Sleep disorder diagnostic system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9629572-B2
Application number	US-50909306-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2006
Priority date	Aug 26, 2005
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

Systems and/or methods for diagnosing sleep disorders in a patient are provided. In certain example embodiments, articles of bed clothing and/or bed sheets comprising sensors operable to obtain patient condition data related to sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) are provided to patients. The patient condition data is stored to a data recorder operably connected to the sensors. The sensors and the data recorder may communicate wirelessly. The bed clothing (e.g. wearable articles of clothing, bed sheets or mats, pillows, etc.) may have batteries and/or battery fibers disposed therein to power the sensors. In certain example embodiments, a bed sheet may be physically connected to a power supply and/or the data recorder. In certain example embodiments, a bed sheet and articles of bed clothing both may be provided to the patient.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A diagnostic system for use in diagnosing a patient with a sleep disorder, comprising:
at least one item of bed clothing, the at least one item of bed clothing comprising at least one sensor; and
a data recorder in operable communication with the at least one sensor;
wherein the at least one sensor is operable to monitor at least one sleeping disorder related parameter and further operable to communicate the at least one sleeping disorder related parameter to the data recorder,
wherein the data recorder is shaped and/or contoured to fit the patient's body, the data recorder having a patient-facing surface adapted to be placed closest to and in indirect contact with the patient, the patient-facing surface including a plurality of projections that protrude therefrom and that are adapted to facilitate airflow between the patient's body and the data recorder when the data recorder is being worn by the patient and is in use.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one item of bed clothing further comprises artificial muscle fibers, the artificial muscle fibers being configured to cause the item of bed clothing to contract.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one item of bed clothing further comprises a cinching mechanism configured to cause the item of bed clothing to contract.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a power source operable to supply power to the at least one sensor.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a battery mechanism operably connected to the power source, the battery mechanism being configured to warm the patient via heat generated by the battery mechanism.

6. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a battery mechanism operably connected to the power source, the battery mechanism comprising fibers woven into the item of bed clothing.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sleeping disorder related parameter includes one or more of: patient orientation, patient movement, heart rate, oxygen saturation level, snore, an apnea and/or hypopnea event, respiratory effort, oximetry, and/or neck muscle tone.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a pocket formed in the at least one item of bed clothing for receiving the data recorder and/or a battery.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one item of bed clothing is a shirt, and the pocket is formed on a shoulder, arm, chest, and/or back of the shirt.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a battery, the battery being rechargeable.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a data storage case for receiving the data recorder, the data storage case being operable to recharge the battery.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one item of bed clothing is headgear.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an EEG sensor.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an oximeter configured for connection to an earlobe of the patient.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one item of bed clothing is a glove comprising an oximeter connected to a finger of the patient.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one item of bed clothing is a throat cuff.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one sensor is a vibration sensor operable to detect patient snore.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the throat cuff is operable to measure a muscle tone of the patient's neck and/or operable to electrically stimulate the patient's throat and/or neck muscles in response to a collapse of the patient's airway and/or patient snore.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one item of bed clothing comprises two or more articles of bed clothing.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising an exchange mechanism operable to allow power and/or data to flow between the two or more articles of bed clothing.

21. The system of claim 19 , wherein the two or more articles of bed clothing comprises a shirt and pants.

22. The system of claim 19 , wherein a second item of bed clothing is configured to communicate at least one sleeping disorder related parameter from the at least one sensor in the second item of bed clothing to the data recorder via a bed sheet or mat positioned above and/or below a mattress.

23. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data recorder is located remote from the at least one item of bed clothing.

24. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one item of bed clothing is pants, and a pouch for accommodating the data recorder is formed at an ankle of the pants.

25. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a watch operable to cause the diagnostic system to start and/or stop monitoring data.

26. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a flow generator operable to provide a supply of pressurized breathable gas to the patient.

27. The system of claim 26 , wherein the flow generator is further operable to adjust the supply of pressurized breathable gas in response to one or more signals generated by the at least one sensor.

28. The system of claim 1 , wherein the patient-facing surface and other outer surfaces of the data recorder are formed from the same material.

29. The system of claim 1 , wherein the patient-facing surface is a soft-molded surface formed from the same material as the data recorder.

30. The system of claim 1 , wherein the patient-facing surface is attached to the data recorder via at least one fastener.

31. A diagnostic system for use in diagnosing a patient with a sleep disorder, comprising:
at least one item of bed clothing, the at least one item of bed clothing comprising at least one sensor; and
a data recorder in operable communication with the at least one sensor;
wherein the at least one sensor is operable to monitor at least one sleeping disorder related parameter and further operable to communicate the at least one sleeping disorder related parameter to the data recorder,
wherein the at least one item of bed clothing further comprises electronically controllable artificial muscle fibers, the artificial muscle fibers being configured to cause the item of bed clothing to contract to more closely fit the patient, and
wherein the at least one sensor and the data recorder are operable to communicate via a wireless connection.

32. A diagnostic system for use in diagnosing a patient with a sleep disorder, comprising:
two or more articles of bed clothing, the two or more articles of bed clothing comprising at least one sensor;
a data recorder in operable communication with the at least one sensor; and
an exchange mechanism operable to allow power and/or data to flow between the two or more articles of bed clothing,
wherein the at least one sensor is operable to monitor at least one sleeping disorder related parameter and further operable to communicate the at least one sleeping disorder related parameter to the data recorder, and
wherein the exchange mechanism comprises a fastener engagably and cablelessly connecting the two or more articles of bed clothing.

33. A diagnostic system for use in diagnosing a patient with a sleep disorder, comprising:
at least one item of bed clothing, the at least one item of bed clothing comprising at least one sensor; and
a data recorder

Assignees

• Hill Phoebe Katherine
• Bertinetti Mark
• Primrose Rohan Neil
• Peake Gregory Robert
• Kwok Philip Rodney
• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Hill Phoebe Katherine
• Bertinetti Mark
• Primrose Rohan Neil
• Peake Gregory Robert
• Kwok Philip Rodney

Classifications

• A61B5/08 Primary

  Measuring devices for evaluating the respiratory organs · CPC title

• A61B5/0002

  Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network (endoradiosondes A61B5/07) · CPC title

• A61B5/6887

  mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices · CPC title

• A61B5/0476

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61B5/4806

  Sleep evaluation (A61B5/4821 takes precedence; devices for inducing sleep A61M21/02) · CPC title