# US 2017/0280883 A1 · A controlled climate bed for thermoregulatory modulation of a sleeper

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- Number: US 2017/0280883 A1
- Document ID: US20170280883A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/509,429
- Filed: 2015-09-10
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-10
- Assignees: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
- Applicants: Board of Regents,the University of Texas System
- Inventors: Kenneth R. Diller
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170280883A1

## CPC

- A47C 21/048: {for heating}
- A47C 21/042: {for ventilating or cooling (A47C21/028 and A47C27/007 take precedence)}
- A47C 21/044: {with active means, e.g. by using air blowers or liquid pumps}
- A61G 7/05: Parts, details or accessories of beds (devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 {; mattresses A47C27/00})
- G16H 20/30: relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
- G16H 40/63: for local operation
- A61G 2203/34: for pressure
- A61G 2203/36: for motion
- A61G 2203/46: for temperature
- A61G 2210/70: for cooling
- A61G 2210/90: for heating
- A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00)
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA

## Abstract

A climate-controlled bed capable of adapting to the needs of a sleeper via a closed loop feedback control system is provided. The bed includes a thermoelectric energy source, a sensor configured to monitor a physiological temperature of a sleeper, and a control system that regulates a temperature of the bed via the thermoelectric energy source. The control system can utilize data from the sensor to determine optimal thermal needs of the sleeper. The control system can also vary the temperature of the bed during a sleep cycle based on at least one predetermined sleep factor, such as the natural circadian temperature cycle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A climate-controlled bed, comprising:
a thermoelectric energy source; and
a control system that regulates a temperature of the bed via the thermoelectric energy source,
wherein the control system directs the thermoelectric energy source to provide warming to a region of the bed corresponding to a user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The bed of claim 1, wherein the user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue comprises a cervical spinal region of the user.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The bed of claim 1, wherein the user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue comprises a lumbar spinal region of the user.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The bed of claim 1, wherein the region of the bed corresponding to the user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue comprises at least a portion of a mattress.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The bed of claim 1, wherein the region of the bed corresponding to the user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue comprises at least a portion of a pillow.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The bed of claim 1, further comprising a cooling source configured to decrease the temperature of at least a portion of the bed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The bed of claim 1, wherein the control system furthers directs the thermoelectric energy source to warm regions of the bed corresponding to the user's hands and/or feet, said warming applied at or above a threshold that prevents vasoconstriction of the user's AVAs.

### Claim 8

A method of controlling a climate of a bed, comprising:
providing a bed;
providing an energy source; and
warming, via the energy source, the temperature of a region of the bed corresponding to a user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising modifying, via the energy source, the temperature of a region of the bed corresponding to a user's hands and/or feet, said modifying carried out such that the user's AVAs remain vasodilated.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising cooling at least a portion of the user's body sufficient to decrease the user's physiological temperature.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue comprises a cervical spinal region of the user.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue comprises a lumbar spinal region of the user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the region of the bed corresponding to the user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue comprises at least a portion of a mattress.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the region of the bed corresponding to the user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue comprises at least a portion of a pillow.