Patent Application
20240350076
None.
The subject disclosure relates to network systems, and more particularly, to a vital signs beacon system.
Sleep health, quality of sleep, and sleep related conditions such as sleep apnea are commonly monitored using wired systems such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) machine. In an ECG setup, electro-pads must be adhered to the person's skin and wires leading to the ECG machine are connected to the pads. ECG signals provide current levels of heart activity. Generally, multiple ECG wires are connected to the person restricting the person from movement while sleeping.
Sometimes a respirator or other intubation device may be connected to the person sleeping to measure respiratory activity. The person is generally restricted in their freedom of movement because the tubes have limited slack and can be somewhat inflexible.
As is understood by any who have had to wear ECG wiring or be intubated while sleeping, the act of sleeping is itself negatively impacted by being hooked up to wiring and tubes because the wires and tubes are uncomfortable, restrict movement, and the machines connected to the wires and tubes can be loud.
In one aspect of the disclosure, a system is disclosed. The system includes a monitor device coupled to a bed and positioned proximate but not in contact with an end user, and configured to monitor vital signs of the end user. The device includes a physiological sensor, a digital signal processor coupled to the physiological sensor, and a wireless radio transmitter coupled to the digital signal processor. The physiological sensor is disposed to detect a vibrational signal from a heart of the end user. The digital signal processor is configured to translate the vibrational signal into a ballistocardiograph (BCG) signal. The wireless radio transmitter is configured to transmit the BCG signal through a network. The system further includes a computing server and a sleep analysis engine resident on the computing server. The sleep analysis engine is configured to analyze the BCG signal transmitted through the network and determine a plurality of sleep statuses associated with the vital signs of the end user.
In another aspect of the disclosure, a system is disclosed. The system includes a ballistocardiograph (BCG) monitor device coupled to a bed and positioned proximate but not in contact with an end user. The BCG monitor device is configured to monitor vital signs of the end user and includes: a three axis Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) based accelerometer, a first processor coupled to the three axis MEMS based accelerometer, and a wireless radio transmitter coupled to the processor. The three axis MEMS based accelerometer is disposed to detect a vibrational signal from a heart of the end user. The first processor is configured to translate the vibrational signal into a BCG signal, and the wireless radio transmitter is configured to transmit the BCG signal through a network. The system also includes a position monitor module which includes a RADAR sensor, a thermal array of sensors, and a second processor coupled to the RADAR sensor and the thermal array of sensors. The second processor is configured to process data from the RADAR sensor and from the thermal array of sensors into movement, location, and occupancy data associated with the end user. The system further includes a computing server and a sleep analysis engine resident on the computing server. The sleep analysis engine is configured to: analyze the BCG signal transmitted through the network and determine a plurality of sleep statuses associated with the vital signs of the end user; determine whether the end user has fallen asleep based on the BCG signal; determine, through the network, whether one or more electrical consumer devices in an end user's home are connected to the network; adjust by the computing server, a state of the one or more electrical consumer devices; determine, based on the BCG signal and the movement, location, and occupancy data, whether the end user has fallen; predict, based on the BCG signal and the movement, location, and occupancy data, whether the end user has or will wake up; and send an alert to a third party in response to the determination of the end user having fallen or the prediction of the end user waking up.
In still yet another aspect of the disclosure, a computer program product for detecting sleep related characteristics is disclosed. The computer program product includes one or more computer readable storage media. A set of program instructions collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media include detecting, by a digital signal processor, a vibrational signal from a heart of an end user sleeping in a bed, wherein the vibrational signal is detected by a physiological sensor positioned proximate and not in contact with the end user. The vibrational signal is translated into a ballistocardiograph (BCG) signal. The BCG signal is transmitted through a network to a computer server. The BCG signal transmitted through the network is analyzed. The computer server determines a plurality of sleep statuses associated with the vital signs of the end user based on the BCG signal.
It is understood that other configurations of the subject technology will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein various configurations of the subject technology are shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the subject technology is capable of other and different configurations and its several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing from the scope of the subject technology. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various configurations of the subject technology and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the subject technology may be practiced. The appended drawings are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the detailed description. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the subject technology. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject technology may be practiced without these specific details. Like or similar components are labeled with identical element numbers for ease of understanding.
In general, embodiments of the subject technology provide monitoring and action related to an end user's sleep activity. A system, device, and associated methods monitor an end user's heart activity to determine one of a plurality of sleep related statuses and health. Embodiments of the subject technology may monitor the end user without direct contact. For example, the device includes a physiological sensor that detects heart activity without needing to be worn while the end user sleeps. As will be appreciated by end users, the quality of sleep is not affected by the constraints associated with a worn device which may interfere with sleep. Instead, the device may be wireless and placed proximate the end user (for example, on a bed frame or headboard, and will still detect heart activity signals that the system will analyze to determine sleep status of the user. In addition, the system may determine based on analysis of the signal provided by the device whether any other devices in the user's environment should be activated or turned off, or whether any third parties need to be contacted because the end user is exhibiting uncharacteristic sleep activity.
