DETERMINING A LEVEL OF SLEEP OR A LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS
A device is disclosed that can include a number of contacts to provide a first signal indicative of one or more states of the patient's upper airway, and can include a control circuit configured to determine a level of sleep or a level of consciousness in the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal.
1 . A device comprising:
a number of contacts adapted to make contact with portions of an oral cavity of a patient and configured to provide a first signal indicative of one or more states of the patient's upper airway; and
a control circuit coupled to the contacts and configured to determine a level of sleep or a level of consciousness in the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first signal comprises one or more electromyogram (EMG) signals.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first signal is indicative of at least one of electrical activity in the patient's upper airway, movement of the patient's upper airway, and a change in the patient's respiration rate.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to determine the level of sleep or the level of consciousness based on a periodicity of the first signal.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
indicate a relatively light level of sleep based, at least in part, on the magnitude of the first signal varying by more than a first amount during a time period; and
indicate a relatively deep level of sleep based, at least in part, on the magnitude of the first signal varying by less than a second amount during the time period, wherein the second amount is less than the first amount.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
indicate a relatively light level of sleep based, at least in part, on a duration of time between successive peaks of the first signal being greater than a first time period; and
indicate a relatively deep level of sleep based, at least in part, on the duration of time between successive peaks of the first signal being less than a second time period, wherein the second time period is less than the first time period.
7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the successive peaks correspond to successive inspiration phases of the patient's respiration cycle.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
detect a change in the level of sleep based, at least in part, on the first signal; and
selectively adjust an electrical stimulation provided to a portion of the patient's upper airway, via the number of contacts, based on the detected change in the level of sleep in the patient.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
receive second signals from one or more sensors; and
determine the level of sleep or the level of consciousness based on a combination of the first and second signals.
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more sensors includes a thermistor.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
determine an average magnitude of the first signal during a time period;
indicate an increasing level of consciousness based, at least in part, on the average magnitude being greater than a value; and
indicate a decreasing level of consciousness based, at least in part, on the average magnitude being less than the value.
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
detect a change in the level of consciousness based, at least in part, on one of the indications; and
selectively adjust an electrical stimulation provided to a portion of the patient's upper airway, via the number of contacts, based on the detected change in the level of consciousness in the patient.
13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the number of contacts are affixed to a removable dental appliance adapted to fit within the patient's oral cavity.
14 . A method comprising:
receiving, from a number of contacts positioned within an oral cavity of a patient, a first signal indicative of one or more states of the patient's upper airway; and
determining a level of sleep or a level of consciousness in the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first signal comprises one or more electromyogram (EMG) signals.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first signal is indicative of at least one of electrical activity in the patient's upper airway, movement of the patient's upper airway, and a change in the patient's respiration rate.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein determining the level of sleep or the level of consciousness is based on a periodicity of the first signal.
18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
indicating a relatively light level of sleep based, at least in part, on the magnitude of the first signal varying by more than a first amount during a time period; and
indicating a relatively deep level of sleep based, at least in part, on the magnitude of the first signal varying by less than a second amount during the time period, wherein the second amount is less than the first amount.
19 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
indicating a relatively light level of sleep based, at least in part, on a duration of time between successive peaks of the first signal being greater than a first time period; and
indicating a relatively deep level of sleep based, at least in part, on the duration of time between successive peaks of the first signal being less than a second time period, wherein the second time period is less than the first time period.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the successive peaks correspond to successive inspiration phases of the patient's respiration cycle.
21 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
detecting a change in the level of sleep based, at least in part, on the first signal; and
selectively adjusting an electrical stimulation provided to a portion of the patient's upper airway, via the number of contacts, based on the detected change in the level of sleep in the patient.
22 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving second signals from one or more sensors; and
determining the level of sleep or the level of consciousness based on a combination of the first and second signals.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the one or more sensors includes a thermistor.
24 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
determining an average magnitude of the first signal during a time period;
indicating an increasing level of consciousness based, at least in part, on the average magnitude being greater than a value; and
indicating a decreasing level of consciousness based, at least in part, on the average magnitude being less than the value.
25 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising:
detecting a change in the level of consciousness based, at least in part, on one of the indications; and
selectively adjusting an electrical stimulation provided to a portion of the patient's upper airway, via the number of contacts, based on the detected change in the level of consciousness in the patient.
26 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the number of contacts are affixed to a removable dental appliance adapted to fit within the patient's oral cavity.