# US 10,368,798 B2 · Systems and methods for determining sleep patterns and circadian rhythms > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,368,798 B2 - Document ID: US10368798B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/901,180 - Filed: 2014-06-29 - Published: 2016-06-02 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-28 - Assignees: North Carolina State University - Applicants: North Carolina State University - Inventors: Alper Bozkurt; James P. Dieffenderfer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10368798B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/4815: {Sleep quality} - A61B 5/0075: {by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy (A61B5/0071 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/0205: Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition - A61B 5/02416: {using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation (A61B5/14552 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/14553: {specially adapted for cerebral tissue} - A61B 5/14557: {specially adapted to extracorporeal circuits} - A61B 5/4812: {Detecting sleep stages or cycles} - A61B 5/4818: {Sleep apnoea} - A61B 5/4857: {Indicating the phase of biorhythm} - A61B 5/688: {using adhesives} - A61B 5/02225: {using the oscillometric method} - A61B 5/02433: {for infrared radiation} - A61B 5/0816: {Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency (measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00)} - A61B 2562/0238: Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue - A61M 2021/0044: {by the sight sense} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract Systems and methods for monitoring sleep are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes emitting light into tissue. The method also includes detecting light backscattered from the tissue. Further, the method includes determining a sleep pattern based on the backscattered light. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method utilizing brain monitoring, the method comprising: determining a sleep pattern using a wireless smart bandage including a system-on-a-chip, the system-on-a-chip including a microcontroller and a transceiver; emitting, by a light source of the wireless smart bandage, light having two or more wavelengths into tissue, wherein the light source is controlled by the microcontroller via the transceiver; detecting, by a light detector of the wireless smart bandage, light backscattered from the tissue, wherein the light detector is communicatively coupled to the microcontroller via the transceiver and sends a signal representative of the backscattered light to the microcontroller via the transceiver; performing, at the wireless smart bandage by the microcontroller of the system on a chip, near infrared spectroscopy analysis based on the signal representative of the backscattered light; and wirelessly transmitting, via the transceiver of the system-on-a-chip, hemodynamic parameter data of a brain that is based on the near infrared spectroscopy analysis to a computing device for determining a sleep pattern based on the backscattered light. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the light includes red and near infrared photons. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein emitting light by a light source of the wireless smart bandage includes using a light emitting diode (LED) of the wireless smart bandage to emit the light having two or more wavelengths. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein detecting light by a light detector of the wireless smart bandage includes using one or more detectors comprising of a photodiode, a photoresistor, a phototransistor, a charge-coupled-device, or an active pixel sensor of the wireless smart bandage to detect the backscattered light. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a remote computing device, a computing device included within the wireless smart bandage, a smart phone, a tablet computer, or an alarm clock. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining a sleep pattern based on the backscattered light comprises determining the sleep pattern or a sleep disorder at the computing device utilizing the hemodynamic parameter data of the brain that is based on the near infrared spectroscopy analysis performed at the system-on-a-chip of the wireless smart bandage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of emitting and detecting are implemented at the wireless smart bandage and the wireless smart bandage has a bandage form factor and is attachable to a forehead skin surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising generating, by the computing device, a control signal for controlling the emission of light. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling, by the computing device, an alarm time of an alarm clock or other equipment based on the hemodynamic parameter data of the brain. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining a sleep pattern based on the backscattered light comprises: determining the hemodynamic parameter data of the brain based on the detected light using near infrared spectroscopy; and detecting sleep stages or sleep disorders based on the determined hemodynamic parameters data of the brain. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining a sleep pattern based on the backscattered light comprises: determining the hemodynamic parameters data of the brain based on the backscattered light; and conducting brain electrical activity monitoring and actigraphy to be correlated or co-analyzed with the determined hemodynamic parameter data of the brain. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting, by the wireless smart bandage, the hemodynamic parameter data of the brain based on the near infrared spectroscopy analysis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the hemodynamic parameter data of the brain that is determined using the near infrared spectroscopy represents one or more of changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentration in the brain, cerebral tissue oxygen saturation, low frequency oscillations of cerebral oxygenation, and cerebral arterial pulsations for determining sleep stages or diagnosing sleep disorders. ### Claim 14 A system utilizing brain monitoring, the system comprising: a wireless smart bandage including: a system-on-a-chip having a microcontroller and a transceiver; a light source communicatively coupled to the microcontroller via the transceiver, the light source configured to emit light having two or more wavelengths into tissue, wherein the light source is controlled by the microcontroller; and a light detector communicatively coupled to the microcontroller via the transceiver, the light detector configured to detect light backscattered from the tissue and send a signal representative of the backscattered light to the microcontroller; wherein the microcontroller of the wireless smart bandage performs near infrared spectroscopy based sleep pattern analysis based on the signal representative of the backscattered light to determine hemodynamic parameter data of a brain, and wirelessly transmits, via the transceiver, the hemodynamic parameter data of the brain to a computing device configured to determine and further analyze a sleep pattern based on the hemodynamic parameter data of the brain. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the wireless smart bandage has a bandage form factor and is attachable to a forehead skin surface by itself or as a part of a headband. