Stimulus escalator for a closed loop neuromodulator

1 . A stimulus escalator for modulating an energy level of a sleep therapy stimulus for a patient, the stimulus escalator comprising:

an escalation address generator configured to receive a stimulus start signal from a timer of a closed loop neuromodulator and to provide an address related to an escalation envelope function of the sleep therapy in response to the stimulus start signal;

an escalation memory array configured to receive the address from the escalation address generator, the escalation memory array configured to select an escalation envelope function using the address;

an amplifier coupled to the escalation memory array, the amplifier configured to receive a stimulus signal from a stimulus generator of the closed loop neuromodulator, to receive a stimulus duration signal from the timer of the closed loop neuromodulator, and to provide a stimulus driver signal to the closed loop neuromodulator using the stimulus signal and the stimulus duration signal; and

wherein the stimulus escalator is configured to adjust energy level information of the stimulus signal according to the escalation envelope function.

2 . The stimulus escalator of claim 1 , wherein the closed loop neuromodulator is configured to provide, in response to the stimulus start signal, a first stimulus to the patient, the first stimulus configured to not interrupt the detected sleep disorder event; and

wherein the closed loop neuromodulator is configured to provide, following the first stimulus, a second stimulus to the patient using information from the stimulus escalator, the second stimulus having more energy than the first stimulus and configured to interrupt the detected sleep disorder event.

3 . The stimulus escalator of claim 1 , including an escalator load control register configured to receive or provide an escalator load control command using a control bus of the closed loop neuromodulator.

4 . The stimulus escalator of claim 1 , including an escalator load address register configured to receive or provide an escalator address load command using a control bus of the closed loop neuromodulator.

5 . The stimulus escalator of claim 1 , including an escalator load data register configured to receive or provide an escalator data load command using a control bus of the closed loop neuromodulator.

6 . The stimulus escalator of claim 1 , wherein the escalator envelope function includes at least one of a constant function, a linear function, a polynomial function, a exponential function, or a logarithmic function.

7 . The stimulus escalator of claim 1 , wherein the stimulus escalator is configured to adjust a stimulus rate of the stimulus signal according to the stimulus escalation function.

8 . The stimulus escalator of claim 1 , wherein the stimulus escalator is configured to adjust a stimulus duration of the stimulus signal according to the stimulus escalation function.

9 . The stimulus escalator of claim 1 , wherein the stimulus escalator is configured to adjust a stimulus level of the stimulus signal according to the stimulus escalation function.

10 . The stimulus escalator of claim 1 , wherein the stimulus escalator is configured to adjust a repeat pattern of the stimulus signal according to the stimulus escalation function.

11 . A system for modulating an energy level of a sleep therapy stimulus for a patient, the system comprising:

a sensor configured to detect information indicative of respiration from a patient;

a closed loop neuromodulator configured to optimize sleep therapy for the patient, the closed loop neuromodulator including:

a stimulus escalator configured to adjust a stimulus signal for the patient, the stimulus sequencer including:

an escalation address generator configured to receive a stimulus start signal from a timer of a closed loop neuromodulator and to provide an address related to an escalation envelope function of the sleep therapy in response to the stimulus start signal;

an escalation memory array configured to receive the address from the escalation address generator, the escalation memory array configured to select an escalation envelope function using the address;

an amplifier coupled to the escalation memory array, the amplifier configured to receive a stimulus signal from a stimulus generator of the closed loop neuromodulator, to receive a stimulus duration signal from the timer of the closed loop neuromodulator, and to provide a stimulus driver signal to the closed loop neuromodulator using the stimulus signal and the stimulus duration signal;

wherein the stimulus escalator is configured to adjust energy level information of the stimulus signal according to the escalation envelope function;

an escalator load control register configured to receive and provide escalator load control commands using a control bus of the closed loop neuromodulator;

an escalator load address register configured to receive and provide escalator address load commands using the control bus;

an escalator load data register configured to receive and provide escalator data load commands using the control bus;

wherein the escalator envelope function includes at least one of a constant function, a linear function, a polynomial function, a exponential function, or a logarithmic function; and

wherein the closed loop neuromodulator is configured to provide, in response to the stimulus start signal, a first stimulus to a transducer, the first stimulus configured to not interrupt the detected sleep disorder event;

wherein the closed loop neuromodulator is configured to provide, following the first stimulus, a second stimulus to the transducer using information from the stimulus escalator, the second stimulus having more energy than the first stimulus and configured to interrupt the detected sleep disorder event; and

wherein the transducer is configured to deliver the first and second stimuli to the patient.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the sensor includes at least one of a thermocouple, a thermistor, an air pressure transducer, an electrode, a respiratory effort belt, or a pyro/piezoelectric sensor; and

wherein the transducer includes at least one of an acoustic transducer, a tactile mechanical agitator, an ocular stimulator, an electrical stimulator, a thermal stimulator, or an ultrasonic stimulator configured to modulate an audible signal onto an ultrasonic sound carrier.

13 . A method for modulating an energy level of a sleep therapy stimulus signal for a patient, the method comprising:

receiving a stimulus start signal from a timer of a closed loop neuromodulator at an escalation address generator;

providing an address related to an escalation envelope function of the sleep therapy to an escalation memory array;

selecting an escalation envelope function using the address;

receiving a stimulus signal from a stimulus generator of the closed loop neuromodulator at an escalation amplifier;

receiving a stimulus duration signal from a timer of the closed loop neuromodulator at the escalation amplifier;

providing a stimulus driver signal to the closed loop neuromodulator using the stimulus signal and the stimulus duration signal; and

adjusting an energy level of the stimulus signal using the selected escalation envelope function.

14 . The method of claim 13 , including detecting a sleep disorder event using the respiration information sensed from the patient; and

providing the stimulus start signal in response to the detected sleep disorder event.

15 . The method of claim 14 , including providing a sleep therapy to the patient in response to the detected sleep disorder event.

16 . The method of claim 14 , including:

providing, in response to the stimulus start signal, a first stimulus to the patient, the first stimulus configured to not interrupt the detected sleep disorder event; and

providing, following the first stimulus, a second stimulus to the patient using information from the stimulus escalator, the second stimulus having more energy than the first stimulus and configured to interrupt the detected sleep disorder event.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the adjusting the energy level includes adjusting a stimulus rate of the stimulus signal according to the escalation envelope function.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the adjusting the energy level includes adjusting a stimulus duration of the stimulus signal according to the escalation envelope function.

19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the adjusting the energy level includes adjusting a stimulus level of the stimulus signal according to the escalation envelope function.

20 . The method of claim 13 , including receiving or providing at least one of an escalator load control command, an escalator address load command, or an escalator data load command using a control bus of the closed loop neuromodulator, wherein the receiving or providing includes receiving from a user or providing to a user.