Patents by Inventor Gary Nelson Garcia Molina

Gary Nelson Garcia Molina has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20180360376
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system configured to determine sleep stages in a subject based on cardiac artifact information and brain activity information in EEG signals. Cardiac artifacts present in EEG signals can cause erroneous sleep stage determinations which may result in inopportune sensory stimulation during sleep, no stimulation at all, discarding long periods of EEG signal information, and/or other events. The present system enhances real-time sleep stage determinations compared to prior art systems and/or provides other advantages because the present system determines the current sleep stage of the subject based on both cardiac activity information and brain activity information included in the EEG signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Gary Nelson GARCIA MOLINA
  • Publication number: 20180361110
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system configured to adjust an intensity of sensory stimulation delivered to a subject during a sleep session based on sleep depth in the subject during the sleep session. The restorative value of sleep may be increased by enhancing sleep slow-waves using sensory stimulation. The stimulation may be applied at an appropriate timing and/or intensity to enhance sleep slow-waves to enhance slow-waves without disturbing sleep.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Gary Nelson GARCIA MOLINA, Anandi MAHADEVAN, Surya Subrahmanya Sreeram VISSAPRAGADA VENKATA SATYA, John GERTHOFFER
  • Patent number: 10137276
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system and method for managing a sleep session of a subject. Managing the sleep session is based on slow wave activity in the subject during the sleep session. Slow wave activity is related to sleep pressure. Sleep pressure dissipates and/or decreases as the subject sleeps. The dissipation dynamics depend on a given subject. The manner in which dissipation occurs regulates the length of the given sleep session and is linked to the temporal dynamics of slow wave activity. The system is configured to determine a metric indicating sleep pressure dissipation and, responsive to the determined sleep pressure dissipation metric indicating that sleep pressure dissipation has reached a dissipation threshold level during the sleep session, wake the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Gary Nelson Garcia Molina, Giulio Tononi, Sander Theodoor Pastoor, Stefan Pfundtner, Brady Alexander Riedner, Michele Bellesi
  • Patent number: 10130788
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system configured to detect transitions in sleep state of a subject during a sleep session; provide sensory stimulation to the subject with a timing based on the detected transitions in sleep state; subsequent to the sleep session, obtain reference indications of transitions in sleep state; compare the detected transitions in sleep state to the reference indications of transitions in sleep state during the sleep session; based on the comparison, adjust baseline sleep state criteria to enhance correlation between detected transitions in sleep state during the sleep session using the baseline sleep state criteria and the reference indications of transitions in sleep state during the sleep session; and subsequent to adjustment of the baseline sleep state criteria, utilize the adjusted baseline sleep state criteria to detect transitions in sleep state of the subject for the purpose of controlling the one or more sensory stimulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V., Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Gary Nelson Garcia Molina, Michele Bellesi, Brady Alexander Riedner, Giulio Tononi, Juan Benzo
  • Publication number: 20180311462
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system configured to manage a sleep session of a subject. In some embodiments, the sleep session is a nap and the system is configured to increase the restorative value of the nap by enhancing and/or maintaining sleep slow waves (and/or slow wave activity estimated using an EEG) in the subject during the nap with sensory stimuli. The present system is configured to enhance restorative sleep during a nap by delivering sensory stimulation to the subject during lighter NREM sleep stages (e.g., during a portion of stage N2 sleep) while still avoiding arousals. In some embodiments, the system is configured to facilitate a “powernap” by delivering the sensory stimulation to the subject in such a way so as to prevent transition into deep sleep(e.g., stage N3 sleep).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventor: Gary Nelson GARCIA MOLINA
  • Patent number: 10080860
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system configured to determine timing of sensory stimulation provided to a subject to increase sleep slow waves during a sleep session. The system generates output signals conveying information related to a sleep stage of the subject during the sleep session with one or more sensors; detects slow wave sleep in the subject based on the output signals; controls one or more sensory stimulators to provide first sensory stimulation to the subject to induce sleep slow waves; determines a representative slow wave; and determines timing of second stimulation provided to the subject, the second stimulation configured to increase sleep slow waves in the subject during the sleep session, the timing determination based on the representative slow wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Gary Nelson Garcia Molina
  • Patent number: 10064578
    Abstract: Systems and methods to detect sleep stages of a subject analyze physiological parameters of the subject in combination with a subject's reactions to stimuli of increasing intensity and/or stimuli having different modalities. Stimuli are provided until a predetermined level of probability is reached for the accuracy of an estimation of the sleep stage of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V., Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Gary Nelson Garcia Molina, Sander Theodoor Pastoor, Stefan Pfundtner, Brady Alexander Riedner, Michele Bellesi, Giulio Tononi
