FR3059555A1 - METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MONITORING - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the invention is methods, devices and systems for controlled awakening of an individual. A desired hour of waking of the individual and a period of action depending on, and before, the desired time of waking are defined. During the period of action: a measurement signal representative of a physiological signal of the individual is acquired, a sleep depth index is determined from the measurement signal, and predefined acoustic stimulations are repeatedly applied to such as the intensity, the spectral content, the frequency and / or the phase of acoustic stimulation are a function of the depth of sleep index so that the depth of sleep index tends towards an indicative value. an alarm clock of the individual, and the value is reached at the desired time of waking the individual or within a predefined range around the desired time of waking.

Description

059 555

61957 ® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

COURBEVOIE © Publication number:

(to be used only for reproduction orders) © National registration number © IntCI ⁸ : A 61 M 21/00 (2017.01)

PATENT INVENTION APPLICATION

A1

(© Date of filing: 05.12.16. (© Applicant (s): RYTHM Simplified joint-stock company (© Priority: - FR. @ Inventor (s): GALTIER MATHIEU, PINAUD CLEMENCE, MERCIER Hugo, SOULET DE BRU- (43) Date of public availability of the GIERE Quentin and KALIFA JEROME. request: 08.06.18 Bulletin 18/23. (© List of documents cited in the report of preliminary research: Refer to end of present booklet (© References to other national documents (® Holder (s): RYTHM Simplified joint-stock company. related: ©) Extension request (s): © Agent (s): CABINET PLASSERAUD.

PA CONTROLLED WAKE UP METHODS AND DEVICES.

FR 3 059 555 - A1

The invention relates to methods, devices and systems for controlled awakening of an individual.

We define a desired time of awakening of the individual and a period of action depending on, and prior to, the desired time of awakening.

During the action period:

a measurement signal representative of a physiological signal of the individual is acquired, a sleep depth index is determined from the measurement signal, and predefined acoustic stimuli are repeatedly applied to the individual such as intensity, spectral content, frequency and / or phase of acoustic stimuli are a function of the sleep depth index so that the sleep depth index tends towards a value indicative of an awakening of the individual, and the value is reached at the desired time for waking the individual or in a predefined range around the desired time for waking.

CONTROLLED WAKE-UP METHODS AND DEVICES

The present invention relates to improved methods, devices and systems for awakening an individual.

A conventional alarm clock includes a clock and a user-controllable wake-up time selector. When the clock reaches the time value indicated by the selector, a wake-up stimulus is triggered, usually a sound or tactile stimulus to wake the user.

When using such an alarm clock, the user is guaranteed to have an alarm clock at a predefined time as soon as the stimulus is of sufficient intensity. However, waking up may occur in the middle of a deep sleep range for the user. In this case, the user can take a long time to get out of sleep completely and in particular wake up with a feeling of significant fatigue.

The present invention improves this situation.

More specifically, the methods, devices and systems according to the invention guarantee a maximum waking time while making it easier to wake the user and reduce the feeling of residual fatigue.

The method according to the invention, implemented by such a device and / or system implements an intelligent alarm clock. Such an intelligent alarm clock includes, over a period preceding an hour determined by the user, a stimulation generation operation whose intensity is a function of the user's sleep depth so as to generate a gradual awakening of the user. In this way, the user is no longer in deep sleep at the moment of waking up. Furthermore, the invention also makes it possible to ensure the security of the alarm time. For this, a conventional alarm clock, that is to say generating a stimulus only at the time defined by the user, can be set up on the mobile device at the time determined by user. If the intelligent alarm clock alone allows the user to wake up, a signal is transmitted from the device to the mobile device via a long-distance link, for example Bluetooth, to cancel the conventional alarm clock. This signal is for example transmitted following the withdrawal of the device from the head of the user when the user wakes up. A short distance link can then be activated, for example Bluetooth, and can send a signal, for example of the iBeacon type for iOS. If this signal is not sent, the classic alarm clock activates at the appointed time.

