Chinstrap adjustment system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12458769-B2
Application number	US-202218073850-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2022
Priority date	Dec 7, 2021
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

An interface system for a user is provided that includes an interface unit configured to engage and selectively apply a force on a lower jaw of the user. An actuating unit is configured to actuate the interface unit in order to selectively apply and adjust the force on the lower jaw. One or more sensors are configured to generate output signals conveying information related to sleep stages of the user during a sleep session. The interface system further includes a processor configured to receive the output signals from the one or more sensors and determine a current sleep stage of the user. The processor controls the actuating unit based on the current sleep stage to adjust the force applied by the interface unit on the lower jaw.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An interface system for a user, the interface system comprising:
an interface unit configured to engage and selectively apply a force on a lower jaw of the user; an actuating unit operatively coupled to the interface unit, wherein the actuating unit is configured to actuate the interface unit in order to selectively apply and adjust the force on the lower jaw of the user; one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to sleep stages of the user during a sleep session; and, a processor communicably coupled to the one or more sensors and the actuating unit, wherein the processor is configured to:
receive the output signals from the one or more sensors and determine a current sleep stage of the user during the sleep session; and,
control the actuating unit based on the current sleep stage of the user to adjust the force applied by the interface unit on the lower jaw of the user, thereby adjusting a degree of mouth opening of the user.

2 . The interface system of claim 1 , wherein the interface unit comprises a strap configured to be at least partially worn on a chin of the user and apply the force on the lower jaw of the user based on a tightness of the strap, wherein the actuating unit is further configured to adjust the tightness of the strap on the chin of the user in order to control the degree of mouth opening, and wherein the processor is further configured to control the actuating unit to adjust the tightness of the strap based on the current sleep stage.

3 . The interface system of claim 2 , wherein the strap comprises a chin portion configured to be disposed on the chin of the user, a first lateral portion coupled to the chin portion and configured to be disposed on a first cheek of the user, and a second lateral portion coupled to the chin portion opposite to the first lateral portion and configured to be disposed on a second cheek of the user.

4 . The interface system of claim 3 , wherein the actuating unit comprises:
a first lateral spring coupled to the first lateral portion of the strap; a second lateral spring coupled to the second lateral portion of the strap; a first motor mechanism operatively coupled to the first lateral spring and configured to extend or compress the first lateral spring; a second motor mechanism operatively coupled to the second lateral spring and configured to extend or compress the first lateral spring; and, a head spring configured to be disposed on a head of the user and coupled to each of the first lateral spring and the second lateral spring; wherein an extension or a compression of each of the first lateral spring and the second lateral spring causes a corresponding compression or extension of the head spring; wherein an extension or a compression of each of the first lateral spring and the second lateral spring causes a corresponding increase or decrease of the tightness of the strap; and, wherein the processor is communicably coupled to and configured to control the first motor mechanism and the second motor mechanism in order to adjust the tightness of the strap.

5 . The interface system of claim 4 , wherein the interface unit further comprises a headband configured to be worn on the head of the user and coupled to the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion of the strap, and wherein the head spring is coupled to the headband.

6 . The interface system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more sensors comprises a set of first sensors disposed on the first lateral portion of the strap and a set of second sensors disposed on the second lateral portion of the strap.

7 . The interface system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to close the mouth of the user upon detection of a rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stage.

8 . The interface system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to progressively increase the force on the lower jaw of the user based on a progression of the sleep stages of the user from an awake state to the REM sleep stage.

9 . The interface system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to remove the force on the lower jaw of the user upon detection of the awake state of the user or an emergency medical event.

10 . The interface system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
increase the force on the lower jaw of the user in a stepwise manner to a first force level from an idle force level corresponding to an awake state upon detection of a first non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep stage; increase the force on the lower jaw of the user in a stepwise manner to a second force level from the first force level upon detection of a second NREM sleep stage; and, increase the force on the lower jaw of the user in a stepwise manner to a third force level from the second force level upon detection of the REM sleep stage.

11 . The interface system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to decrease the force on the lower jaw of the user upon detection of a transition from the REM sleep stage to another sleep stage.

12 . The interface system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to decrease the force on the lower jaw of the user upon detection of a bruxism event during the sleep session.

13 . The interface system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least one of an electroencephalogram sensor, an electrocardiogram sensor, a photoplethysmography sensor, an air flow sensor, a microphone, a humidity sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, an accelerometer, a bioimpedance sensor, and an image sensor.

14 . The interface system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is configured to detect the degree of mouth opening of the user, and wherein the processor is further configured to control the actuating unit based on the degree of mouth opening of the user.

15 . The interface system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a respiratory interface device structured to sealingly engage an airway of the user; and, a tubing assembly disposed in fluid communication with the respiratory interface device to deliver a flow of breathing gas to the airway of the user, wherein the tubing assembly is coupled to the interface unit.

16 . A method for monitoring and controlling respiratory function of a user during a sleep session, the method comprising:
engaging a lower jaw of the user with an interface unit, wherein the interface unit is configured to selectively apply a force on a lower jaw of the user; providing an actuating unit operatively coupled to the interface unit, wherein the actuating unit is configured to actuate the interface unit in order to selectively apply and adjust the force on the lower jaw of the user; receiving, via a processor, output signals from one or more sensors conveying information related to sleep stages of the user during the sleep session; determining, via the processor, a current sleep stage of the user based on the output signals received from the one or more sensors; and, controlling, via the processor, the actuating unit based on the current sleep stage of the user to adjust the force on the lower jaw of the user, thereby adjusting a degree of mouth opening of the user.

17 . An interface system for monitoring and controlling respiratory function of a user, the interface system comprising:
interface means for engaging and selectively applying a force on a lower jaw of the user; actuating means for actuating the interface unit in order to selectively a

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Härmä Aki Sakari
• Grossekathöfer Ulf
• Helaoui Rim
• Pandya Abhinay Maheshbhai
• Baer Sharon
• Weaver Iii William

Classifications

• A61M16/0694

  Chin straps · CPC title

• A61F5/56 Primary

  Devices for preventing snoring · CPC title

• A61M2205/3303

  Using a biosensor · CPC title

• A61B5/6803

  Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles · CPC title

• A61B5/4812

  Detecting sleep stages or cycles · CPC title