Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Background
Snoring is an issue that is commonly seen as unimportant but snoring can have
severe effects on the everyday lives of many individuals. Snoring is a common
trait
of mild obstructive sleep apnea, which is characteristic of intermittent
closing of the
airways leading to an episode of respiratory distress. As such, individuals
who are
overweight or posses a large neck circumference are predisposed to snoring due
to
the excess weight pressing upon the esophagus during sleep. Treatments for
sleep
apnea and snoring include positive pressure in the airways, weight loss as
well as
surgical means to decrease the weight experienced upon the throat during the
night.
Other means to decrease the occurrence of episodes of apnea and snoring
include
sleeping on one's side and wearing mouth gear designed to keep the lower jaw
forward, facilitating an opening of the airways.
The act of snoring can affect both those afflicted as well as any partners
present at
the time of the apnea. To the individual, the physiological response to
respiratory
distress leads to partial wakefulness as well as fatigue. The auditory
response from
the individual can also effect those afflicted as well as keep partners up
throughout
the night. A study put forth independently by Armstrong et al. Fitzpatrick et
al., as
well as Cartwright and Knight have shown that a significant improvement is
seen in
marital relations after snoring was surgically corrected. As such, snoring not
only
physically affects the individual but can have effects on the individual's
lifestyle as
well.
Decreased sleep quality due to snoring leads individuals to experience daytime
sleepiness and can predispose them occupational accidents in industry as well
as
motor collisions. Effects on the individual due to chronic obstructive sleep
apnea
can also include hypertension and increased risk of stroke throughout life.
Frequently, obstructive sleep apnea goes under-diagnosed and under treated
leading to increased risk to a large portion of the population. As such, there
is a need
for increased treatment as well as detection of obstructive sleep apnea cases.
Examples of current methods to combatting snoring include U.S. Pat. No.
9126108
for "Oscillating bed support structure" issued to Rosenbaum, E.P. Pat. No.
1655051B1 for "Rising-alarm generating apparatus" issued to Seoul, D.E. Pat.
No.
4137631A1 for "Mattress joggler for sleeper who snores "issued to Maxton.
These
patents seek to combat the effects of snoring by causing the user to wake
immediately upon snoring, which acts to perpetuate the sleepiness caused by
snoring as the user is deprived an uninterrupted sleep. Although these patents
seek
to solve the problem in a novel manner, they address the effects of snoring
not more
importantly, the physiological cause of snoring.
Modifying instead the physical causes of snoring is a more effective means of
treatment and can be accomplished by keeping the jaw forward as well as
maintaining a side sleeping position throughout the night. Examples of patents
addressing those issues include U.S. Pat. No. 015208A1 for "snort restraining
device" issued to Konishi, E.P. Pat. No. 1645252B1 for "Removable intra-oral
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corrective anti-snoring device" issued to Chen, U.S. Pat. No. 0006108A1 "Anti-
snore
garment" issued to Kerklaan. A shortcoming of these devices is that they
require the
apparatus to be worn by the individual, which can be problematic for visual
appearances as well as a comfortable fit for the user.
Accordingly, there is a need for an effective means to maintain open airways
throughout the night without waking a user as well as record information
relating to
sleep patterns to decrease the occurrence of obstructive sleep apnea, its
related
disorders and effects.
Summary
In the present invention, apparatus and methods are directed to mitigating
snoring
in a sleeping user by altering the topology of a mattress to maintain open
airways.
The inventive subject matter considers users snoring and generally comprises
the
following steps: providing a means to monitor snoring by a triad of
microphones
wherein their position allows determination of the origin of the snore; a
pressure
sensitive layer able to determine the users posture; a network of actuators by
which
the user is manipulated while sleeping; a computer system by which the
actuation
pattern is determined; and a three phase actuation pattern to mitigate
snoring.
In preferred embodiments of the invention, modifying a users posture
throughout
the night allows maintenance of open airways without the need for
uncomfortable
or unsightly apparatus used to do the same. Daytime sleepiness is reduced, as
the
user remains asleep throughout the night while the network of actuators
modifies
the user's posture to promote unobstructed breathing. As the present invention
can
differentiate multiple users, the present invention is able to decrease the
incidence
of snoring in one individual while a potential partner sleeps soundly.
