WO2022020874A1

WO2022020874A1 - System and method for detecting sleep quality

Info

Publication number: WO2022020874A1
Application number: PCT/AT2021/060263
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans L. Malzl; Alexander MALZL; Andreas MALZL; Johannes MALZL; Meinhard Schwaiger
Original assignee: Malzl Hans L
Priority date: 2020-07-30
Filing date: 2021-07-30
Publication date: 2022-02-03
Also published as: AT524069A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (1000) for detecting sleep quality using a sleeping mattress (110). At least one sensor system (200) arranged in the sleeping mattress (110) is provided with at least one sensor, and at least one analysis unit can be connected to the at least one sensor system (200). The at least one sensor system (200) has an acceleration sensor arranged within the sleeping mattress (110), said acceleration sensor being designed to detect the acceleration signals generated by the heartbeat and/or respiration and/or movements of a person lying on the sleeping mattress (110). The invention also relates to a method for this purpose.

Description

System and method for measuring sleep quality

The invention relates to a system for recording the quality of sleep with a sleeping mattress, wherein at least one sensor system arranged in the sleeping mattress is provided with at least one sensor, and at least one evaluation unit can be connected to the at least one sensor system, and a method for recording the quality of sleep.

Sleep disorders are a very common impairment of the quality of life in otherwise healthy people, which affects around 75% of the 35-65 year old population in Germany, so that the most precise possible diagnosis of the responsible causes is of great importance. Polysomnography in the sleep laboratory provides the best possible statement on possible causes, in which sensors and probes applied to the body are used to record, for example, brain waves (EEG), heart activity (ECG), muscle activity (EMG), eye movements (EOG), respiratory flow, oxygen saturation and body movements measured during sleep, recorded and evaluated by a computer in order to be able to analyze the entire sleep cycle and the individual sleep phases. Although this method provides the most accurate information, it is only suitable for medical investigations due to the need for a fully equipped sleep laboratory, but not for permanent use in the private sector. In addition, the individual sleep perception and thus the analysis result is influenced by the laboratory environment.

For this reason, new and easy-to-handle devices for personal sleep monitoring have increasingly been developed in recent years.

From WO 2001/64103 A1, US 2018/049701 A1, CN 104 998 332 B, CN 105 534 150 A, CN 205 411 149 U, CN 206 403 512 U, CN 207 544 738 U, CN 107 713 513 A, Systems are known from CN 107 971 846 A, CN 107 582 064 A, CN 108 814 118 A or US Pat , is arranged in a bed mattress.

In US 2012/053424 Al, CN 125 01 59 U, KR 2013-0080920 A, FR 301 32 05 Bl, CN 104 352 108 A, WO 2017/0202499 Al, CN 107 007 415 A, CN 107 485 229 A, US 2019/201 269 A1, CN 109 308 503 A or CN 208 096 525 U disclose systems which use a large number of pressure sensors or inductive sensors in the mattress to record and measure physiological parameters.

US 2016/213 539 A1, KR 2017-0065853 A and CN 206 979 212 U show systems that are based on measuring the mattress climate, such as temperature and humidity. Systems are disclosed in CN 106 175 263 A or CN 104 019 529 A which are based on the measurement of environmental parameters such as air pressure, room temperature, light and air conditions.

Systems are disclosed in CN 129 27 07 C or EP 2 617 328 A1 that change a pressure distribution in the mattress on the basis of measured physiological parameters such as heart rate, body movement or respiration.

Systems are shown in US 2005/190 068 A1, CN 103 142 219 A, CN 203 169 157 U, CN 106 236 015 A, KR 2019-0035361 A, CN 110 051 329 A or CN 110 101 375 A The physiological parameters are recorded by means of flexible sensors or by means of flexible sensor arrays or sensor bands, for example by means of piezoelectric sensors in the mattress, and their signals are processed, for example, by means of a smartphone app.

Systems are known from CN 105 520 428 A and US 2017/290 548 A1 that monitor breathing by means of sound measurement or by means of capacitive sensors and detect sleep apnea, for example.

CN 205 306 506 U discloses systems in which the sleep state is detected using an infrared detector.

CN 106 333 691 A discloses a system that can be worn on the body and uses 3D acceleration sensors to measure movement data of the sleeping person.

