Apparatus and method for modulating sleep

摘要

Apparatuses and methods to enhance sleep, reduce sleep onset latency, extend sleep duration and/or increasing the duration of deeper sleep stages relative to stage 1 sleep. In general, these apparatuses and methods apply and maintain one or more target “warm” temperatures to a subject's forehead for a time period. The target temperature may be between 25° C. and 42° C. The target temperature may be a fixed amount greater than ambient temperature. The time period may be a fixed time period or a variable time period. These methods and apparatuses may limit the application of thermal energy to the subject's forehead region.

主权项

1. A method of enhancing sleep in a subject, the method comprising:
securing an applicator having a thermal transfer region so that the thermal transfer region contacts the subject's forehead while the subject sleeps, wherein the thermal transfer region does not contact the perioribtal region of the subject's face; and maintaining the temperature of the thermal transfer region within a target temperature range that is warmer than ambient temperature but less than 40° C. to enhance the subject's sleep, wherein ambient temperature is between 18° C. and 30° C.