Patent ID: 8523758
Filing Date: 2013-09-03
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A system configured to provide breathing cues to a patient to alleviate insomnia or sleeplessness, the system being configured to provide the breathing cues to the patient as the patient is supported by a support surface, the system comprising: a feedback system configured to provide breathing cues to the patient via one or more feedback mechanisms, wherein the feedback system includes multiple feedback mechanisms; a patient monitor configured to generate one or more signals that convey information related to one or more physiological functions of the patient, the patient monitor comprising one or more sensors configured to generate one or more signals that convey information related to the one or more physiological functions, wherein the one or more physiological functions of the patient include a current breathing rate; and a processor in operative communication with each of the feedback system and the patient monitor, the processor being configured (i) to determine information related to at least one of the one or more physiological functions based at least in part on the one or more signals generated by the patient monitor, wherein the determined information includes a target breathing rate, (ii) to determine an adjusted target breathing rate based on the current breathing rate and the target breathing rate of the patient, wherein the processor is configured to determine the adjusted target breathing rate to reduce a difference between the current breathing rate and the target breathing rate in an incremental manner, (iii) to determine activation and/or deactivation of individual ones of the one or more feedback mechanisms, wherein the determination is based on determined information related to at least one of the one or more physiological functions, and (iv) to control the feedback system to activate individual ones of the one or more feedback mechanisms and provide the breathing cues to the patient according to a predetermined algorithm designed to prompt the patient to breathe at the adjusted target breathing rate such that the provided breathing cues correspond to the adjusted target breathing rate and such that the breathing cues are provided by the activated individual ones of the one or more feedback mechanisms, wherein the system further comprises a pressure support apparatus configured to provide a pressurized flow of gas for delivery to an airway of the patient, wherein provided breathing cues by the feedback system include one or more variations of one or more properties of the pressurized flow of gas, wherein the one or more sensors of the patient monitor comprise one or more sensors configured to generate output signals that convey information related to one or more ambient conditions, wherein the processor is further configured to determine one or more ambient conditions based on the generated output signals, wherein the processor is configured such that determination of activation and/or deactivation of individual ones of the one or more feedback mechanisms is further based on the one or more determined ambient conditions, wherein the one or more ambient conditions include one or more of an ambient light level, an ambient noise level, and/or one or more frequency ranges of ambient light, wherein the one or more feedback mechanisms comprise a visual feedback mechanism, wherein the processor is configured to determine activation of the visual feedback mechanism responsive to a determination that the ambient light level is below a light level threshold, wherein the one or more feedback mechanisms further comprise an auditory feedback mechanism, wherein the processor is further configured to determine deactivation of the visual feedback mechanism responsive to a determination that the ambient light level is above a particular light level threshold, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine activation of the auditory feedback mechanism responsive to the determined deactivation of the visual feedback mechanism.