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The computer server 130 may include a data source 140 and a sleep analysis engine 145. The data source 140 may include stored data on the end user's heart activity, sleep data, tables of heart activity and sleep data correlations, heart activity and sleep data for a population of users, and ancillary data associated with the end user 110 and other devices in the end user's environment that the system 100 has permission to access.
The sleep analysis engine 145 may include software programs that analyze real-time physiological statuses of the end user 110, monitor a current state of the end user 110, and notify the end user 110 or third parties 180 of abnormal physiological or atypical events.
For example, the sleep analysis engine 145 may use the signal transmitted by the device 120 to determine a number of statuses related to the end user 110. The sleep analysis engine 145 may determine whether the end user 110 is in bed. The sleep analysis engine 145 may determine a current heart rate, respiration rate, and heart variability rate of the end user 110. The sleep analysis engine 145 may determine whether the end user 110 has entered into a sleep state. The sleep analysis engine 145 may analyze the device 120 signal to determine a quality of sleep for the night. The sleep analysis engine 145 may analyze the device 120 signal to determine sleep patterns and routines of the end user 110. The sleep analysis engine 145 may analyze the device 120 signal to determine vital sign boundaries and threshold values that indicate variations in vital signs that warrant notifying a third party 180. The sleep analysis engine 145 may also dynamically generate various physiological statistical reports (daily, weekly, and monthly) for observation and analysis during the period. The reports may be useful to the end user 110 and the third parties 180 in order to facilitate the use of smart health management based on various physiological changes that can be seen via the reports. The reports may be accessed by the end user 110 or third parties 180 using an app and user interface (UI) 165 on a computing device 160. Additionally, settings for triggering notifications (such as alerts of atypical activity of the end user 110 to third parties 180) may be set through the app and UI 165.
In some embodiments, the system 100 may provide automated control of consumer devices 170 in the end user's environment. The computing server 130 may control the consumer devices 170 in the end user's environment remotely based on the end user's statuses as determined by the sleep analysis engine 145 based on the signal from the device 120. In some embodiments, the consumer devices 170 may be smart devices. As can be seen in
In some embodiments, the sleep analysis engine 145 may determine when a person is about to wake up based on a current signal from the device 120. In response to the computer server 130 determining that the end user 110 will awake within a threshold time window (for example, 5 minutes), the computer server 130 may remotely control the lights 525 to activate (and in some embodiments to a gradual light intensity). The computer server 130 may control the window blinds 545 to open. The computer server 130 may control the smart/electronic thermostat(s) 540 to raise or lower the temperature to a user programmed comfort level. The computer server 130 may control the adjustable bed 410 to a previously set wake up position. In some embodiments, the computer server 130 may be wirelessly connected to an automatic brewer machine 550 (for example, that brews coffee or tea), and may control the brewer 550 to start brewing a beverage when detecting the end user's proximity to waking up or that the end user has woken up.
When a person is falling asleep in a bed position that is not the same as the previously set sleep position, the system will determine the person's (user 110) sleep state and may turn off lights 525, turn on security system 530, trigger the lock 535 to lock the door, adjust thermostats 540, window blinds 545, and bed 410 to the previously set sleep position.
In some embodiments, the computer server 130 may determine abnormal or atypical activity associated with the end user 110 and may alert third parties 180 of the situation so that the third parties may for example, check on the welfare of the end user 110. Third parties may include for example, family, friends, neighbors, caretakers, administrative staff in a housing facility or hospital, or emergency services. For example, when the computer server 130 determines that the end user 110 has an unexpected heart rate or the user's the heart rate drops below the average and a standard deviation of values for some period of time, the computer server 130 may send an alert to third parties 180. When the computer server 130 determines that the end user 110 has an unexpected respiration rate or the user's the respiration rate drops below the average and a standard deviation of values for some period of time, the computer server 130 may send an alert to third parties 180.
In some embodiments, the computer server 130 may detect that the end user 110 is not in the bed 410 (
In some embodiments, the computer server 130 may detect that the end user 110 is in the bed 410 (
In some embodiments, the sleep analysis engine 145 may determine when the end user's sleep patterns or routines deviate beyond an acceptable variation of activity; for example, the end user has gotten out of bed 6 times during a sleep session when the person typically gets out of bed only 2 times. The computer server 130 may send an alert to third parties 180 indicating the atypical behavior.
