NON-INVASIVE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING LIGHT-SLEEP AND DEEP-SLEEP STAGES

摘要

A method and apparatus for detecting and distinguishing epochs of deep-sleepfrom epochs of light-sleep of a subjectby sensing by a peripheral pulse signal related to the systemic circulation ofthe subject, preferably a peripheral arterial tone(PAT) sensor for sensing pulsatile arterial volume changes in a digit (e.g., afinger) of the subject reflecting sympathetic tone variations;analyzing the sensed pulse signals for determining therefrom a number offeatures, particularly seven specific variables ineach of two time periods; and utilizing the results of the analysis fordetermining whether the epoch detected is a light-sleep epochor a deep-sleep epoch.