Description

The present invention relates to an electronic device for reduction of snoring of an individual. The present invention further relates to methods for reduction of snoring of an individual using the device of present invention. The device of present invention provides a stimulus to the snorer to condition him/her to sleep without snoring, resulting in behavioural conditioning of the snorer.

Snoring is noisy breathing during sleep. Snoring is a common problem among all ages and both genders and affects over 500 million people worldwide on a daily basis. Snoring is caused by vibrations that cause particles in the air to form sound waves. While breathing, air flows in and out in a steady stream between the nose, mouth and lungs. When air moves more quickly it produces sounds because air is moving in and out of the nose and mouth more quickly and this results in more turbulence to the airflow and some vibration of the tissues in the nose and mouth. When asleep, the area at the back of the throat sometimes narrows as the muscles relax creating a smaller opening for the air passing through, thereby increasing the airflow and creating a more turbulent airflow'. The turbulent airflow can cause the tissues of the palate of the mouth, and throat to vibrate, and causing the tissues surrounding the opening to vibrate, resulting in the sounds of snoring.

Snoring can occur during all stages of sleep. Sleep consists of several stages, but in general they can be divided into REM and non-REM stages. Snoring is most common in REM sleep, because in this stage there is less to no muscle tone. During REM sleep, the brain sends the signal to the muscles of the body to relax. The tongue, palate, and throat may collapse when they relax causing the airway to narrow and resulting in snoring.

Persons most at risk are males and those w'ho are ovenveight, and snoring usually becomes more serious as people age. People who snore are more likely to be tired and irritable.

The noise of snoring also affects sleeping partners, diminishing the quality of their night rest. It can lead to fragmented and un-refreshing sleep, resulting in tiredness and sleepiness and will translate into poor daytime function, diminished sexual satisfaction, depression, and may even lead to health associated risks. The most common adverse health effects that are believed to be casually linked to snoring are daytime dysfunction and heart disease.

Methods to reduce or even treat snoring are mainly focused on reducing the movement of the soft palate, thereby reducing the chance of producing turbulent airflow. Another method is the use of specially adapted dental devices that hold the jaw forward and since the tongue is attached in the front to the jaw, the tongue also is held forward. Also, some devices are designed to hold the palate up and forward. Continuous positive airway pressure is a device, a mask connected by tubing to a pump, often used in patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea. Continuous positive airway pressure provides a constant, increased air pressure to prevent airway narrowing. However, the main problem with this device is that it has to be worn to be effective and is not very comfortable, reducing the patient compliance and adherence to such devices. Surgery to treat snoring is generally focused on improving a narrow nasal passage.

However, while improvements in reducing of snoring may occur after surgery, studies have not shown this to be the case. Furthermore, snoring may be reduced by a change in behaviour.

Behavioural changes include weight loss, changing sleeping positions, avoiding alcohol, smoking cessation. However, all methods indicated above often do not provide a sufficient satisfactory' result to reduce or prevent snoring or are very' uncomfortable or even painful to use or wear during sleep, thereby interfering with the user's sleep and reducing the compliance of the snorer and.

Considering the above, there is a need in the art to provide for a more comfortable, non-invasive and more effective anti-snoring device that will increase the snore r ^’ s (= individual who snores) compliance to use the device and does not interfere with the snorer’ s sleep of the his/her sleeping partner. The device should increase the chances of reducing of snoring or even avoid the occurrence of snoring, without leading to discomfort of the individual that is snoring or his/her sleeping partner.

It is an object of the present invention, amongst other objects, to address the above need in the art. The object of present invention, amongst other objects, is met by the present invention as outlined in the appended claims.

Specifically, the above object, amongst other objects, is met, according to a first aspect, by the present invention by an electronic device for reduction of snoring of an individual, wherein the device is comprised of a housing (5) holding receiving means (1) for receiving a snoring sound of the individual, the receiving means is in communication with a signal generating means (3) for generating an audio signal upon detection of the snoring sound by the receiving means (1), the device further comprises a controller (2) for regulating the signal generating means, the controller being connected to the receiving means and to the signal generating means (3), and signal regulating means (6) for regulating the frequency of the generated audio signal, wherein the generated audio signal has a frequency of between 1.500 to 2.500 Hz, preferably 1.650 to 2.350 Hz, more preferably 1.800 to 2.200 Hz.

