# US 11,433,214 B2 · System and method to shorten sleep latency

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- Number: US 11,433,214 B2
- Document ID: US11433214B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/111,791
- Filed: 2020-12-04
- Published: 2021-06-10
- Granted: 2022-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2019-12-09
- Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Inventors: Gary Nelson Garcia Molina; Boomika Kalyan; Antonio Aquino
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11433214B2

## CPC

- A61M 21/00: Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
- A61M 21/02: for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia (for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021)
- A61B 5/0205: Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
- A61B 5/02405: {Determining heart rate variability}
- A61B 5/372: Analysis of electroencephalograms
- A61B 5/4812: {Detecting sleep stages or cycles}
- A61B 5/4836: {Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods (A61B5/0036 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/7267: {involving training the classification device}
- A61M 2021/0022: {by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations}
- A61M 2021/0027: {by the hearing sense}
- A61M 2021/0033: {subsonic}
- A61M 2021/0044: {by the sight sense}
- A61M 2021/0055: {with electric or electro-magnetic fields}
- A61M 2205/3327: Measuring
- A61M 2205/42: Reducing noise
- A61M 2230/06: Heartbeat rate only
- A61M 2230/10: Electroencephalographic signals
- A61M 2230/18: Rapid eye-movements [REM]
- 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)}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

The present disclosure pertains to shortening sleep latency during the wake to sleep transition. Sensory stimulation is delivered to a subject by sensory stimulators during a sleep session, and a measure of wakefulness of the subject is determined. The sensory stimulators are controlled based on the measure of wakefulness of the subject. The sensory stimulators may be controlled to modulate an intensity of the sensory stimulation delivered to the subject. For example, the sensory stimulators may decrease the intensity of the sensory stimulation as the measure of wakefulness decreases. The system then determines that the measure of wakefulness has reached stable sleep. The sensory stimulators are controlled based on the determination that the measure of wakefulness has reached stable sleep. The sensory stimulators may decrease the intensity of the sensory stimulation at a faster rate once the measure of wakefulness reaches stable sleep.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for controlling sensory stimulation delivered to a subject during a sleep session, the system comprising:
one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to brain activity of the subject during the sleep session;
one or more sensory stimulators configured to provide sensory stimulation to the subject; and
one or more processors coupled to the one or more sensors and the one or more sensory stimulators, the one or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions to:
determine, based on the output signals, a measure of wakefulness of the subject during the sleep session;
control the one or more sensory stimulators based on the measure of wakefulness;
determine, based on the output signals, that the measure of wakefulness has reached stable sleep; and
control the one or more sensory stimulators based on the determination that the measure of wakefulness has reached stable sleep,
wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine that the output signals comprise a noise level that breaches a threshold noise level, and
wherein, to control the one or more sensory stimulators based on the determination that the output signals comprise the noise level that breaches the threshold noise level, the one or more processors are further configured to cause the one or more sensory stimulators to deliver the sensory stimulation to the subject at a constant intensity.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the measure of wakefulness comprises a ratio between a high frequency portion of the output signals and a low frequency portion of the output signals.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the measure of wakefulness comprises a power ratio between a power associated with a high frequency portion of the output signals and a power associated with a low frequency portion of the output signals.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein, to control the one or more sensory stimulators based on the measure of wakefulness, the one or more processors are further configured to:
detect a decrease in the measure of wakefulness based on the output signals; and
cause the one or more sensory stimulators to decrease an intensity of the sensory stimulation delivered to the subject based on the detected decrease in the measure of wakefulness.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein, to control the one or more sensory stimulators based on the measure of wakefulness, the one or more processors are further configured to:
detect an increase in the measure of wakefulness based on the output signals; and
cause the one or more sensory stimulators to deliver the sensory stimulation to the subject at a constant intensity based on the detected increase in the measure of wakefulness.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein, to control the one or more sensory stimulators based on the determination that the measure of wakefulness has reached stable sleep, the one or more processors are further configured to decrease an intensity of the sensory stimulation at a faster rate than at higher measures of wakefulness.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes configured to generate the information related to brain activity.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the sensory stimulation comprises auditory vibrations, haptic vibrations, or light pulses.

### Claim 9

A method for controlling sensory stimulation delivered to a subject during a sleep session with a system, the system comprising one or more sensors, one or more sensory stimulators, and one or more processors, the method comprising:
generating, with the one or more sensors, output signals conveying information related to brain activity of the subject during the sleep session;
determining, with the one or more processors, a measure of wakefulness of the subject during the sleep session based on the output signals;
controlling, with the one or more processors, the one or more sensory stimulators based on the measure of wakefulness;
determining, with the one or more processors, that the measure of wakefulness has reached stable sleep based on the output signals;
controlling, with the one or more processors, the one or more sensory stimulators based on the determination that the measure of wakefulness has reached stable sleep; and
determining that the output signals comprise a noise level that breaches a threshold noise level,
wherein controlling the one or more sensory stimulators based on the determination that the output signals comprise the noise level that breaches the threshold noise level comprises causing the one or more sensory stimulators to deliver the sensory stimulation to the subject at a constant intensity.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the measure of wakefulness comprises a ratio between a high frequency portion of the output signals and a low frequency portion of the output signals.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the measure of wakefulness comprises a power ratio between a power associated with a high frequency portion of the output signals and a power associated with a low frequency portion of the output signals.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein controlling, with the one or more processors, the one or more sensory stimulators based on the measure of wakefulness comprises:
detecting, with the one or more processors, a decrease in the measure of wakefulness based on the output signals; and
causing, with the one or more processors, the one or more sensory stimulators to decrease an intensity of the sensory stimulation delivered to the subject based on the detected decrease in the measure of wakefulness.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein controlling, with the one or more processors, the one or more sensory stimulators based on the measure of wakefulness comprises:
detecting, with the one or more processors, an increase in the measure of wakefulness based on the output signals; and
causing, with the one or more processors, the one or more sensory stimulators to deliver the sensory stimulation to the subject at a constant intensity based on the detected increase in the measure of wakefulness.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein controlling the one or more sensory stimulators based on the determination that the measure of wakefulness has reached stable sleep comprises decreasing an intensity of the sensory stimulation at a faster rate than at higher measures of wakefulness.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes configured to generate the information related to brain activity.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the sensory stimulation comprises auditory vibrations, haptic vibrations, or light pulses.