Patents by Inventor Michael L. Lehrman

Michael L. Lehrman 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: 20140350426
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a general breathing event and for anticipating an onset of an obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) event. The method for detecting a general breathing event includes receiving a plurality of signals from at least one microphone. The method also includes determining a one-sided power spectral density from the received signals. The method further includes distinguishing each received signal as either a breath signal or a background noise signal. The method still further includes calculating a breath signature by processing each breath signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Sleep Methods, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Shun-Yong Zinn, Michael D. Halleck
  • Patent number: 8740805
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a general breathing event and for anticipating an onset of an obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) event. The method for detecting a general breathing event includes receiving a plurality of signals from at least one microphone. The method also includes determining a one-sided power spectral density from the received signals. The method further includes distinguishing each received signal as either a breath signal or a background noise signal. The method still further includes calculating a breath signature by processing each breath signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Sleep Methods, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Shun-Yong Zinn, Michael D. Halleck
  • Patent number: 8574145
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for causing a conditioned reflex in a person. The apparatus includes a detector configured to detect a physiological condition of the person, the physiological condition associated with an onset of a sleep apnea event. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to transmit a stimulus to the person upon a detection of the physiological condition. The controller is also configured to determine if the physiological condition is still occurring. The controller is further configured, upon a determination that the physiological condition is still occurring, to repeat the transmitting and determining steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sleep Methods, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Michael D. Halleck
  • Publication number: 20110065979
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for causing a conditioned reflex in a person. The apparatus includes a detector configured to detect a physiological condition of the person, the physiological condition associated with an onset of a sleep apnea event. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to transmit a stimulus to the person upon a detection of the physiological condition. The controller is also configured to determine if the physiological condition is still occurring. The controller is further configured, upon a determination that the physiological condition is still occurring, to repeat the transmitting and determining steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: Sleep Methods
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Michael D. Halleck
  • Publication number: 20110066059
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a general breathing event and for anticipating an onset of an obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) event. The method for detecting a general breathing event includes receiving a plurality of signals from at least one microphone. The method also includes determining a one-sided power spectral density from the received signals. The method further includes distinguishing each received signal as either a breath signal or a background noise signal. The method still further includes calculating a breath signature by processing each breath signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: Sleep Methods
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Shun-Yong Zinn, Michael D. Halleck
  • Patent number: 7819823
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for treating obstructive sleep apnea by terminating an obstructive sleep apnea event before the cessation of breathing occurs. The system comprises one or more microphones capable of detecting breathing sounds within an airway of a person. The microphones generate signals representative of the breathing sounds and send the signals to a controller. The controller uses digital signal processing to identify at least one signal pattern that is associated with a breathing pattern of the person that occurs at the onset of an obstructive sleep apnea event. When the controller detects such a signal pattern, the controller sends an alarm signal to a stimulus generator that creates a stimulus to cause the sleeping person to move in a manner to terminate the obstructive sleep apnea event before cessation of breathing occurs. The obstructive sleep apnea event is terminated without waking the sleeping person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Sleep Methods, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Michael E. Halleck
  • Patent number: 7789837
    Abstract: A system and method for treating obstructive sleep apnea by terminating an obstructive sleep apnea event before the cessation of breathing occurs. The system has one or more microphones capable of detecting breathing sounds within an airway of a person and that generate signals representative of the breathing sounds and send the signals to a controller. When the controller detects a signal pattern that indicates the onset of an obstructive apnea event, the controller sends an alarm signal to a stimulus generator. The stimulus generator creates a stimulus to cause the sleeping person to move in a manner to terminate the obstructive sleep apnea event before cessation of breathing occurs. The obstructive sleep apnea event is terminated without waking the sleeping person and without causing the sleeping person physiological stress associated with cessation of breathing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: iLife Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Michael E. Halleck
  • Patent number: 7479890
