WO2021101478A1

WO2021101478A1 - Diagnosis and warning system

Info

Publication number: WO2021101478A1
Application number: PCT/TR2020/050960
Authority: WO
Inventors: Murat KAYABEKİR; Mete YAĞANOĞLU
Original assignee: Atatürk Üni̇versi̇tesi̇ Bi̇li̇msel Araştirma Projeleri̇ Bi̇ri̇mi̇
Priority date: 2019-11-19
Filing date: 2020-10-20
Publication date: 2021-05-27
Also published as: TR201918039A2

Abstract

Specifically, the invention relates to a system designed for diagnosing REM sleep and REM sleep disorders and sending warning signals to the user.

Description

DIAGNOSIS AND WARNING SYSTEM Field of the Invention

Specifically, the invention relates to a system designed for diagnosing REM (Rapid eye movement) sleep, and REM sleep disorders, and sending warning signals to the user.

Prior Art

Today, polysomnography (PSG) is the method used to diagnose sleep disorders. PSG is the gold standard method to help diagnose a patient by attaching electrodes to the patient in a hospital laboratory, having the patient sleep for a night (at least 6 hours) and conducting a computer - aided analysis of the electrophysiological signal recordings obtained from the patient.

Electrophysiological signals recorded between sleep and wake states overnight are as follows: Electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyogram (EMG; chin, arms and legs), electrooculogram (EOG), electrocardiogram (ECG), snoring, oro-nasal airflow (It/s), chest and abdomen movements (respiratory effort recording), oxygen saturation, body position and real - time video / image recording. While not applicable to all patients, penile tumescence, gastroesophageal reflux and blood pressure are other recorded electrophysiological signals.

PSG records the sleep stages in the brain (NREM - REM) by way of all recordings mentioned above, and also records the physiology of and potential pathological conditions in other body systems. PSG is a toilsome method involving a multitude of cables whereby patients wait for long appointments for a single - night sleep test. To put it more clearly, all these overnight operations need to be completed to obtain data on the diagnosis of a person’s REM sleep and REM sleep disorders.

NREM means a deep restful sleep, while REM stage of sleep is when dreaming occurs. These two important stages of sleep are identified by the EEG method. REM stage of sleep is a particularly intriguing subject for researchers due to EEG wave characteristics and the loss of skeletal muscle tone during this period. People who can’t get enough REM sleep experience emotional irritability (nervousness, intolerance, increased anxiety), distractibility, difficulty in learning new information and difficulty in remembering recently learned facts.

People with REM sleep deprivation also face problems including unhappiness, weariness, lack of self - confidence and deterioration of physical abilities caused by a decline in decision - making and analytical skills. REM sleep diminishes with increasing age, with the elderly having virtually no (physiological) need for REM sleep. Major sleep disorders that lead to REM sleep deprivation can be listed as follows: Sleep breathing disorders (Snoring, Primary Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS), Central Sleep Apnea Syndrome (CSA)), REM behaviour disorders, Daytime Somnolence and Hypersomnia.

In conclusion, the drawbacks explained above and the shortcoming in existing solutions to the problems have necessitated improvement in the related technical field.

Aim of the Invention

The present invention is designed by taking inspiration from the existing art and aims to find a solution to the drawbacks mentioned above.

The primary aim of the invention is to diagnose REM sleep and REM sleep disorders and prevent and treat these disorders.

Another aim of the invention is to solve the problems of people having REM sleep disorders by transmitting vibration signals.

In order to achieve the objectives specified above, the invention relates to a system designed for sending signals to the individual upon diagnosis of REM sleep and REM sleep disorders and comprises an electrode, which receives and transmits the data related to changes in muscle tone; a grove board, which receives muscle data from electrodes, processes and transmits the data through a grove base shield; a microcontroller, which receives and monitors muscle data transmitted through the grove base shield; a software module, which receives and processes muscle data obtained from the microcontroller to identify the REM sleep duration and frequency; and a vibration motor, which receives a command from the software module in case of REM sleep deprivation and sends subcortical vibration signals to the individual.

The below drawings and the detailed description referring to these drawings provide for a clearer understanding of the structural and characteristic properties, and all benefits of the present invention, therefore the evaluation needs to take these drawings and the detailed description into account.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a representative view of the diagnosis and warning system according to the invention.

List of Reference Numerals

1. Electrode

2. Grove base shield

3. Software module 4. Grove board

5. Microcontroller

6. Vibration motor

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order to facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, this detailed description demonstrates the preferred embodiments of the diagnosis and warning system according to the invention.

The diagnosis system, the representative view of which is shown in Figure 1 , utilizes the fundamental musculoskeletal neurophysiological mechanisms. If all skeletal muscles in the body, except for the diaphragm, relax or decrease in tone during the REM stage which periodically occurs every 90 to 120 minutes over the night, this can only be understood by way of using a grove board (4) connected to a microcontroller (5) through a grove base shield (2), at least one EMG electrode (1) to measure the muscle tone and a software module (3) (MATLAB, Python (real - time) software) which records EMG signals. Overnight decreases in the modulation of muscle tone are recorded by EMG electrodes (1). Grove board (4) takes the muscle data from the electrodes (1) and transmits the data to microcontroller (5) through the grove base shield (2). The microcontroller (5) monitors the obtained muscle movements, and the software module (3) processes the data to identify the REM sleep duration and frequency. This makes it possible for both the health personnel and the individual concerned to have an idea about REM sleep quality.

If the software module (3) detects short REM sleep, such as apnea or snoring, as the cause of REM sleep deprivation, it sends a command to the vibration motor (6). The vibration motor (6) sends subcortical vibration signals to the individual to help him / her change body position without waking up. Therefore, vibrations help reduce sleep apnea or snoring, if these symptoms are identified as the sources of the problem.

When REM sleep deprivation is caused by a movement disorder, the software module (3) again detects a deficiency in REM sleep duration and number, sends a command to the vibration motor (6), and subcortical vibration signals help prevent the person from making these movements during REM sleep, thereby reducing the muscle tone.

Central hypersomnia and narcolepsy patients suffering from daytime somnolence experience sudden drops in muscle tone after short REM sleeps (SOREMPs) and narcoleptics can collapse and even sleep in the kitchen, workplace, school, playground, street or a park. This ill - timed sleepiness during daytime is detected by the software module (3) and the vibration motor (6) sends vibration signals to the individual. The invention is highly important in terms of its use for this indication. Because it helps in early detection and prevention of sudden and unexpected attacks of sleep.

Claims

1.

• an electrode (1) which receives and transmits the data related to changes in modulation of muscle tone,

• a grove board (4) which receives muscle data from the electrodes (1) and processes and transmits the data through a grove base shield (2),

• a microcontroller (5) which receives and monitors the data transmitted through the grove base shield (2), and

• a software module (3) which receives, and processes data processes muscle data obtained from the microcontroller (5) to identify the REM sleep duration and frequency;

A system designed for sending warning signals to the user upon diagnosis of REM sleep and REM sleep disorders, characterized by comprising; · a vibration motor (6) which receives a command from the software module (3) in case of REM sleep deprivation and sends subcortical vibration signals to the individual.