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the light includes red and near infrared photons. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the light source includes a light emitting diode (LED) configured to emit the light having two or more wavelengths. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the wireless smart bandage includes one or more detectors configured to detect the light, the one or more detectors including a photodiode, a photoresistor, a phototransistor, a charge-coupled-device, or an active pixel sensor of the wireless smart bandage. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the computing device is a remote computing device, a computing device included within the wireless smart bandage, a smart phone, a tablet computer, or an alarm clock. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the computing device is configured to generate a control signal for controlling the emission of light. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the computing device is configured to control an alarm time of an alarm clock or other equipment based on the data of the near infrared spectroscopy analysis sleep pattern analysis. ### Claim 22 A method utilizing brain monitoring, the method comprising: estimating a circadian rhythm of a person using a wireless smart bandage including a system-on-a-chip, the system-on-a-chip including a microcontroller for controlling the wireless smart bandage and a wireless transceiver; emitting, by a light source of the wireless smart bandage, light into tissue of a person; detecting, by light sensors of the wireless smart bandage, light backscattered from the tissue, the light sensors including a cerebral oximetry detector and an ambient and ultra-violet light sensor, and communicating data representing the backscattered light to the microcontroller of the system-on-a-chip; determining, by a computing device, cerebral hemodynamic parameters of the person based on near infrared spectroscopy analysis of the backscattered light received via the wireless transceiver; and determining, by the computing device, an estimation of circadian rhythm of the person based on the cerebral hemodynamic parameters and computational models that relate the circadian rhythm to the cerebral hemodynamic parameters. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the light includes red and near infrared photons. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein emitting light includes using a light emitting diode (LED) of the wireless smart bandage to emit the light. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the computing device is a remote computing device, a computing device included within the wireless smart bandage, a smart phone, a tablet computer, or a photic control device for adjusting a circadian rhythm. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the steps of emitting and detecting are implemented at the wireless smart bandage that has a bandage form factor and is attachable to a forehead skin surface by itself or as a part of a headband or visor. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising generating, by the computing device, a control signal for controlling the emission of light. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the cerebral hemodynamic parameters determined using the near infrared spectroscopy comprise one or more of changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentration in the brain, cerebral tissue oxygen saturation, low frequency oscillations of cerebral oxygenation, and cerebral arterial pulsations to estimate the circadian rhythm. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising generating stimuli for application to the person based on the estimated circadian rhythm of the person from the analysis of light backscattered using near infrared spectroscopy. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein generating the stimuli comprises generating stimuli light by a photic control device based on a signal transmitted from the wireless smart bandage via the wireless transceiver. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein generating the stimuli comprises generating stimuli light by a photic control device based on a signal transmitted from the wireless smart bandage via the wireless transceiver. ### Claim 32 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein estimating circadian rhythm based on the backscattered light from the tissue comprises: determining hemodynamic parameters based on the backscattered light; and conducting brain electrical activity monitoring and actigraphy to be correlated or co-analyzed with the determined hemodynamic parameters. ### Claim 33 A system that utilizes brain monitoring, the system comprising: a wireless smart bandage including a system-on-a-chip that has a microcontroller for controlling the wireless smart bandage and a transceiver; a light source of the wireless smart bandage that is communicatively coupled to the microcontroller, the light source configured to emit light into tissue; and light sensors of the wireless smart bandage communicatively coupled to the microcontroller, the light sensors configured to detect light backscattered from the tissue and communicate data representing the backscattered light to the microcontroller of the system-on-a-chip, the light sensors including an oximetry detector and an ambient and ultra-violet light sensor of the wireless smart bandage; and a computing device configured to: determine cerebral hemodynamic parameters of a person based on the backscattered light from the tissue using near infrared spectroscopy; and determine an estimation of circadian rhythm of the person based on the cerebral hemodynamic parameters and computational models that relate the circadian rhythm to the cerebral hemodynamic parameters. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein the light includes red and near infrared photons. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein the wireless smart bandage includes a light emitting diode (LED) for emitting the light. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein the computing device is a remote computing device, a computing device included within the wireless smart bandage, a smart phone, a tablet computer, or a photic control device for adjusting a circadian rhythm. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein the computing device is configured to generate a control signal for controlling the emission of light. ### Claim 38 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein the cerebral hemodynamic parameters determined using the near infrared spectroscopy comprise one or more of changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentration in the brain, cerebral tissue oxygen saturation, low frequency oscillations of cerebral oxygenation, and cerebral arterial pulsations to estimate the circadian rhythm. ### Claim 39 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, further comprising a stimulation device configured to generate stimuli for application to the person based on the estimated circadian rhythm of the person from the analysis of light backscattered from the tissue using near infrared spectroscopy. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The system of claim 39, wherein the stimulation device is configured to generate stimuli light based on a signal transmitted from the wireless smart bandage via the wireless transceiver.