Every night, millions of Americans snore away in their beds, producing a sound that's distressing for not only them, but also for their partners. Beyond causing sleep loss, excessive snoring signifies a problem with how the person breathes, potentially leading to more severe issues such as sleep apnea. Enter a novel solution: a wearable gadget that would simplify sleeping and breathing, patent US11752327B2, filed by Sunrise.
Sleep disturbances resulting from breathing problems are more than just annoying – they can interrupt the crucial rem stage of sleep, cause daytime fatigue, and increase the risk of serious health problems, like heart diseases. Current treatments like Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines are often effective but some users struggle with long-term commitment due to discomfort and the sheer inconvenience of the machines.
Sunrise's patented technology aims to tackle all these issues. The wearable gadget offers a novel method to decrease the respiratory effort of a sleeping person. The patent details a gadget that uses transcutaneous electrical stimulation, a fancy term for using a small electric current, to stimulate specific muscles in the jaw. The targeted muscles then adjust their activity, resulting in reduced respiratory effort in the wearer.
So what would this look like in reality? Imagine strapping onto your face a device before bedtime, nearly as invisible as a regular sleep mask. As you sleep, the device activates, sending a subtle electric current to your jaw. This small action ensures that your respiratory effort holds steady, reducing the occurrence of snoring and improving the quality of sleep.
The innovative technology could change the lives of millions. For instance, consider a lifelong snorer who's never had a quiet, peaceful night. With this device, they could dramatically reduce their snoring and increase the quality of their sleep. This could have several beneficial side effects, including improved mood, increased productivity, and better overall health.
It's important to note, however, that patents are just the first step in producing a product, and there's no guarantee this device will hit the market any time soon. However, this patent offers a promising solution to an issue that impacts so many individuals' quality of life. We can all look forward to the day when such technology moves from paper to the bedside table.