Wearable Sleep Analysis via Single-lead EKG and Environmental Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sleep monitoring technologies are inadequate in providing accurate and intuitive analysis of sleep quality and quantity, often relying on invasive procedures, inconsistent manual analysis, and lacking sufficient sensing capabilities to measure body and environmental data, which limits their effectiveness in representing average sleep patterns and correlating with subjective evaluations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for analytical visualization, parametric aggregation, and intuitive scoring of sleep data using a combination of sensors integrated into a wearable device, such as a shirt, to record sleep stages, body data, and environmental factors, along with a computer-implemented method to generate graphical representations, extract parameters, and compute scores for sleep quality and quantity, correlating with subjective evaluations and daily habits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If polysomnogram (PSG) with multiple channels is used to assess sleep stages, then measurement precision of sleep characteristics is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to invasive procedure and technician support requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential sleep monitoring function from the complex PSG system by using a single-lead EKG sensor instead of multiple EEG, EOG, EKG, and EMG channels. This extraction maintains the ability to assess sleep stages while eliminating the complexity of multiple invasive sensors and technician requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/invasive sensor system with an optical or electrical sensing system. The single-lead EKG sensor uses electrical signals to monitor heart rate variability, which correlates with sleep stages, replacing the need for physical attachment of multiple electrodes and manual scoring procedures.
2Measurement precision
If polysomnogram (PSG) with multiple channels is used to assess sleep stages, then measurement precision of sleep characteristics is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to labor-intensive technician support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service operation by allowing the monitoring device to automatically record and transmit sleep data without requiring technician intervention. The system performs self-calibration, automatic sleep stage classification, and generates reports, eliminating the need for labor-intensive technician support while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameters from multiple complex physiological signals to a single EKG-derived parameter (heart rate variability). This parameter change simplifies the operation by reducing the number of channels to monitor and process, while still providing accurate sleep stage assessment through automated analysis algorithms.
3Productivity
If single-night sleep study is performed in sleep laboratory, then productivity of sleep assessment is improved, but reliability of sleep pattern representation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by having patients wear the monitoring device during the day before the actual sleep study. This allows the system to establish baseline heart rate variability patterns and environmental factors, improving the reliability of sleep pattern representation when the device is used during actual sleep periods at home.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous monitoring across multiple nights and settings by using a portable device that can be worn at home rather than requiring transport to a sleep laboratory. This continuity allows the system to capture multiple sleep cycles and establish reliable average sleep patterns, improving reliability while maintaining productivity through automated processing.
4Measurement precision
If multiple sensors for body data and environmental factors are integrated, then measurement precision of sleep quality is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensing functions into a single integrated device that combines EKG sensing, environmental sensors (temperature, humidity, light), and motion detection. This consolidation improves sleep quality measurement precision by capturing multiple factors simultaneously while managing device complexity through integrated circuitry and unified data processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal monitoring device that performs multiple functions: EKG-based sleep stage classification, environmental condition monitoring, motion detection, and data transmission. This multi-functionality improves measurement precision by considering multiple factors affecting sleep quality while the device is designed as a single unit to manage complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for visualizing, scoring, recording, and analyzing sleep data and hypnograms. In some implementations, a method includes generating and providing a representation of sleep stages that includes a sequence of elements indicating a progression of the sleep stages over time during a sleep session. In some implementations, a method includes generating and providing one or more scores based on analysis of the sleep session. In some implementations, a wearable body data recorder includes a plurality of sensors and is configured to measure and process sensor data obtained during a sleep session of a subject.