  • Patent number: 9993610
    Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering stimuli to a subject that prompt the subject to fall asleep use multiple parameters that are based on measured signals related to a patient's brain activity, for example obtained through electroencephalography (EEG). The parameters indicate amplitude in different frequency bands, e.g. high-frequency brain activity and low-frequency brain activity. A stimulus, e.g. auditory stimulus, is delivered to the subject such that the intensity of the stimulus is adjusted based on (changes in) the multiple parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Gary Nelson Garcia Molina
  • Publication number: 20180078734
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system configured to provide sensory stimulation to a subject (12) during a sleep session. The system includes one or more sensory stimulators (16) configured to provide sensory stimulation to the subject; one or more sensors (18) configured to generate output signals conveying information related to brain activity of the subject; and one or more processors (20) configured to detect individual slow waves in the subject; control the one or more sensory stimulators to provide sensory stimulation to the subject based on the detected individual slow waves; predict a timing for occurrence of a predicted slow wave based on the previously detected individual slow waves; and responsive to not detecting the predicted slow wave at the predicted timing control the one or more sensory stimulators to provide sensory stimulation at the predicted timing for occurrence of the predicted slow wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Stefan PFUNDTNER, Gary Nelson GARCIA MOLINA, Tsvetomira Kirova TSONEVA
  • Publication number: 20170361060
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system configured to a system configured to detect slow waves based on adjusted slow wave detection criteria and time delivery of the sensory stimulation to correspond to slow waves detected based on the adjusted criteria. The system is configured to adjust slow wave detection criteria to enhance detection of slow waves in a subject. Slow wave detection using adjustable slow wave detection criteria produces more stimulation relative to prior art systems because more individual stimuli are provided if more slow waves are detected. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more of a sensory stimulator, a sensor, a processor, electronic storage, a user interface, and/or other components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Gary Nelson GARCIA MOLINA, Anandi MAHADEVAN, Jesse SALAZAR, Surya Subrahmanya Sreeram VISSAPRAGADA VENKATA SATYA, John GERTHOFFER
  • Publication number: 20170340854
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a system configured to adjust the duration of individual sensory stimuli provided to a subject. The system is configured to determine a current amount of slow wave activity in the subject, responsive to the subject being presently in slow wave sleep, control one or more sensory stimulators to provide the individual sensory stimuli to the subject, determine habituation of the subject to the individual sensory stimuli and, responsive to the slow wave activity in the subject for a period of time following the providing of the individual sensory stimuli showing habituation, adjust the duration of the individual sensory stimuli.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: ALEXANDER CORNELIS GEERLINGS, GARY NELSON GARCIA MOLINA, STEFAN PFUNDTNER
  • Publication number: 20170196474
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system configured to adjust an intensity of sensory stimulation delivered to a subject during a sleep session based on sleep spindles in the subject during the sleep session. The system is configured to adjust the intensity of the stimulation based on a sleep spindle frequency and/or a sleep spindle density. The system is configured to determine a recent spindle density and/or a recent spindle frequency for a recent period of time during the sleep session based on detected sleep spindles, and to determine a previous spindle density and/or a previous spindle frequency for a previous period of time during the sleep session based on the detected sleep spindles. The system controls the intensity of sensory stimulation provided to the subject based on a comparison of the previous spindle density to the recent spindle density and/or the previous spindle frequency to the recent spindle frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Gary Nelson GARCIA MOLINA, Michele BELLESI, Stefan PFUNDTNER, Brady Alexander RIEDNER, Giulio TONONI
  • Publication number: 20170127967
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system and method for determining and displaying a sleep restoration level of a subject for a target sleep session. In some embodiments, the system comprises one or more of a sensor, a processor, electronic storage, a user interface, and/or other components. As the subject sleeps, the system is configured to determine a metric indicating sleep need for the subject and then graphically display a sleep restoration level (a visual representation of the metric indicating sleep need) based on the determined sleep need metric. Instead of assuming common parameters for multiple users, the system is configured to determine the sleep need metric based on obtained baseline sleep parameters that have been determined individually for the subject based on one or more previous sleep sessions, a determined amount of slow wave activity in the subject during the target sleep session, and/or other information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Gary Nelson GARCIA MOLINA, Manuel LAURA LAPOINT
  • Patent number: 9573598