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method of operation for evaluating body activity relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a processor that is associable with a sensor for sensing dynamic and static accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor is operable to process the sensed dynamic and static accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic and an environmental representation to thereby determine whether the evaluated body activity is within environmental tolerance. The processor operates to monitor both activity and inactivity relative to the environmental representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Michael E. Halleck, Alan R. Owens, Edward L. Massman
  • Patent number: 7145461
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method of operation for evaluating body activity relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a processor that is associable with a sensor for sensing dynamic and static accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor is operable to process the sensed dynamic and static accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic and an environmental representation to thereby determine whether the evaluated body activity is within environmental tolerance. The processor operates to monitor both activity and inactivity relative to the environmental representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Michael E. Halleck, Alan R. Owens, Edward L. Massman
  • Patent number: 7095331
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for detecting an acceleration of a body and for evaluating movement of a body relative to an environment to detect falls and irregular motions of the body. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a sensor and a controller that comprises a processor. The sensor, which is associable with the body, comprises a plurality of acceleration measuring devices and is capable of repeatedly sensing accelerative phenomena of the body. The controller, which is associated with the sensor, is operable to process the sensed accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic. The controller determines when the body experiences an acceleration that represents a particular type of motion. The controller also determines when a static acceleration vector reaches a value indicative of a fall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Michael D. Halleck, Edward L. Massman
  • Patent number: 7066894
    Abstract: There is disclosed a sensor and method for detecting very low frequency acoustic signals. The sensor is capable of detecting low frequency acoustic signals in the frequency range of one tenth Hertz to thirty Hertz. The sensor comprises a chamber having portions that form a cavity and a low frequency microphone placed within the cavity. An alternate embodiment of the invention comprises a chamber having portions that form a resonant cavity, a low frequency microphone placed within the resonant cavity, and a membrane that covers the resonant cavity. Low frequency acoustic signals that are incident on the membrane cause the membrane to move and amplify the acoustic signals within the resonant cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Halleck, Michael D. Halleck, Michael L. Lehrman
  • Patent number: 6947565
    Abstract: Physiological condition monitors utilizing very low frequency acoustic signals and signals indicative of body orientation are disclosed. The physiological condition monitors comprise a sensor that is capable of detecting low frequency acoustic signals in the frequency range of one tenth Hertz to thirty Hertz. The sensor comprises a chamber having portions that form a cavity and a low frequency microphone placed within the cavity. An alternate embodiment of the invention comprises a chamber having portions that form a resonant cavity, a microphone mounted in the resonant cavity, and a membrane that covers the resonant cavity. Low frequency acoustic signals that are incident on the membrane cause the membrane to move and amplify the acoustic signals within the resonant cavity. The sensor provides information concerning physiological conditions, such as respiration and cardiac activity. The sensor in a physiological condition monitor does not need to be directly coupled to the skin of the person being monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Halleck, Michael D. Halleck, Michael L. Lehrman, Alan R. Owens
  • Patent number: 6935335
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for treating obstructive sleep apnea by terminating an obstructive sleep apnea event before the cessation of breathing occurs. The system comprises one or more microphones capable of detecting breathing sounds within an airway of a person. The microphones generate signals representative of the breathing sounds and send the signals to a controller. The controller uses digital signal processing to identify at least one signal pattern that is associated with a breathing pattern of the person that occurs at the onset of an obstructive sleep apnea event. When the controller detects a signal pattern that indicates the onset of an obstructive apnea event, the controller sends an alarm signal to a stimulus generator. The stimulus generator creates a stimulus (an electric current, a sound, a vibrator, a flashing light, etc.) to cause the sleeping person to move in a manner to terminate the obstructive sleep apnea event before cessation of breathing occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: iLife Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Michael E. Halleck
  • Patent number: 6864796
    Abstract: The present invention introduces systems, as well as methods of operating such systems, within a communication device for evaluating movement of a body relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a sensor and a processor. The sensor, which is associable with the body, is operable to repeatedly sense accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor, which is associated with the sensor, is operable to process the sensed accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic. The system, and, more particularly, the processor generates state indicia relative the environment, and determines whether the evaluated body movement is within environmental tolerance. In a preferred embodiment, the processor communicates various state indicia to a monitoring controller, preferably using at least one of a wired network and a wireless network. The monitoring controller cooperates with the processor to remotely monitor the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Alan R. Owens, Michael E. Halleck, Edward L. Massman
