Method, system and device for assisted sleep

Abstract

The methods, systems and devices provided herein relate to sleep-aid. Some embodiments include a vibration source and/or a sound source. In some embodiments, the vibration source and/or sound source emit vibrations and/or sounds that stimulate a subject's vagus nerve, or another nerve, to induce sleep or relaxation in the subject.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sleep-aid device, comprising:
 a speaker, optionally situated on or in a pillow, adapted to generate white, pink, and/or brown noise or a low-frequency tone, the white, pink and/or brown noise or the low-frequency tone being configured to stimulate a vagus nerve of a subject, optionally when a head of the subject is on the pillow;   a monaural tone generator;   a processor electronically connected to the monaural tone generator, the processor having software code configured to generate a monaural tone from the monaural tone generator based on detected physical signs which approximate a sleep stage or a depth of sleep; and   a sensor electronically connected to the processor, the sensor receiving detected physical signs from the subject of one or more of movement data, heart rate and respiration rate,   wherein a combination of the software code and the processor are adapted to differentiate a deep sleep stage of the subject from a REM sleep stage of the subject based on sequence and timing of the detected physical signs.   
     
     
         2 . The sleep-aid device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more of a battery, an accelerometer, a memory, and a wired or wireless connection adapted for communication with a smartphone. 
     
     
         3 . The sleep-aid device of  claim 2 , wherein the wired or wireless connection adapted for communication with the smartphone is wired. 
     
     
         4 . The sleep-aid device of  claim 2 , wherein the wired or wireless connection adapted for communication with the smartphone is wireless. 
     
     
         5 . The sleep-aid device of  claim 2 , wherein the wired or wireless connection adapted for communication with the smartphone is Bluetooth. 
     
     
         6 . The sleep-aid device of  claim 1 , further comprising a termination sequence activated by one or more of a predetermined timer, movement data, heart rate, and respiration data. 
     
     
         7 . The sleep-aid device of  claim 1 , further comprising a vibration motor, wherein the vibration motor comprises a strap. 
     
     
         8 . The sleep-aid device of  claim 1 , wherein the monaural tone is white, pink or brown noise. 
     
     
         9 . The sleep-aid device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of accelerometers. 
     
     
         10 . The sleep-aid device of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of accelerometers comprises accelerometers arranged in a 2×2 matrix layout in relation to each other. 
     
     
         11 . The sleep-aid device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more of Deep Sleep Boost™ and Gentle Wake-up™ technology. 
     
     
         12 . A method for inducing or modifying sleep in a subject, comprising:
 activating a device in or near a pillow;   generating a white, a pink or a brown noise through the device;   causing the device to produce low-frequency tones; and   stimulating a vagus nerve to induce sleep in a subject.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising connecting the device to a smartphone. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a connection of the device to the smartphone is wireless. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein stimulating the vagus nerve is accomplished by vibrations, the method further comprising controlling, via the smartphone, the white, the pink, or the brown noise and/or the vibrations. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein controlling the low-frequency tones comprises controlling a speed, a strength, a rhythm, a repetition, or a pattern of the tones. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein controlling the white, pink or brown noise comprises controlling a pitch, a frequency, a period, a loudness, a volume, an amplitude, an intensity, a rhythm, a timbre, a tone, a speed, a strength, a repetition, or a pattern of the white, the pink, or the brown noise. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein stimulating the subject's vagus nerve decreases the subject's heart rate and/or respiration rate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising measuring the subject's body movement, head movement, respiration rate, or heart rate with a plurality of accelerometers. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising generating sleep entrainment beats or haptic vibrations through the device.