Sleep Position Training Device for Reflux Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sleep position training devices primarily focus on reducing snoring and do not effectively address gastroesophageal reflux, a condition that can be exacerbated by sleeping in a horizontal position.
Innovation Solution
A sleep position training device equipped with a triaxial accelerometer, a stimulus generator, and a processing system that provides vibrotactile stimuli to encourage the user to sleep on their side by detecting torso orientation and adjusting stimulus patterns to prevent habituation, ensuring effective position training while maintaining user comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the stimulus generator provides continuous stimuli to change torso orientation, then the effectiveness of position training is improved, but the user may develop habituation reducing the stimulus effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The stimulus generator provides periodic vibrotactile stimuli rather than continuous stimulation. The processing system controls the stimulus delivery in cycles, with active stimulation periods followed by inactive periods, preventing habituation while maintaining training effectiveness through repeated intermittent exposure to the correction stimulus.
2Reliability
If the predetermined torso orientation range is strictly defined, then reflux prevention is improved, but user flexibility and comfort are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The processing system defines an asymmetrical predetermined torso orientation range that allows different degrees of freedom on different sides. The range permits greater orientation variation on the side opposite to gastroesophageal reflux while maintaining stricter constraints on the reflux side, providing user flexibility and comfort while ensuring effective reflux prevention through asymmetric tolerance boundaries.
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
The device effectively reduces gastroesophageal reflux by consistently encouraging the user to sleep on their side, balancing reflux prevention with user flexibility and comfort, thereby improving sleep quality.
Implementation Method 1
A sleep position training device equipped with a triaxial accelerometer
Implementation Method 2
a stimulus generator, and a processing system that provides vibrotactile stimuli
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of this disclosure relates to a sleep position training device for reducing gastroesophageal reflux during sleep. The training device can comprise an orientation sensor, a stimulus generator and a processing system. The orientation sensor can be configured to output a signal indicative of an orientation of the torso of the person. The stimulus generator can be configured to provide a stimulus to the torso of the person when the torso of the person is in a predetermined torso orientation range in a sleeping position. The stimulus generator can be removably affixable to the torso of the person. The processing system can be configured to receive a first signal from the orientation sensor, the first signal being indicative of an orientation of the torso of the person, and to determine that the orientation is within the predetermined torso orientation range in the sleeping position.