Contactless and minimal-contact monitoring of quality of life parameters for assessment and intervention

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for the measurement, aggregation and analysis of data collected using non-contact or minimally-contacting sensors provides quality of life parameters for individual subjects, particularly in the context of a controlled trial of interventions on human subjects (e.g., a clinical trial of a drug, or an evaluation of a consumer item such as a fragrance). In particular, non-contact or minimal-contact measurement of quality-of-life parameters such as sleep, stress, relaxation, drowsiness, temperature and emotional state of humans may be evaluated, together with automated sampling, storage, and transmission to a remote data analysis center. One component of the system is that the objective data is measured with as little disruption as possible to the normal behavior of the subject. The system can also support behavioral and pharmaceutical interventions aimed at improving quality of life.

1 . A system comprising:
 a stand-alone unit comprising:
 a non-contact sensor configured to generate measured data based on signals reflected from a subject; 
 an interface for collecting quality of life (QOL) data from the subject; and 
 one or more processors configured to (i) generate a sleep quality of life (SQOL) parameter on the basis of the measured data generated by the non-contact sensor and the QOL data collected from the interface or (ii) transmit the measured data and the QOL data to a remote data monitoring center for calculating a SQOL parameter on the basis of the measured data and the QOL data transmitted to the remote data monitoring center. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the SQOL parameter is derived from a combination of objective data and subjective data, wherein the objective data is derived from the measured data generated by the non-contact sensor, and wherein the subjective data is derived from the QOL data collected from the interface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the objective data comprises a total sleep time value, a sleep efficiency value, a sleep onset latency value, a number of periods of objectively measured wakefulness greater than 1 minute, or a wake-after-sleep-onset value. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the subjective data comprises a subjective assessment of sleep duration, sleep efficiency, number of awakenings, or sleep latency. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the SQOL parameter is a sleep duration index, a sleep fragmentation index, or a sleep latency index. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the SQOL parameter is a sleep duration index derived from a combination of an objective assessment of sleep duration and a subjective assessment of sleep duration, wherein the objective assessment of sleep duration is derived from the measured data generated by the non-contact sensor, and wherein the subjective assessment of sleep duration is derived from the QOL data collected from the interface. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the SQOL parameter is a sleep fragmentation index derived from a combination of an objective number of awakenings and a reported number of awakenings, wherein the objective number of awakenings is derived from the measured data generated by the non-contact sensor, and wherein the reported number of awakenings is derived from the QOL data collected from the interface. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the SQOL parameter is a sleep latency index derived from a combination of an objective sleep latency value and a subjective sleep latency value, wherein the objective sleep latency value is derived from the measured data generated by the non-contact sensor, and wherein the subjective sleep latency value is derived from the QOL data collected from the interface. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the non-contact sensor is a biomotion sensor and the reflected signals are radio-frequency signals. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises a microphone for collecting the QOL data from the subject. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stand-alone unit further comprises a microphone configured to detect a sound parameter, and wherein the SQOL parameter is calculated on the basis of the measured data, the QOL data, and the sound parameter. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an environmental sensor configured to detect an environmental parameter, 
 wherein the SQOL parameter is calculated on the basis of the measured data, the QOL data, and the environmental parameter. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the environmental parameter is an environmental temperature or a light level. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the remote data monitoring center, 
 wherein the one or more processors are configured to transmit the measured data and the QOL data to the remote data monitoring center for calculating the SQOL parameter. 
 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the stand-alone unit further comprises a receiver configured to receive, from the remote data monitoring center, a behavioral recommendation for the subject, and wherein the behavioral recommendation is based on the SQOL parameter. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a feedback device configured to:
 receive, from the stand-alone unit or the remote data monitoring center, a behavioral recommendation for the subject, wherein the behavioral recommendation is based on the SQOL parameter; and 
 provide the behavioral recommendation to the subject. 
 
 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the behavioral recommendation pertains to an increase or a decrease of an allowed sleep time of the subject. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the behavioral recommendation pertains to an increase or a decrease of an extended awakening time of the subject. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a stand-alone unit, measured data generated by a non-contact sensor from signals reflected from a subject;   collecting, via an interface of the stand-alone unit, quality of life (QOL) data from the subject; and   either (i) processing, via the stand-alone unit, the measured data generated by the non-contact sensor and the QOL data collected via the interface to calculate a sleep quality of life (SQOL) parameter on the basis of the measured data and the QOL data, or (ii) transmitting, via the stand-alone unit, the measured data and the QOL data to a remote data monitoring center for calculating a SQOL parameter on the basis of the measured data and the QOL data transmitted to the remote data monitoring center.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 receiving, at a feedback device, a behavioral recommendation for the subject from the stand-alone unit or the remote data monitoring center, wherein the behavioral recommendation is based on the SQOL parameter.