Unobtrusive Sleep Position Classification Using a Novel Optical Tactile Sensor

Unobtrusive sleep position classification is essential for sleep monitoring and closed-loop intervention systems that initiate position changes. In this paper, we present a novel unobtrusive under-mattress optical tactile sensor for sleep position classification. The sensor uses a camera to track particles embedded in a soft silicone layer, inferring the deformation of the silicone and therefore providing information about the pressure and shear distributions applied to its surface.We characterized the sensitivity of the sensor after placing it under a conventional mattress and applying different weights (258 g, 500 g, 5000 g) on top of the mattress in various predefined locations. Moreover, we collected multiple recordings from a person lying in supine, lateral left, lateral right, and prone positions. As a proof-of-concept, we trained a neural network based on convolutional layers and residual blocks that classified the lying positions based on the images from the tactile sensor.We observed a high sensitivity of the optical tactile sensor: Even after placing the sensor below a conventional mattress, we were able to detect our lowest test weight of 258 g. Using the neural network, we were able to classify the four sleep positions, lateral left, lateral right, prone, and supine with a classification accuracy of 91.2 %.The high sensitivity of the sensor, as well as the good performance in the classification task, demonstrate the feasibility of using such a sensor in a robotic bed setup.Clinical Relevance— Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnea is highly prevalent across the general population. Today’s gold standard treatment of using CPAP ventilation is often not accepted, leading to unwanted treatment cessations. Alternative treatments, such as positional interventions through robotic beds are highly promising. However, these beds require reliable detection of the lying position. In this paper, we present a novel, scalable and completely unobtrusive sensor that is concealed under the mattress while classifying sleeping positions with high accuracy.