collect SWA data for reference metric determination, and provide feedback for metric refinement. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated baseline sessions and simplifies overall system operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3551068B1System and method for determining reference slow wave activity in a subject
Publication Date: 2025.06.18 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP3551068B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3551068B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3551068B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure pertains to a reference slow wave activity metric determination system. Instead of collecting information during sleep sessions without stimulation (e.g., baseline and/or sham sessions) to determine a reference amount of slow wave activity in a subject, the present system is configured to build a model between stimulation properties and slow wave enhancement, and determine the reference amount of slow wave activity in the subject (e.g., corresponding to what would occur during baseline sleep and/or sham sessions) using the model. Advantageously, this approach does not require performance of baseline and/or sham sleep sessions, and enables personalization of the reference amount of slow wave activity, which dynamically increases its accuracy as more information is collected.