To this end, the invention firstly relates to a controlled awakening process for an individual in which:

a desired time of awakening of the individual is defined, a period of action is defined as a function of, and prior to, the desired time of awakening, during said period of action:

a measurement signal representative of a physiological signal of an individual is continuously acquired, a sleep depth index is continuously determined from the measurement signal, predefined acoustic stimuli are repeatedly applied to the individual such as intensity, spectral content, frequency and / or phase of said acoustic stimuli are a function of the sleep depth index so that the sleep depth index tends towards a value indicative of an awakening of the 'individual, and said value is reached at the desired time of awakening of the individual or in a predefined range around said desired time of awakening.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, it is possible optionally to have recourse to one and / or the other of the following arrangements:

- during the said action period, an index of probability of awakening is also continuously determined from the measurement signal, and the intensity, the spectral content, the frequency and / or the phase of the acoustic stimulations are also a function of the the probability of awakening index so as to decrease the intensity of the acoustic stimulation perceived by the individual when the probability of awakening of the individual by the acoustic stimulation increases;

the measurement signal comprises an electroencephalogram and the sleep depth index is at least a function of a spectral power of the measurement signal in the range of slow waves and / or in the range of delta waves, or also a function of a frequency and / or a number of slow waves in the measurement signal;

- The measurement signal comprises an electroencephalogram and the awakening probability index is at least a function of a spectral power of the measurement signal in the beta range and / or in the alpha wave range;

- The measurement signal comprises a signal from an accelerometer carried by the individual and the awakening probability index is at least a function of said signal from the accelerometer;

- the sleep depth index and the probability of waking up index are identical.

- the process is such that:

an individual's imperative wake-up time is defined beforehand and if the sleep depth index has not reached a value indicative of an individual's awakening at said imperative wake-up time, it is applied to the individual , at said imperative waking time, a sensory stimulation of awakening of sufficient intensity to wake up said individual, in particular stimulation of acoustic or vibratory awakening, and the process is stopped.

The invention also relates to a device worn by the individual during a sleep period implementing the method as detailed above and comprising:

means for acquiring a measurement signal representative of a physiological signal of the individual, a processing unit for analyzing the measurement signal and continuously determining a sleep depth index from the measurement signal, and at at least one speaker, by air or bone conduction, for repeatedly applying predefined acoustic stimuli to the individual, the processing unit and said at least one speaker being adapted so that the intensity, the spectral content, the frequency and / or phase of said acoustic stimulations are a function of the sleep depth index so that the sleep depth index tends towards a value indicative of an awakening of the individual, and said value is reached at the desired time of awakening of the individual or within a predefined range around said desired time of awakening.

The invention also relates to a system implementing the method as detailed above and comprising a device as detailed above as well as a remote module, in particular a smart phone or a base, capable of applying to the 'individual, at the time of imperative awakening, said sensory stimulation of awakening.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the following description of one of its embodiments, given by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a device according to an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a system according to an embodiment of the invention comprising a device as illustrated in FIG. 1 and a remote module,

- Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method according to the invention.

In the various figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a controlled alarm system 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The system 1 comprises a wake-up device 2 controlled according to an embodiment of the invention as well as a remote module 3, in particular a smart phone or a base.

The device 2 includes electrodes 4, for example dry electrodes, which measure brain activity in real time, a processing unit 5 on board for processing the signal and one or more loudspeaker (s) 6 which may be a loudspeaker. -classical speaker (by air) or with bone conduction in order to diffuse sounds.

The processing unit 5 can comprise one or more processors as well as memories and analog signal processing modules.

The device 2 can comprise a single chassis 7 on which the electrodes 4, the processing unit 5 and the loudspeaker (s) 6 are mounted. The device 2 can also comprise a battery. The battery 8 can be mounted on the chassis 6.

The system 1 and the device 2 are capable of implementing a controlled awakening process for an individual as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Such a method firstly comprises a step consisting in a) defining a desired time for waking the individual.

Before going to bed, for example, the user can set a desired wake-up time. The user can define this time on a software application implemented on the device 2 or on the remote module 3. In the latter case, the remote module 3 then communicates this desired time to the device 2, for example via a wireless link. like a bluetooth link. The remote module 3 and device 2 are then paired.

Two types of alarm clocks can then be implemented: an intelligent alarm clock on the device 2 as well as, if necessary, a conventional alarm clock on the remote module 3.

A conventional alarm clock is for example implemented in the following manner.

The classic alarm clock is an alarm at the desired time, it is a security in case of failure of the smart alarm clock. The classic alarm clock will only be deactivated if it is detected that the user is already awake at a time immediately preceding the desired time.

This can result in several signs, including:

- a sufficiently long awakening is detected via the EEG sensors and / or accelerometer,

- the device 2 is voluntarily switched off or a user interaction with the device 2 is detected, or else

- The device 2 is connected to the mains supply.

The detection of the user's awakening can be done for example by means of a local communication protocol such as iBeacon for iOS for example. Such a local communication protocol makes it possible to notify the remote module 3 of the presence of a device nearby.

Thus if the device 2 activates said protocol, the remote module 3 will receive a notification. This notification constitutes an indication that the remote module 3 can deactivate its alarm because the user is already awake.

The smart alarm clock is for example implemented as follows.