Additional
features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent
from
the detailed description that follows, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying
drawings.
Description of Drawings
FIG 1. is the overall depiction of the invention along with detailed rendition
of the
separate layers in one embodiment of the invention
FIG 2. shows a logical flow diagram for the detection of snoring as well as
body
posture associated with the snore mediating mattress in accordance with
various
embodiments of the invention
FIG 3. shows a logical flow diagram for the adjustment of the snore mediating
mattress topology as a three phase system in accordance with various
embodiments
of the invention
FIG 4. depicts the mattress executing simplified actuation pattern in response
to a
user's snore in one embodiment of the invention
Description
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FIG.1 is a general depiction of the snore mediating mattress along with a
detailed
rendition of the mattress layers in one embodiment of the invention. The
present
invention provides a snore mediating mattress incorporating a triad of
microphones
100, a network of actuators 102, a pressure sensitive layer 104, as well as a
computer system 106 that provides the means to manipulate a user's body
position
throughout the night to facilitate unobstructed breathing. Snoring is detected
though the triad of microphones and their placement allows two longitudinal
zones
to be created along the mattress thereby allowing the computer system to
triangulate the origin of the sound as well as user, if multiple users are
present. The
pressure sensitive layer 104 is located between the actuator base 108 and the
actuator heads 110, without impeding their action so as to accurately
determine the
pressure profile of the user without the additional pressure points caused by
the
actuation of the user. The computer system is located within the bed support
and is
accessible through a wireless connection 112 to a user's mobile computing
device
as well as a wired port 114.
FIG.2 depicts a logic flow diagram of the snore mediating mattress in one
embodiment of the invention. When the triad of microphones detects sound
generated by a user, each fragment of sound from each individual microphone
200
is sent to the computer system to be analyzed. The signals are integrated
based
upon frequency and auditory profile 202 and related to a threshold value for
the
profile of frequency fluctuation of a snore 204. If the sound observed does
not
match those characteristics of a snore, the system resets and awaits further
audio
input. If the sound observed does match the characteristics of a snore, the
system
integrates the amplitudes of the audio segments 200 to generate a vector map
206
to determine the origin of the sound. The data from pressure sensitive layer
relating
the profile of the user based upon the pressure applied to the mattress 208 is
integrated with the origin of the sound determined by the vector map 206 to
determine the profile of the user generating the snore. The constructed
sleeping
profile is analyzed 212 by the internal computer system and the user is
actuated
based upon a potential three phase actuator correction program 214. All
readings
documented 216 throughout the use of the mattress are recorded to the internal
computer 218, an external storage device or an external web hosting service
220
where they can be made available for diagnostic purposes.
FIG.3 is a logic flow diagram of the three-phase actuator correction program
of the
snore mediated mattress in one embodiment of the invention. After detection of
a
snore, the snore mediating mattress initiates a consecutive three phase cycle
to
attempt to reduce the snoring experienced by the individual. As snoring is
caused by
throat obstruction, phase one snore mediation involves manipulating the upper
airways, including the head and neck in an attempt to cause an opening in the
airways with minimal intervention. The topology of the mattress is modified
300 as
determined by the data received on the location of the individual as well as
the
profile of the individual as determined by the pressure sensitive layer. If
snoring is
ablated the system resets and waits additional audio input. If snoring is
still
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detected by the triad of microphones after a set amount of time the computer
will
initiate phase two snore mediation.
In phase two snore mediation, an attempt is made to turn the user onto a side
sleeping position in order to decrease the amount of weight experienced by the
throat as thus decrease snoring and increase sleep quality. If the user is not
deemed
to be in a linear sleeping position 302 by the pressure sensitive layer the
system
systematically manipulates the user's limbs 304 by means of creating a pocket
for
which the limb can occupy while simultaneously raising the local topology to
keep
the limb level while it is maneuvered into an appropriate position. As such,
there are
no sharp movements of the limbs that may act to wake the user. The computer
system attempts to maneuver the limb based upon the reference point of the
most
appropriate joint 304 as determined by the pressure sensitive layer. If the
snore
mediating mattress determines the user is in a linear sleeping position 302,
the
computer system creates a likely destination and appropriate path for the user
to
occupy. If no apparent solution is feasible 306 by the computer system, the
computer system will then initiate the third phase of snore mediation. If a
feasible
solution is determined, the local topography is modified 308 in order to
create a
pocket along the edge of the user in the direction of movement for which the
user
can occupy while simultaneously raising the actuators along the edge profile
of the
user that is facing away form the direction of movement, whereby the user is
inclined to occupy space formed based upon the users side profile and physical
characteristics. The topology is modified until the user is in the desired
side facing
position 310 whereupon the triad of microphones monitors for snoring. If
snoring is
not detected after a set amount of time, the system resets and waits
additional audio
input. If snoring is not ablated, the system initiates phase three snore
mediation.