As blood flows from the human heart into the aorta, the aorta turns and the blood pressure pulse continues to enter the arteries, causing the recoil force to cause weak vibrations throughout the body. In embodiments using an accelerometer, even weak vibration signals may be captured by ultra-high-sensitivity accelerometers, and then filtered and extracted from various physiological signals such as heartbeat and respiration data through the algorithm programmed into the digital signal processor 124. The DSP 124 converts the output data of the physiological sensor 122 into data that represents heart rate (Heart Rate), respiratory rate (Respiratory Rate), blood flow Impact strength (Stroke Volume) and bed (Occupied) or out of bed (Empty) and other data. The DSP 124 data is forwarded by the wireless transmitter 126 to the network 150 and on to the computer server 130 (
The temperature and position monitor device 190 may include a RADAR sensor 133 (for example, a 60 GHz sensor) and a RADAR processor 137 that determines when movement above a threshold value has occurred. In some embodiments, the device 190 does not include a processor 137 and the processing of RADAR and/or thermal signals may be performed by the processor in the controller module 135. In some embodiments, the device 190 may include a thermal array 139 of sensors that detects heat levels around the end user. The RADAR sensor 133 and/or the thermal array 139 detect motion of the end user (or of others in the room). The processor 137 may be configured to analyze the motion and determine whether different types of movement. For example, the temperature and position monitor device 190 may register people count, motion, occupancy of the room or bed, and movements of the user getting in or out of bed or falling down. Data from the processor 137 may be sent wirelessly (either through a dedicated wireless transmitter in the device 190 or by a wireless transmitter shared with the device 120) to the server 130 and sleep analysis engine 145 (
As will be understood, some embodiments of the subject technology are provided by computer implemented methods and computing devices. It will be understood that a computing device may serve different roles depending on the need in the system or depending on the step being performed in a process. For example, in the role of a web server, a host server, or an online platform server, a computing device may implement for example the functions related to backend processes (for example, administering the analysis of heart activity, generation of reports to an app and UI, and remote control of end user environmental device). In another role, the computing device may be a client device that includes communication functions operated by end users to interact with the system (for example, devices 160 shown in
The computing device generally includes a computer program product having a set of program modules including files and executable instructions, and a bus system that couples various system components including system memory to the processor(s). The memory storage may store for example, user profiles, historical user data, threshold values for triggering alerts, and password or general access data for controlling local environmental devices of the end user. The program modules generally carry out the functions and/or methodologies of embodiments as described above. The computing device may typically include a variety of computer system readable media. Such media could be chosen from any available media that is accessible by the computing device, including non-transitory, volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The system memory could include one or more computer system readable media in the form of volatile memory, such as a random-access memory (RAM) and/or a cache memory. Some embodiments may generate an electronic user interface (viewable and controllable from the display unit) that may allow the user to control automated device controls upon sleep or wake-up, view reports, set threshold values, and notification related data.
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the disclosed invention may be embodied as a system, method or process, or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the disclosed invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “module”, “circuit”, or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the disclosed invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable media having computer readable program code embodied thereon.
Aspects of the disclosed invention are described above with reference to block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to the processor of a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks in the figures.
Those of skill in the art would appreciate that various components and blocks may be arranged differently (e.g., arranged in a different order, or partitioned in a different way) all without departing from the scope of the subject technology. The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. The previous description provides various examples of the subject technology, and the subject technology is not limited to these examples. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects.
Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Pronouns in the masculine (e.g., his) include the feminine and neuter gender (e.g., her and its) and vice versa. Headings and subheadings, if any, are used for convenience only and do not limit the invention.
Terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “above,” “below” and the like as used in this disclosure should be understood as referring to an arbitrary frame of reference, rather than to the ordinary gravitational frame of reference. Thus, for example, an item disposed above another item may be located above or below the other item along a vertical, horizontal or diagonal direction; and an item disposed below another item may be located below or above the other item along a vertical, horizontal or diagonal direction. Some frames of references and the position of claimed structure relative to those frames of reference may be gleaned from the appended drawings. Yet, it should be understood that for some embodiments, the detection from devices disclosed herein may not be restricted to being accomplished from any particular position shown, whether the device is above, below, or on one side of the user being monitored.
A phrase such as an “aspect” does not imply that such aspect is essential to the subject technology or that such aspect applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an aspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. An aspect may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an aspect may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa. A phrase such as an “embodiment” does not imply that such embodiment is essential to the subject technology or that such embodiment applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an embodiment may apply to all embodiments, or one or more embodiments. An embodiment may provide one or more examples. A phrase such an embodiment may refer to one or more embodiments and vice versa. A phrase such as a “configuration” does not imply that such configuration is essential to the subject technology or that such configuration applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to a configuration may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A configuration may provide one or more examples. A phrase such a configuration may refer to one or more configurations and vice versa.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example or illustration.” Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs.
All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.” Furthermore, to the extent that the term “include,” “have,” or the like is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
