Respiration Variability Sleep Staging for Timed OSA Stimulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current OSA stimulation systems fail to account for the wakefulness of the individual being treated, leading to inefficient battery life, incorrect stimulation application, and reduced patient compliance due to the lack of synchronization with the respiratory cycle and wakefulness detection.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes sensors to detect respiration effort and heart rate variability to determine wakefulness and sleep stages, adjusting stimulation parameters accordingly, including sensors like IMUs, microphones, and EKG sensors, and a controller to analyze respiration intervals and heart rate changes to deliver targeted nerve stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If continuous stimulation is applied without wakefulness detection, then therapeutic coverage is maintained, but battery life is reduced and patient compliance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The stimulation system dynamically adjusts its operation based on detected wakefulness states. Sensors continuously monitor physiological signals (respiration, heart rate, motion) and the controller modulates stimulation delivery accordingly - providing continuous therapy during sleep while reducing or pausing during wakeful periods, thus optimizing battery life without compromising therapeutic efficacy during appropriate states
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback loops where sensors detect physiological parameters and provide real-time information to the controller. The controller uses this feedback to determine wakefulness states and adjust stimulation parameters dynamically, creating a closed-loop system that adapts therapy delivery to the patient's actual state, thereby extending battery life while maintaining reliable therapeutic coverage when needed
2Ease of operation
If stimulation is applied without wakefulness detection, then simple system operation is maintained, but incorrect stimulation application occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs multi-functional sensors that simultaneously monitor multiple physiological parameters (respiration rate, heart rate variability, motion patterns) to detect wakefulness. This universal sensing approach enables accurate wakefulness detection without requiring complex specialized sensors, maintaining ease of operation while achieving precise measurement of the patient's state through integrated analysis of multiple signals
3Measurement precision
If wakefulness detection sensors are added to OSA stimulation system, then stimulation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing functions (respiration monitoring, heart rate detection, motion sensing) into an integrated wakefulness detection system. By merging these functions into a unified controller that processes multiple sensor inputs simultaneously, the system achieves high stimulation timing accuracy while minimizing the increase in device complexity through consolidated hardware and software architecture
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Improves power efficiency, accuracy, and patient compliance by ensuring stimulation is applied only when necessary, based on wakefulness and sleep stages, reducing incorrect applications and enhancing therapeutic outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensor configured to detect a signal indicative of respiration effort by the human subject when placed on or in proximity to one or more regions of a chest and/or head
Implementation Method 2
EKG sensors
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for monitoring and/or the sleep stage of an individual using one or more sensors, and methods of treating medical conditions related thereto (e.g., obstructive sleep apnea).