The method includes a step b) during which an action period is defined which is a function of, and prior to, the desired time of awakening.

This period of action can be dependent on the individual and is, for example, from a few minutes to about an hour, for example 20 min.

Thus, shortly before the waking time (for example 20 min before), the processing unit 5 of the device 2 will analyze the sleep of the user thanks to the signals from the electrodes 4, in particular to the curve of the encephalogram ( EEG) of the individual. The device 2 can also include other sensors such as an accelerometer for example. Based on this data, stimuli will be sent by the device 2 to gently wake the user.

More precisely, during the action period defined prior to the desired waking time, the device 2 implements the steps consisting in:

c) continuously acquire a measurement signal representative of an individual's physiological signal,

d) continuously determine a sleep depth index from the measurement signal,

e) repeatedly applying predefined acoustic stimuli to the individual, the intensity, the spectral content, the frequency and / or the phase of said acoustic stimuli being a function of the sleep depth index.

These steps c) -e) are implemented continuously and in parallel.

By “continuously acquire” and “continuously determine”, it is meant that the measurement signal and the sleep depth index are respectively acquired and determined in real time (for example in flexible real time) simultaneously and in parallel.

By "continuously" is meant that the operations and / or stages are repeated over time during an action period, in particular repeated in a periodic or quasi-periodic manner.

The stimulations are applied so that the index of sleep depth tends towards a value indicative of an awakening of the individual, and that this value is reached at the desired time of waking of the individual or in a predefined range around said desired wake-up time.

Stimulations are sounds, which can be more or less loud, and which can start more or less late depending on the sleep of the user. For example, for a deep sleep, the stimulations will start approximately 20 minutes before waking up (period of action) and the sound level will be at the maximum. On the other hand, for REM sleep, the stimulations will start around 15 min before waking up (action period) and the sound level will be average. To produce these sounds, the device can include different sound transducers, such as bone conduction modules or conventional speakers, located on the device 2.

In this way, it is possible to gradually get the user out of his sleep cycle so that he can feel fit and well awake.

The types of stimulation sounds can for example be chosen from the following list: bird, rain, torrent, forest, etc. or a music defined by the user, the ideal being surely the sounds which correspond to the awakening in general (e.g. birds, cocoricos etc.)

Different choices concerning the intensity, the spectral content, the frequency and / or the phase of the acoustic stimulations can be implemented in order to gradually awaken the user.

A first example of possibility concerning the choice of intensity, spectral content, frequency and phase of acoustic stimulation is as follows. Small sound simulations can be sent at constant volume and at regular time intervals (for example every 15 seconds) until a user wake-up is detected by the analysis of EEG signals and / or 1 accelerometer.

Another example may be to send signals at regular time intervals, but at a sound level dependent on the person's sleep depth (for example measured by the EEG and the accelerometer). In deep sleep, the stimulations can thus be stronger than in REM sleep. It is also possible to vary the delay between two successive stimulations, the duration of the stimulations or even their texture (for example the spectral content).

Stimulations can be synchronized with EEG patterns or rhythms to increase or decrease other EEG patterns or rhythms. The patterns or rhythms of the EEG can be for example:

- slow oscillations,

- sleep spindles,

- K complexes, slow waves,

- an alpha rhythm,

- a beta rhythm,

- any other motif or rhythm characteristic of the EEG.

A possible objective of the invention is to obtain a ίο

12Hz) alarm clock that never rings when the user is aware. Thus, advantageously, once the awakening of the user is detected, the stimulation is stopped.

For this we can define a condition for stopping stimulation. An example of a stop condition for stimulation is for example a stop of stimulation if:

P> S or Movements> M with:

P = Palpha / (Pdelta + Ptheta) where

Palpha is an alpha wave power (8r range

Pdelta is a delta wave power (range 04Hz '

Ptheta is a power of theta waves (48Hz range '

Its a stop threshold for the power, and M is a stop threshold for the movement. An example of a function for the volume of stimulation can then to be given as a function of P, a band of

Know the EEG frequency, user movements, and a preset wake-up ramp.

According to a method of the present invention, a phase for calibrating the sound volume can be implemented, in particular before going to bed.

Pre-sleep can allow hearing volume for each user. The hearing capacities and sensitivities vary from one individual to another, for example a too weak sound will not be heard by a hard of hearing person, it will need a stronger stimulation, which will be too painful for normal hearing.

Learning of a classifier can be implemented. It is thus for example possible to train an awakening classifier, to recognize the responses to calibrations deviant stimuli thresholds. Thus by sending identical stimuli followed by a deviant stimuli, we create examples of response during awakening which will constitute the learning corpus of the classifier.

