Sleep guidance system and related methods

A method of guiding a sleep pattern of sleeper, the method comprising:

• monitoring at least one physiological characteristic of a sleeper indicative of a current sleep stage of the sleeper;
• generating a sensory stimulus to lead the sleeper to a sleep stage different from the current sleep stage;
• and
• establishing a personalized sleeper profile including at least one data reference indicating a sensory stimulus setting for the sleeper and referencing that data reference when generating the sensory stimulus to lead the sleeper.

A method of guiding a sleep pattern of a sleeper between NREM and REM sleep, the method comprising:

• monitoring at least one physiological characteristic of the sleeper indicative of NREM sleep;
• generating a sensory stimulus having at least one characteristic configured to lead the sleeper to enter REM sleep;
• monitoring the physiological characteristic to determine whether the sensory stimulus was effective to lead the sleeper to enter REM sleep;
• and
• establishing a personalized sleeper profile including at least one data reference indicating a sensory stimulus setting for the sleeper and referencing that data reference when generating the sensory stimulus to lead the sleeper.

A sleep pattern adjustor comprising:

• a physiological characteristic monitor;
• a sensory stimulus generator;
• and
• a processor operatively associated with the physiological characteristic monitor and the sensory stimulus generator, the processor configured to receive input from the physiological characteristic monitor indicative of a first sleep stage of a sleeper and provide output to the sensory stimulus generator to cause the sensory stimulus generator to generate at least a first sensory stimulus in response to the input received from the physiological characteristic monitor to lead the sleeper from the first sleep stage to a second sleep stage, wherein the processor is further configured to calibrate to the sleeper's sleep pattern by monitoring at least one physiological characteristic of the sleeper for at least a portion of a sleep cycle prior to the sensory stimulus generator generating sensory stimuli.

A sleep pattern adjustor comprising:

• a physiological characteristic monitor;
• a sensory stimulus generator;
• and
• a processor operatively associated with the physiological characteristic monitor and the sensory stimulus generator, the processor configured to receive input from the physiological characteristic monitor indicative of a first sleep stage of a sleeper and provide output to the sensory stimulus generator to cause the sensory stimulus generator to generate at least a first sensory stimulus in response to the input received from the physiological characteristic monitor to lead the sleeper from the first sleep stage to a second sleep stage, wherein the processor is further configured to reference a personalized sleeper profile for the sleeper and generate sensory stimulus in accordance with the sleeper's personalized sleeper profile.

A sleep pattern adjustor comprising:

• a physiological characteristic monitor;
• a sensory stimulus generator;
• and
• a processor operatively associated with the physiological characteristic monitor and the sensory stimulus generator, the processor configured to receive input from the physiological characteristic monitor indicative of a first sleep stage of a sleeper and provide output to the sensory stimulus generator to cause the sensory stimulus generator to generate at least a first sensory stimulus in response to the input received from the physiological characteristic monitor to lead the sleeper from the first sleep stage to a second sleep stage, wherein the processor is configured to receive input indicative of a sleep stage associated with the sleeper experiencing sleep apnea and provide output to generate sensory stimulus in response to the input received to lead the sleeper to a different sleep stage not associated with the sleeper experiencing sleep apnea.

A sleep pattern adjustor comprising:

• a physiological characteristic monitor;
• a sensory stimulus generator;
• and
• a processor operatively associated with the physiological characteristic monitor and the sensory stimulus generator, the processor configured to receive input from the physiological characteristic monitor indicative of a first sleep stage of a sleeper and provide output to the sensory stimulus generator to cause the sensory stimulus generator to generate at least a first sensory stimulus in response to the input received from the physiological characteristic monitor to lead the sleeper from the first sleep stage to a second steep stage, wherein the processor is configured to receive input indicative of a sleep stage associated with the sleeper sleepwalking and provide output to generate sensory stimulus in response to the input received to lead the sleeper to a different sleep stage not associated with the sleeper sleepwalking.

A sleep pattern adjustor comprising:

• a physiological characteristic monitor;
• a sensory stimulus generator;
• and
• a processor operatively associated with the physiological characteristic monitor and the sensory stimulus generator, the processor configured to receive input from the physiological characteristic monitor indicative of a first sleep stage of a sleeper and provide output to the sensory stimulus generator to cause the sensory stimulus generator to generate at least a first sensory stimulus in response to the input received from the physiological characteristic monitor to lead the sleeper from the first sleep stage to a second sleep stage, wherein the processor is configured to receive input indicative of a sleep stage associated with the sleeper wetting the bed and provide output to generate sensory stimulus in response to the input received to lead the sleeper to a different sleep stage not associated with the sleeper wetting the bed.

A sleep pattern adjustor comprising:

• a physiological characteristic monitor;
• a sensory stimulus generator;
• and
• a processor operatively associated with the physiological characteristic monitor and the sensory stimulus generator, the processor configured to receive input from the physiological characteristic monitor indicative of a first sleep stage of a sleeper and provide output to the sensory stimulus generator to cause the sensory stimulus generator to generator at least a first sensory stimulus in response to the input received from the physiological characteristic monitor to lead the sleeper from the first sleep stage to a second sleep stage, wherein the processor is configured to receive input indicative of a sleep stage associated with the sleeper having a nightmare and provide output to generate sensory stimulus in response to the input received to lead the sleeper to a different sleep stage not associated with the sleeper having a nightmare.

A sleep pattern adjustor comprising:

• a physiological characteristic monitor;
• a sensory stimulus generator;
• and
• a processor operatively associated with the physiological characteristic monitor and the sensory stimulus generator, the processor configured to receive input from the physiological characteristic monitor indicative of a first sleep stage of a sleeper and provide output to the sensory stimulus generator to cause the sensory stimulus generator to generate at least a first sensory stimulus in response to the input received from the physiological characteristic monitor to lead the sleeper from the first sleep stage to a second sleep stage, wherein the processor is configured to store a personalized sleep profile and generate the sensory stimulus in accordance with data from the personalized sleep profile.

An apparatus for guiding a sleep pattern of a sleeper to change between NREM and REM sleep, the apparatus comprising:

• a physiological characteristic monitor configured to monitor at least one physiological characteristic of a sleeper;
• a sensory stimulus generator configured to generate at least one sensory stimulus in response to the physiological characteristic of the sleeper;
• and
• a processor operatively associated with the physiological characteristic monitor and the sensory stimulus generator, the processor configured to receive input from the physiological characteristic monitor indicative of a NREM sleep stage, and provide output to the sensory stimulus generator to lead the sleeper to change to a REM sleep stage, wherein the processor is further configured to calibrate to the sleeper's sleep patterns and to calculate an optional sleep pattern related to an amount of time remaining in a preselected sleep period duration.

An apparatus for guiding a sleep pattern of a sleeper to change between NREM and REM sleep, the apparatus comprising:

• a physiological characteristic monitor configured to monitor at least one physiological characteristic of a sleeper;
• a sensory stimulus generator configured to generate at least one sensory stimulus in response to the physiological characteristic of the sleeper;
• and
• a processor operatively associated with the physiological characteristic monitor and the sensory stimulus generator, the processor configured to receive input from the physiological characteristic monitor indicative of a NREM sleep stage, and provide output to the sensory stimulus generator to lead the sleeper to change to a REM sleep stage, wherein the processor is further configured to reference a personalized sleeper profile for the sleeper and the sensory stimulus generator is configured to generate sensory stimulus in accordance with the sleeper's personalized sleeper profile.