A medical sleeping mattress with inflatable chambers is known from EP 2 664 315 A1, which uses a gyroscopic device to measure the inclination of the head part of the sleeping mattress to control the pressure distribution in the inflatable chambers.

A disadvantage of the known systems for sleep monitoring is that the corresponding sensors are usually in direct physical contact, for example in the form of electrodes applied to the skin, or sensors to be worn directly on the body, for example in the form of sensors integrated into bracelets or smart watches , which affects sleeping comfort.

In other systems, the sensors are located underneath the sleeping mattress between the sleeping mattress and the bed frame, so that the sensors only record a fraction of the parameters required for the most meaningful sleep monitoring possible. As a result of the damping, the measured values obtained are falsified, so that the results deviate greatly from reality and only insufficient measured values are available for the subsequent evaluation and sleep analysis. Likewise, the systems described in the prior art usually only detect individual ones

Parameters such as movement data or heart rate or respiration rate or body temperature with the help of one or more measuring sensors arranged in a linear or matrix-like manner. Such systems have become known, for example, in WO 2011/094448 A1 or DE 10 2013 210 164 A1. The arrangement and maintenance of these numerous sensors, which are usually embedded in the sleeping mattress, is space-consuming and costly. Furthermore, the individual sensors must be synchronized with one another in order to avoid phase shifts and/or drifting of individual measured values, which would impair the evaluation quality and lead to misinterpretations.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a system and a method for recording the sleep quality that allows precise measurement of parameters for monitoring the sleep state and its biometric analysis with little space and maintenance requirements.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a system of the type mentioned at the outset in that the at least one sensor system has an acceleration sensor arranged inside the sleeping mattress, which is set up to detect the acceleration caused by the heartbeat and/or breathing and/or by movements of a person on the Sleeping mattress lying person to capture generated acceleration signals sen.

The sleep state of a person lying on the sleeping mattress is monitored by means of the sensor system integrated in the sleeping mattress in such a way that the sleeping person generates significantly different vibration or movement patterns which are transmitted to the sleeping mattress and measured by the sensor system according to the invention. The beating heart thus generates an oscillation that can be measured directly as a vibration by the at least one acceleration sensor.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensor is designed as an inertial measurement unit with a 3DoF sensor, a 6DoF sensor or a 9DoF sensor. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) is a spatial combination of several inertial sensors such as acceleration sensors and angular rate sensors. Devices of this type are usually used in aircraft and rockets for flight navigation and in robotics for motion detection. Particularly space-saving IMUs are used in aircraft models.

In the sensor system according to the invention, an IMU with a 6DoF sensor (DoF = Degrees of Freedom) is preferably used, which performs acceleration measurements in the three spatial axes C, U, Z and rotation rate measurements about the three spatial axes X, Y, Z-axis and so that the one on the sleeping mattress Vibrations caused by a person lying are recorded particularly precisely. Disease-related deviations, such as sleep apnea as a result of respiratory arrest, hypoventilation or snoring, can also be recorded particularly well and recorded for subsequent evaluations.

In another particularly precise embodiment of the invention, the IMU has a 9DoF sensor, which, in addition to the six degrees of freedom described above, namely the linear acceleration measurement along the three spatial axes and the determination of the rotation rate about these three spatial axes, also determines the magnetic field strength of the earth's magnetic field along the three spatial axes possible. This additional measurement of the change in magnetic field strength as a result of a change in the orientation of the magnetic field sensor relative to the earth's magnetic field allows the sensor system according to the invention to determine the exact position within the sleeping mattress, which changes due to the movement of the body on the sleeping mattress.

But also the blood flow in the body, which is phase-shifted to the heart rhythm in a forwards/backwards movement, the blood flow is led in spurts to the outer extremities and then back into the heart, whereby the mass of the blood pumped in spurts corresponds to a multiple of the heart mass another vibration whose frequency is the same as, but out of phase with, that of the heartbeat. This second vibration aligned in the longitudinal axis of the body is known as cardioballistography, which generates a significantly stronger signal due to the larger blood mass in relation to the heart mass and can therefore be measured with greater precision according to the present invention, preferably using the combination of acceleration sensor and yaw rate sensor.

