Wireless Device to Improve Sleep
A wireless closed-loop sleep modulation system-on-chip
This project aims to create a small, wireless device that can gently adjust brain activity during sleep to help us understand and treat sleep-related problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11116840 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The project is developing a tiny, wireless system that can monitor your sleep and then deliver very precise, gentle stimulation (like light, electrical pulses, or sound) to your brain. This "closed-loop" system means it responds to your brain's activity in real-time, aiming to improve sleep patterns. Current methods often require wires, which can make natural sleep difficult, so this new wireless approach could allow for more comfortable and accurate sleep studies. The goal is to better understand how sleep works and how it affects our health, potentially leading to new ways to help people with sleep disorders.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational technology development is not directly recruiting patients, but future studies using this device might seek individuals with sleep disorders or those interested in contributing to sleep research.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment for sleep disorders would not directly benefit from this early-stage technology development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this technology could lead to more effective and comfortable ways to study and treat various sleep disorders and conditions affected by sleep.
How similar studies have performed: Closed-loop sleep modulation has shown success in laboratory settings with wired systems in both animals and humans, but this wireless, integrated approach is novel.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Richardson, Andrew Garmory — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Richardson, Andrew Garmory
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.