A controlled climate bed for thermoregulatory modulation of a sleeper

Abstract

A climate-controlled bed capable of adapting to the needs of a sleeper via a closed loop feedback control system is provided. The bed includes a thermoelectric energy source, a sensor configured to monitor a physiological temperature of a sleeper, and a control system that regulates a temperature of the bed via the thermoelectric energy source. The control system can utilize data from the sensor to determine optimal thermal needs of the sleeper. The control system can also vary the temperature of the bed during a sleep cycle based on at least one predetermined sleep factor, such as the natural circadian temperature cycle.

1 . A climate-controlled bed, comprising:
 a thermoelectric energy source; and   a control system that regulates a temperature of the bed via the thermoelectric energy source,   wherein the control system directs the thermoelectric energy source to provide warming to a region of the bed corresponding to a user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein the user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue comprises a cervical spinal region of the user. 
     
     
         3 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein the user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue comprises a lumbar spinal region of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein the region of the bed corresponding to the user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue comprises at least a portion of a mattress. 
     
     
         5 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein the region of the bed corresponding to the user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue comprises at least a portion of a pillow. 
     
     
         6 . The bed of  claim 1 , further comprising a cooling source configured to decrease the temperature of at least a portion of the bed. 
     
     
         7 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein the control system furthers directs the thermoelectric energy source to warm regions of the bed corresponding to the user's hands and/or feet, said warming applied at or above a threshold that prevents vasoconstriction of the user's AVAs. 
     
     
         8 . A method of controlling a climate of a bed, comprising:
 providing a bed;   providing an energy source; and   warming, via the energy source, the temperature of a region of the bed corresponding to a user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising modifying, via the energy source, the temperature of a region of the bed corresponding to a user's hands and/or feet, said modifying carried out such that the user's AVAs remain vasodilated. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising cooling at least a portion of the user's body sufficient to decrease the user's physiological temperature. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue comprises a cervical spinal region of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue comprises a lumbar spinal region of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the region of the bed corresponding to the user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue comprises at least a portion of a mattress. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the region of the bed corresponding to the user's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue comprises at least a portion of a pillow.