The device of present invention detects the sound of a snore and provides a stimulus to the snorer to condition him/her to sleep without snoring, resulting in time to behavioural conditioning of the snorer. The snorer subconsciously becomes aware of the audio stimulus generated by the device of present invention each time the snores sound is received and will condition the snorer’s behaviour to reduce or even stop snoring. The device of present invention does not need to be worn by the snorer and is not in any way uncomfortable to use. The device generates an acoustic stimulus that stimulates and conditions the snorer to stop producing the snoring sound, without disturbing the snoreris partner. Experiments have shown that an audio signal is of a specific frequency in combination with sufficient amplitude to attend the snorer that he/she needs to stop snoring, but is not necessarily so loud as to fully awaken the snorer. The generated audio signal has a frequency of between 1.500 to 2.500 Hz, preferably 1.650 to 2.350 Hz, more preferably 1.800 to 2.200 Hz. The device of present invention is placed in the vicinity of the snorer. When the patient starts snoring, often because he/she lies on it back (position), the device of present invention detects the snoring sound and outputs a signal within the specified frequency range and promotes the snorer to change his/her sleeping position from a back to the side position. The device thus reduces the time that the patient is lying on his back without changing or disturbing the sleep patterns. The Device of present invention detects the snoring sound and outputs a signal within the frequency range as specified without disturbing the sleep pattern of the individuals present in the bedroom. It w as found that the generated signal does not wake the snorer or bedpartner, but affects the subconscious mind of the snorer. The Device is set so that it only come into operation when a snoring sound is detected. The Device stops producing an audio tone when it snoring sound is stopped/not detected anymore, preferably within a few seconds.

According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the electronic device wherein the audio signal is generated for a duration of at most 10 seconds, preferably at most 7 seconds, more preferably at most 5 seconds, most preferably at most 3 seconds.

Preferably, the amplitude and/or duration of the audio signal can increases when the snorer does not respond to the audio signal, i.e. continues to produce a snoring sound. The device of present invention comprises signal regulating means (6) for regulating the frequency, intensity and duration of the generated audio signal such that the snorer will receive the right amount of stimulus to disrupt snoring manually.

According to another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the electronic device, wherein the generated audio signal has an intensity of at least 40 dB, preferably at least 50 dB, most preferably at least 60 dB. The device of present invention is able to regulate the intensity of the audio signal up to 80 dB.

According to another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the electronic device wherein the signal regulating means (6) further is arranged for regulating the intensity' and/or duration of the generated audio signal.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the electronic device, wherein the audio signal is a whistle-like sound. Experiments showed that whistle like sounds are most suitable for conditioning of the snorer to reduce the snoring action, and at the same time not to wake up the snorer, or the snorer’s bed partner.

According to another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the electronic device wherein the receiving means (1) is comprised of a microphone and sensor means for receiving the snoring sound and subsequently providing an output signal when the snoring sound exceeds a predetermined intensity threshold. This predetermined intensity threshold of the snoring sound is at most 25 dB, more preferably at most 30 dB, most preferably at most 40 dB. The intensity' of the snoring sound is detected with a sensitive microphone.

According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the electronic device wherein the signal generating means (3) is an electroacoustic transducer, preferably a electrostatic loudspeaker or magnetostrictive loudspeaker. Preferably an electrostatic loudspeaker is used in the device of present invention.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the electronic device wherein the device is powered by a power supply (4) located inside said housing, preferably the power supply (4) is at least one battery. The housing of the device of present invention can be comprised of any material, but is preferably selected from metal, plastic, rubber or wood, most preferably plastic. The housing holds a power supply, such as a battery, to provide power to the receiving means (1), signal generating means (3) and controller (2). Since the electronic device of present invention is powered by a battery' that is housed inside the device, it can be used anywhere, e.g. during travel.

The present invention, according to a second aspect, relates to a method for reduction of snoring of an individual using the electronic device of present invention, wherein the method comprises the steps of;

a) receiving a snoring sound by the receiving means (1),

b) determining when the snoring sound received by the receiving means exceeds a predetermined intensity threshold,

c) activating the signal generating means (3) by the controller (2), d) generating a first audio signal by the signal generating means (3) such that the snoring is interrupted without waking up the individual who is snoring or any other individual that is sleeping.