In phase three snore mediation an attempt is made to stimulate the user to
change
positions independently and create an open airway to facilitate proper
breathing.
The computer system reintegrates the data acquired by the pressure sensitive
layer
and selects an appropriate high-pressure area 312 or a separate suitable
location
and initiates the appropriate actuators 314 to stimulate in that location. The
user is
stimulated gently based upon user preference, after which point the triad of
microphones monitors for a snore. If a snore is detected within a set amount
of time,
the high-pressure area is stimulated until the triad of microphones detects no
further snoring and the system resets and awaits further audio input.
In the event any of the actuators reach the lower limit of their movement 316,
all
current actuator manipulation is halted 318 and all the appropriate actuators
are
raised simultaneously without compromising the current sleeping profile of the
user
320 or the sleeping profile of any other users present. Likewise, if an
actuator
reaches the upper limit of its movement 316, all current manipulation is
halted and
all the appropriate actuators are lowered simultaneously without compromising
the
current sleeping profile of the user 320 or the sleeping profile of any other
users
present. In both cases, the actuators continue to move in unity until an
average
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midline is achieved 320 whereby all actuators have the ability to deviate form
the
midline vertically in both directions.
The internal computer system present is responsible for the integration of the
signals from the triad of microphones as well as pressure sensitive layer and
is also
selectively customizable by the user. As the internal computer system is
disposed
within the mattress body, an external port is present which allows the user to
connect to an external personal computer or smartphone. Such a connection is
also
possible in a wireless format such as Bluetooth or wireless Internet
connection. The
user is able to program the system to selectively avoid certain locations of
the body
based upon preference or medical complications. Likewise, the user can program
the system to have preferred posture specifications to accommodate underlying
medical conditions or similar complications.
An additional embodiment of the invention can include safety settings, which
can be
applied for the young, or elderly wherein the pressure sensitive layer detects
if the
user is approaching the edge of the bed whereupon the signal is transmitted
from
the computer system to the actuators to cause a lift in the actuators along
the edge
of the bed. As such modifying the mattress topology can decrease the chance of
bed
falls in retirement homes and decrease the healthcare cost associated with hip
injuries in the elderly.
An additional embodiment of the invention can include the methods included in
phase two snore mediation being applied to turning patients throughout the
night in
a hospital setting to decrease the need for nurses turning patients. As such,
the
mattress system will manipulate patients and initiate a turn without the need
for
nurse intervention, thereby decreasing the strain on the nurses.
Another embodiment of the invention can include the methods included in phase
two snore mediation being applied to maintaining an elevated position for
limbs
after surgery to increase limb drainage. As such, the computer system could
manipulate the patient while maintaining any given limb at an increased angle
relative the horizontal to increase limb drainage without the need to hammock
casts.
Another embodiment of the invention can include the methods included in phase
two snore mediation being applied to increasing the comfort of sleep for
pregnant
women. As such, a pregnant woman can assume a side sleeping position without
discomfort due to the presence of a swollen abdomen.
Another embodiment of the invention can include the methods included in phase
three snore mediation being applied as a rising alarm function for an
individual,
specifically an individual who is hearing impaired to whom an auditory rising
alarm
would be non-functional.
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Another embodiment of the invention can include integrating the data acquired
from the pressure sensitive layer, triad of microphones and actuator network
to
produce a timeline of movement the user underwent throughout the night. Such a
digital representation of the position as well as sleep quality of an
individual can
provide a valuable resource to doctors in the treatment and understanding of
abnormal sleep patterns in the user.