  • Publication number: 20040225226
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for detecting the onset of an obstructive sleep apnea event before the obstructive sleep apnea event fully develops and before the cessation of breathing occurs. The system comprises one or more microphones capable of detecting breathing sounds within an airway of a person. The microphones generate signals representative of the breathing sounds and send the signals to a controller. The controller identifies at least one signal pattern that is associated with a breathing pattern of the person that occurs at the onset of an obstructive sleep apnea event. The controller may also identify at least one signal pattern that is associated with a partially occluded breathing pattern of the person. The controller identifies the signal patterns by using digital signal processing techniques to analyze the signals representative of breathing sounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: iLIFE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Michael E. Halleck
  • Patent number: 6734802
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in physiological condition monitors that use a memory data storage device that operates in a high power mode when data is being written to the memory data storage device and operates in a low power mode when inactive. The apparatus comprises: 1) a controller for receiving incoming data to be written to the memory data storage device; and 2) a first low power buffer coupled to the controller. The controller stores the incoming data in the first low power buffer until a predetermined amount of incoming data has been accumulated in the first low power buffer and transfers the accumulated predetermined amount of incoming data to the memory data storage device in a single data transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Halleck, Michael D. Halleck, Michael L. Lehrman, Alan R. Owens
  • Patent number: 6706002
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for remotely monitoring at least one physiological condition of a child by detecting very low frequency acoustic signals. The apparatus comprises a sensor that is capable of detecting low frequency acoustic signals in the frequency range of one tenth Hertz to thirty Hertz. The sensor comprises a chamber having portions that form a cavity and a low frequency microphone placed within the cavity. An alternate embodiment of the invention comprises a chamber having portions that form a resonant cavity, a microphone mounted in the resonant cavity, and a membrane that covers the resonant cavity. Low frequency acoustic signals that are incident on the membrane cause the membrane to move and amplify the acoustic signals within the resonant cavity. The sensor provides information concerning physiological conditions of the child, such as respiration and cardiac activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: ILife Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Halleck, Michael D. Halleck, Michael L. Lehrman
  • Patent number: 6703939
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for detecting an acceleration of a body and for evaluating movement of a body relative to an environment to detect falls and irregular motions of the body. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a sensor and a controller that comprises a processor. The sensor, which is associable with the body, comprises a plurality of acceleration measuring devices and is capable of repeatedly sensing accelerative phenomena of the body. The controller, which is associated with the sensor, is operable to process the sensed accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic. The controller determines when the body experiences an acceleration that represents a particular type of motion. The controller also determines when a static acceleration vector reaches a value indicative of a fall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Michael D. Halleck, Edward L. Massman
  • Patent number: 6666830
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for detecting the onset of an obstructive sleep apnea event before the obstructive sleep apnea event fully develops and before the cessation of breathing occurs. The system comprises one or more microphones capable of detecting breathing sounds within an airway of a person. The microphones generate signals representative of the breathing sounds and send the signals to a controller. The controller identifies at least one signal pattern that is associated with a breathing pattern of the person that occurs at the onset of an obstructive sleep apnea event. The controller may also identify at least one signal pattern that is associated with a partially occluded breathing pattern of the person. The controller identifies the signal patterns by using digital signal processing techniques to analyze the signals representative of breathing sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: East River Ventures, LP
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Michael E. Halleck
  • Patent number: 6661347
    Abstract: The present invention introduces systems, as well as methods of operating such systems, within a position locator device for evaluating movement of a body relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a sensor and a processor. The sensor, which is associable with the body, is operable to repeatedly sense accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor, which is associated with the sensor, is operable to process the sensed accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic. The system, and, more particularly, the processor generates state indicia relative the environment, and determines whether the evaluated body movement is within environmental tolerance. In a preferred embodiment, the processor communicates various state indicia to a monitoring controller, preferably using at least one of a wired network and a wireless network. The monitoring controller cooperates with the processor to remotely monitor the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Alan R. Owens, Michael E. Halleck, Edward L. Massman