    Abstract: The present invention relates to system for determining a movement of a control device and a system for detecting drowsiness of a driver of a vehicle, as well as an according processing unit used for this purpose and an according method. The system (12) for determining a movement comprises a plurality of light sensors (16), a processing unit (14) and an interface (18), wherein the light sensors (44-58) are able to transmit light intensity information to the processing unit (14) and the latter is able to provide information to a user. Further, the processing unit (14) is able to determine the movement of the control device based on the light intensity information submitted by the light sensors (44-58).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Igor Berezhnyy, Gary Nelson Garcia Molina, Mirela Alina Weffers-Albu
  • Publication number: 20170000970
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system configured to detect transitions in sleep state of a subject during a sleep session; provide sensory stimulation to the subject with a timing based on the detected transitions in sleep state; subsequent to the sleep session, obtain reference indications of transitions in sleep state; compare the detected transitions in sleep state to the reference indications of transitions in sleep state during the sleep session; based on the comparison, adjust baseline sleep state criteria to enhance correlation between detected transitions in sleep state during the sleep session using the baseline sleep state criteria and the reference indications of transitions in sleep state during the sleep session; and subsequent to adjustment of the baseline sleep state criteria, utilize the adjusted baseline sleep state criteria to detect transitions in sleep state of the subject for the purpose of controlling the one or more sensory stimulators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Gary Nelson GARCIA MOLINA, Michele BELLESI, Brady Alexander RIEDNER, Giulio TONONI, Juan Benzo BENZO
  • Publication number: 20160374594
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for monitoring a dopaminergic activity of a subject, wherein the system comprises a detection unit for detecting an eye blink signal relating to eye blinks of the subject; an analysis unit for determining, based on the detected eye blink signal, an eye blink feature indicative of the dopaminergic activity of the subject and for comparing the eye blink feature with a reference eye blink feature; and a feedback unit for providing feedback relating to the dopaminergic activity of the subject based on the comparison of the eye blink feature and the reference eye blink feature. Further aspects of the present invention relate to a corresponding method and computer program. The approach permits early screening of a dopaminergic activity and continuous monitoring of the patient's response to dopamine drugs, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: GARY NELSON GARCIA MOLINA, RONALDUS MARIA AARTS
  • Publication number: 20160310696
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing sensory stimuli induce and/or enhance sleep and/or slow wave neural activity of a subject during sleep. Operation of the systems and methods is based on measured information related to cardiac attributes and/or respiratory attributes of the subject, and corresponding cardiac parameters and/or respiratory parameters based thereon. Attributes may be measured and/or monitored via one or more sensors, e.g. worn on an extremity of the subject and/or placed at a distance from the subject. Sensory stimulation delivered to the subject during specific targeted periods of sleep may enhance slow wave neural activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Pedro Miguel FONSECA, Gary Nelson GARCIA MOLINA, Reinder HAAKMA
  • Publication number: 20160302718
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system configured to facilitate transitions between sleep states and/or stages during a sleep session of a subject. The system is configured to facilitate transitions between sleep states and/or stages by monitoring the brain activity of a subject and providing sensory stimulation to guide brain activity parameters into target ranges. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more of a sensory stimulator, a sensor, a processor, electronic storage, a user interface, and/or other components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Manuel LAURA LAPOINT, Gary Nelson GARCIA MOLINA
  • Publication number: 20160220783
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system (10) configured to determine timing of sensory stimulation provided to a subject (12) to increase sleep slow waves during a sleep session. The system generates (602) output signals conveying information related to a sleep stage of the subject during the sleep session with one or more sensors (18, 204, 205, 206); detects (604) slow wave sleep in the subject based on the output signals; controls (606) one or more sensory stimulators (16, 208, 210) to provide first sensory stimulation (300, 302) to the subject to induce sleep slow waves; determines (610) a representative slow wave (350, 400); and determines (612) timing (500) of second stimulation (502) provided to the subject, the second stimulation configured to increase sleep slow waves in the subject during the sleep session, the timing determination based on the representative slow wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventor: Gary Nelson GARCIA MOLINA
  • Publication number: 20160082222
    Abstract: A system is configured to provide sensory stimuli to a subject at a first intensity level, determine the effectiveness of the provided sensory stimuli, and incrementally increase the intensity level of the sensory stimuli based on the determined effectiveness. The effectiveness determination and the corresponding intensity increase are repeated one or more times during a given slow wave sleep episode. The system is configured to continue the effectiveness determinations and the corresponding intensity increases during the slow wave sleep episode until the intensity level reaches a maximum level, until an arousal level of the subject breaches an arousal level threshold, and/or until expiration of the period of slow wave sleep.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Gary Nelson GARCIA MOLINA, Michele BELLESI, Brady Alexander RIEDNER, Giulio TONONI