Another vibration pattern is created by breathing, during which the chest of the person lying on the sleeping mattress periodically expands and contracts again, whereby the breathing creates a vibration pattern that is clearly distinguishable from the heart rate and blood flow due to the much higher mass of the upper body.

Another vibration pattern is created by the body movements that are carried out by the person consciously or unconsciously during sleep, and which can lead to a change in lying position, a change in the center of gravity, movement of the extremities or similar. In particular, there is a change in the sinking profile in the sleeping mattress, which can be measured using the sensor combination of an acceleration sensor and a yaw rate sensor. In this way, the sleeping time can also be delimited, because the occupancy of the sleeping mattress or its leaving can be measured very precisely by the sensors used. The at least one sensor system is preferably arranged within the sleeping mattress in the area of the upper body of a person lying on the sleeping mattress.

Since environmental parameters can also have a significant influence on the quality of sleep, another embodiment of the invention provides that the at least one sensor system has at least one additional sensor, which is preferably selected from a group that includes temperature sensors, humidity sensors, noise sensors, air quality sensors and /or contains light sensors. Temperature sensors and moisture sensors also arranged in the sleeping mattress are used in particular to record other physiological parameters of the person lying on the sleeping mattress. These can be an integral part of the sensor system or arranged as an independent sensor group in the sleeping mattress.

Alternatively or additionally, in a further variant of the invention, sensors arranged outside the sleeping mattress, such as temperature sensors, humidity sensors, noise sensors, air quality sensors and/or light sensors, can be connected to the sensor system according to the invention, which in particular allows conclusions to be drawn about the influence of room climate, lighting conditions and/or Background noise on sleep quality allowed.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the sleeping mattress is designed as a test mattress in which the at least one sensor system is arranged. Using this test mattress, which preferably has the different sensors described above, a selection can be made for a sleeping mattress that is individually adapted to the needs of the person being tested.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a method for detecting the sleep quality, wherein at least one sensor system is provided which has at least one acceleration sensor with which the heart rate and/or breathing rate and/or movements of a person lying on the sleeping mattress are measured in a second step, the measured values obtained are processed in at least one evaluation unit using mathematical methods, and in a third step, the course of sleep is assessed qualitatively and quantitatively on the basis of the processed measured values.

In the method according to the invention for monitoring the sleep state of a person lying on the sleeping mattress using a sensor system integrated into the sleeping mattress, the measurement signals obtained are evaluated in the evaluation unit, usually an integrated processor unit or an external computer system.

The sensor system according to the invention works with a resolution between 100 Hz and 10,000 Hz in order to obtain the desired information about respiration, heartbeat and/or (Micro)movements of the person on the sleeping mattress with the necessary precision. Provision is preferably made here for the at least one sensor system to transmit the measured values to the at least one evaluation unit at predefined time intervals, preferably at time intervals of between 1 minute and 15 minutes, particularly preferably at time intervals of between 2 minutes and 5 minutes. Thus, during the observation/monitoring period, the successively measured values, in particular the measured frequencies and amplitudes of the various vibrations caused by heartbeat, blood flow, respiration and/or movement, are analyzed in the evaluation unit at defined time intervals, with the chronological sequence changing parameters such as heart rate, breathing rate and movement pattern preferably a sleep phase model is created. The sleep is summarized from the measured values determined and the sleep phase model by means of one or more easily interpretable characteristic values. In particular, sleep fragmentation and anomalies such as respiratory arrest, snoring and possibly also cardiac arrhythmias can be made visible and chronologically assignable.

In order to reduce the influence of interference signals from the environment, such as vibrations in the building, natural vibrations of the sleeping furniture or influences from a second person and thus to improve the quality of the recorded measured values, a further embodiment of the invention provides that mathematical filters, such as Kalmann filters or low-pass filters, are used when evaluating the measurement results.

Provision is particularly preferably made here for the measured values processed mathematically in the at least one evaluation unit to be output as a hypnogram. This is particularly easy to read for the layperson.

A significant advantage of the method according to the invention lies in particular in the fact that the sleep quality is monitored over a longer period of time without the person concerned having to intervene, for example by attaching sensors to their body, etc.

In a further embodiment of the invention, recommendations for improving the quality of sleep are output, preferably automatically, on the basis of the results determined. These recommendations relate to measures such as time recommendations with regard to the beginning of bed rest, the duration of sleep or the time of waking up, or the change in environmental conditions, in particular the room climate or the lighting conditions in the immediate vicinity of the sleeping furniture.