A calibration phase during sleep associated with another sleep phase classification algorithm also makes it possible to know the modulation of the MMR and P300 according to the different sleep phases, in particular in order to identify them.

The calibration process can for example include:

- modulation of the sound volume, for example stimulation of increasing amplitude. The user then indicates when he begins to hear and when the sound becomes too loud. The amplitudes can also be chosen manually by the user (min, max or just a single value).

- training of the classifier, for example an emission of sound sequences to train the classifier.

An example of the calibration result may be a database containing the responses of the user's EEG signal to stimuli.

The calibration can also give one or more sound volume values in dB. From these sound values, an algorithm can then return the sound volume of slow wave stimulations.

Example of sound volume values:

- Stimulation volume = k * average (max volume, min volume) where k is a parameter to be determined,

- Stimulation volume = k * logarithmic mean (max volume, min volume) where k is a parameter to be determined,

- Stimulation volume = k * volume in case the calibration returns only one value for the volume

The calibration can be done for each user individually or can be done on a group of users.

"Wake-up index". For example, the term wake-up index 1 is understood to mean an index probability that stimulation stimulates the person to wake up. By probability of waking up is meant an index of probability that the person wakes up by himself "Sleep depth". Sleep depth is defined by its proportion of slow activity. We can also define the depth of sleep a posteriori by the form in which the user is after waking up. The better the user feels upon waking, the less we will define the sleep preceding his awakening as deep.

By proceeding in the manner detailed above, it is possible to let the user sleep for as long as possible and to wake him up by adapting to his sleep cycle. This in particular avoids relying on a sleep curve measured on the user to wait for a light sleep cycle, the user then risking being woken up well before waking time and losing sleep time.

The various methods and devices described above can be combined with one another if necessary.

Claims (9)

1. Method of controlled awakening of an individual: - a desired time of awakening of the individual is defined, - an action period is defined which is a function of, and prior to, the desired alarm time, - during the said action period: a measurement signal representative of a physiological signal of an individual is continuously acquired, a sleep depth index is continuously determined from the measurement signal, predefined acoustic stimuli are repeatedly applied to the individual such as intensity, spectral content, frequency and / or phase of said acoustic stimulations are a function of the sleep depth index so that the sleep depth index tends towards a value indicative of an awakening of the 'individual, and said value is reached at the desired time of awakening of the individual or in a predefined range around said desired time of awakening. 2. Method according to claim 1, in which, during said period of action, there is also continuously determined an index of probability of awakening from the measurement signal, and in which the intensity, the spectral content, the frequency and / or the phase of acoustic stimulation is also a function of the probability of awakening index so as to decrease the intensity of the acoustic stimulation perceived by the individual when the probability of awakening of the individual by acoustic stimulation increases. 3. Process according to 1 any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the measurement signal comprises an electroencephalogram and wherein the sleep depth index is at least a function of a spectral power of the measurement signal in the slow wave range and / or in the delta wave range, or alternatively a function of a frequency and / or a number of slow waves in the measurement signal. 4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the measurement signal comprises an electroencephalogram and in which the recovery probability index is at least a function of a spectral power of the measurement signal in the beta range and / or in the alpha wave range. 5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the measurement signal comprises a signal from an accelerometer carried by the individual and in which the probability of awakening index is at least a function of said signal from of the accelerometer. 6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sleep depth index and the probability of awakening index are identical. 7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which - an imperative wake-up time of the individual is defined beforehand and - if the sleep depth index has not reached a value indicative of an awakening of the individual at said imperative waking time, we apply to the individual, at said imperative waking time, sensory stimulation of awakening of sufficient intensity to awaken said individual, in particular stimulation of acoustic or vibratory awakening and - the process is stopped. 8. Device (2) worn by the individual during a sleep period implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and comprising: means of acquisition (4) of a measurement signal representative of a physiological signal of the individual, a processing unit (5) for analyzing the measurement signal and continuously determining a sleep depth index from the measurement signal, and - at least one loudspeaker (6), by air or bone conduction, for repeatedly applying predefined acoustic stimuli to the individual, the processing unit (5) and said at least one speaker being adapted for that the intensity, the spectral content, the frequency and / or the phase of said acoustic stimulations are a function of the sleep depth index so that The sleep depth index tends towards a value indicative of an awakening of the individual, and said value is reached at the desired time for waking the individual or in a predefined range around said desired time for waking. 9. System (1) implementing the method according to claim 7 and comprising a device (2) according to claim 8 and a remote module (3), in particular a smart phone or a base, capable of applying to the individual, at the time of imperative awakening, said sensory stimulation of awakening. 1/2