According to another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the method wherein at step d) an additional second audio signal is generated following the first generated audio signal, wherein said additional second audio signal has a frequency' and intensity' that is different than the first audio signal. The time of snoring seem to decrease in response to the first and subsequent sounds produced by the device, indicating that the snorer’s response on a sound generated by the device is accelerated at a second, third and sometimes fourth generated signal during the night. Four out of five patients had a delayed response time at the first sound, which was then shortly followed by a second generated sound. After the second sound, the patient responded by turning away from the sound changing from the back position to the side position, in which the snoring stopped.

According to another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the method wherein the first and/or second generated audio signal is generated for a duration of at most 10 seconds, preferably at most 7 seconds, more preferably at most 5 seconds, most preferably at most 2 seconds.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the method wherein the generated first and/or second audio signal have a frequency of between 1.500 to 2.500 Hz, preferably 1.650 to 2.350Hz, more preferably 1.800 to 2.200 Hz.

According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the method wherein the generated first and/or second audio signal have an intensity of at least 40 dB, preferably at least 50 dB, most preferably at least 60 dB.

According to another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the method wherein the predetermined intensity threshold of the snoring sound is at most 25 dB, more preferably at most 30 dB, most preferably at most 40 dB.

According to another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the method wherein the generated first and/or second audio signal is a whistle-like sound.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the method wherein die first generated audio signal has an intensity of 40 to 50 dB, a frequency of between 2.000 to 2.050 Hz, and is generated for a duration of between 2.000 to 2.200 milliseconds.

According to another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the method wherein the second generated audio signal has an intensity of 40 to 50 dB, a frequency of between 1.950 to 2.050 Hz, and is generated for a duration of between 2.000 to 2.400 milliseconds.

The present invention will be further detailed in the following figure and example wherein:

Figure 1: shows a schematic overview of a preferred embodiment of the device of present invention for reduction of snoring. The device comprises a housing holding the receiving means (1), a controller (2), signal generating means (3), signal regulating means (6) and preferably a power supply (4). The snoring sound produced by an individual sleeping is received by the receiving means (1) which is in communication with the signal generating means (3). The controller is connected both to the receiving means and to the signal generating means and the controller (2) regulates the signal generating means producing an audio signal within the frequency of between 1.500 to 2.500 Hz. The device of present invention detects the sound of a snore and provides a stimulus to the snorer to condition him/her to sleep without snoring, resulting in behavioural conditioning of the snorer. The signal generating means generates an audio signal upon detection of the snoring sound for at most 3 seconds. The snorer subconsciously becomes aware of the audio stimulus generated each time the snores sound is received thereby- conditioning the snorer’ s behaviour to reduce snoring. The device comprises signal regulating means for regulating the frequency', intensity and duration of the generated audio signal such that the snorer will receive the right amount of stimulus to disrupt snoring.

Example 1 - Study Sleep Position Trainer

Nine individuals were included as test subjects to test the electronic device for reduction of snoring of present invention. Four males and five females were included in the age of between 35 and 73 years. The individuals were observed for a night, in which the device of present invention was placed in the vicinity (next to the bed) during sleep. The device was connected to a computer to register a log during the night of all sounds, including snoring, monitored by the device and including the generation of the audio signal and the response of the snorer and bed partner.

Table 1 show' as overview' per patient and the number of snoring sounds being produced during the night and the subsequent reaction of the device resulting in the snorer to change sleeping position and to stop producing snoring sounds.

All patients included produced snoring sounds during the night, after which the device produced a whistle sound. Two of the nine individuals heard the device during their first light sleep go off, when a snore sound was detected by the device. But in the second, third and sometimes fourth generated signal during the night no individual was disturbed in case the device reaction upon detection of a snoring sound. Seven of the nine individuals indicated after a night of sleep that they have not experienced any sounds during their sleep, although the log showed that the device had produced a sound at least one time during the night on which the snorer acted by changing sleeping position. All individuals responded to the generated sound by turning away from the sound changing from the back position to the side position, in which the snoring stopped.

The longest snoring time was recorded for 16 seconds, after which the snoring stopped in response to the sound generated by the device. Furthermore, the time of snoring seem to decrease in response to the first and subsequent sounds produced by the device, indicating that the snorer’s response on a sound generated by the device is accelerated at a second, third and sometimes fourth generated signal during the night. Four out of five patients had a delayed response time at the first sound, which was then shortly followed by a second generated sound. After the second sound, the patient responded by turning away from the sound changing from the back position to the side position, in which the snoring stopped.