The measures can also affect the sleeping furniture itself. Thus, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, to improve the quality of sleep Based on the results determined, recommendations for adjusting the sleeping mattress are issued and/or the adjustments to the sleeping mattress are automated, in particular with regard to their hardness and/or the hardness zone distribution in the sleeping mattress.

For the preferably automated determination of recommendations for a healthy and restful sleep and thus a better quality of life, the determined current measured values are compared with historical measured values and/or with theoretical and empirical values from a database that may be stored in the evaluation unit.

The recommendations determined in this way can relate to a large number of individual measures, such as time recommendations for starting bed rest, the duration of sleep or the time of waking up, or information of a general nature such as general recommendations for healthy and restful sleep. Warnings can also be issued for detected anomalies such as respiratory arrest or snoring or muscle twitching.

Finally, the system according to the invention or the method according to the invention can also be used in particular when selecting a sleeping mattress that is optimally adapted to the individual needs of the person. For this purpose, the sensor system according to the invention is accommodated within a sleeping mattress acting as a test mattress, the hardness or hardness distribution of the test mattress being adaptable as required in a manner known per se, for example by means of compressed air or exchangeable foam inserts. By evaluating the measurement signals obtained depending on the configuration of the test mattress, it is possible to select an optimal sleeping mattress.

The invention is explained in more detail below using a non-limiting exemplary embodiment with associated figures. show in it

1 shows a schematic representation of the system according to the invention for monitoring the quality of sleep,

2 shows an exemplary signal recording of the system according to the invention, and

3 shows a hypnogram determined from the signal recording.

1 shows a system according to the invention for monitoring the quality of sleep 1000, wherein a piece of sleeping furniture 100 is provided, on which a sleeping mattress 110 is arranged. In this sleeping mattress 110, a sensor system 200 is arranged in that area of the sleeping mattress 110 below its lying surface on which the upper body of a person located on the sleeping mattress 110 usually rests. In this embodiment of the invention, the sensor system 200 is equipped with a 6DoF sensor 210; alternatively, 3DoF sensors or 9DoF sensors are also used. A 6DoF sensor allows acceleration measurements along the three spatial axes X, Y, Z and a yaw rate measurement ac, a _y , a _z around each of these three spatial axes, i.e. measurements along six degrees of freedom. In addition, the sensor system 200 is equipped with further sensors for recording measured values, in particular the temperature, the humidity and/or the light conditions (not shown).

A person resting on the sleeping mattress 110 generates typical vibration patterns that are detected by the 6DoF sensor 210 of the sensor system 200 . The heartbeat of the person generates a pulsating movement of blood in the body, with the 6DoF sensor 210 of the sensor system 200 detecting the heartbeat on the one hand and this pulsating blood flow along the body axis of the person on the sleeping mattress 110 on the other hand as an independent oscillation with an associated frequency and Acceleration amplitude recorded. Due to the rhythmic expansion and contraction of the chest, breathing also generates a second oscillation pattern that can be distinguished from the heart rhythm and is also detected using the 6DoF sensor 210 . Finally, every change in the sleeping position, the position or posture of the person on the sleeping mattress 110 generates another different vibration pattern, which in turn is detected by the 6DoF sensor 210 sensor system 200 by measuring acceleration or measuring the yaw rate. Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that a change in the lying position of the person on the sleeping mattress causes a change in the position and orientation of the sensor system 200 within the sleeping mattress 210 and thus relative to the earth's magnetic field, which can be measured via an additional sensor for measuring the magnetic field strength, such as contained, for example, in a 9DoF sensor.

The measured values determined by the sensor system 200 are usually recorded and/or evaluated and displayed in a data processing system (not shown).

Thus, FIG. 2 shows a typical signal recording 300 of the sensor system 200 according to the invention in the form of a diagram whose y-axis shows a large number of parameters as a function of time (x-axis). For example, the temperature, the earth's magnetic field, the linear acceleration in the three spatial axes, the rotational speed, etc. can be read off. The oscillation curves 301 recorded in the area labeled "Linear Acceleration" show the heartbeat, with its effect on the 6DoF sensor 210 in the three spatial directions X, Y, Z, while in the field labeled "Gravity Factor" the associated oscillation curves 302 are shown for the respiratory rate. The respiratory interval 302A can be determined from the recorded oscillation curves 302 for the respiratory rate. In order to clearly display the signal recording 300 for the user, it is preferably provided that a so-called hypnogram 400 (FIG. 3) is created, in which a sleep phase profile 410 is displayed on the basis of the received signals or oscillation patterns by conversion using mathematical algorithms. The duration of the individual sleep phases, for example the waking phase 411, the dream phase (REM phase) 412, the light sleep phase 413 and the deep sleep phase 414, can be taken from this hypnogram 400. In addition, the individual sleep phases are evaluated as curves 415 to represent the individual sleep cycles. Finally, any body movement or body activity 416 over the duration of sleep can also be taken from this hypnogram 400 .

It is also conceivable that additional curves for environmental parameters, such as temperature conditions, noise exposure, etc., or other physiological parameters such as body temperature are included in this hypnogram 400.

The signal recording 300 or the hypnogram 400 allows the sleep quality of the person on the sleeping mattress 210 to be assessed and can be used as proof of any pathological changes, such as sleep apnea, cardiac arrhythmias, etc.

Claims

WO 2022/020874 PCT/AT2021/060263 PATENT CLAIMS

1. System (1000) for detecting the quality of sleep with a sleeping mattress (110), wherein at least one sensor system (200) arranged in the sleeping mattress (110) with at least one sensor is provided, and at least one evaluation unit with the at least one sensor system (200 ) can be connected, characterized in that the at least one sensor system (200) has at least one acceleration sensor which is arranged inside the sleeping mattress (110) and is set up to detect the acceleration caused by the heartbeat and/or by breathing and/or by movements of a the person lying on the sleeping mattress (110) to detect acceleration signals.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor is designed as an inertial measurement unit with a 3DoF sensor, a 6DoF sensor (210) or a 9DoF sensor.

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one sensor system (200) is arranged inside the sleeping mattress (110) in the region of the upper body of a person lying on the sleeping mattress (110).

4. System according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one sensor system (200) has at least one additional sensor, which is preferably selected from a group comprising temperature sensors, humidity sensors, noise sensors, air quality sensors and/or light sensors contains.

5. System according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sleeping mattress (110) is designed as a test mattress in which the at least one sensor system (200) is arranged.

6. Method for detecting the quality of sleep with a system (200) according to one of claims 1 to 5, with a sleeping mattress (110), wherein at least one sensor system (200) arranged in the sleeping mattress (110) is provided with at least one sensor, and at least one evaluation unit can be connected to the at least one sensor system (200), characterized in that the at least one sensor system (200) has at least one acceleration sensor with which the heart rate and/or the breathing rate and/or the movements of a person on the sleeping mattress (110) lying of the person are measured, and in a second step in the at least one evaluation unit the course of sleep is processed using the measured values obtained using mathematical methods, and in a third step is assessed qualitatively and quantitatively.

7. The method according to any one of claims 6, characterized in that the measured values processed mathematically in the at least one evaluation unit are output as a hypnogram (400) and/or as a characteristic value representing the quality of sleep.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the at least one sensor system (200) transmits the measured values to the at least transmitted to an evaluation unit.

9. The method as claimed in one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the measurement values are recorded by the at least one sensor system (200) at a frequency of 100 Hz to 10,000 Hz, preferably 500 Hz to 5,000 Hz.

10. The method as claimed in one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that recommendations for improving the quality of sleep are output, preferably automatically, on the basis of the results determined.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the recommendations relate to measures, such as time recommendations with regard to the beginning of bed rest, the duration of sleep or the time of waking up, or the change in environmental conditions, in particular the room climate or the lighting conditions.

12. The method according to any one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that to improve the sleep quality based on the determined results, recommendations for adjusting the sleeping mattress (110), in particular concerning the hardness and/or the hardness zone distribution in the sleeping mattress (110). given and / or preferably be carried out automatically.

13. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 12, characterized in that the sleeping mattress acts as a test mattress, with the at least one sensor system (200) arranged at least in the test mattress making recommendations for the selection of an individually adapted sleeping mattress on the basis of the results determined, preferably be issued automatically.

2020 07 30

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