Case Study / Dormisan Sleep
A non-invasive sleep therapy device using stochastic vibrotactile stimulation, from MVP through production prototype.
Dormisan needed to develop a non-invasive sleep device that uses stochastic vibrotactile stimulation to interact with the human nervous system in a calming manner. The product would sit under a mattress and transmit low-frequency energy efficiently through foam and spring materials into the user without creating audible noise, causing the device to shift position, or producing disruptive vibrations. The system also needed wireless control via a mobile application for calibration and user customization. Translating this concept from a provisional patent into production-ready hardware required solving deeply intertwined mechanical and electrical design challenges.
Grinalds Solutions designed and developed the complete Cumula hardware platform from MVP through production prototype, including the mechanical actuator system, signal processing architecture, and companion iOS application. The core breakthrough was a mechanically optimized actuator using internal rib structures and a thin, low-profile driver that efficiently couples vibrotactile energy into the mattress rather than into the device enclosure. This solved the fundamental challenge of transmitting energy into the user while preventing the device from self-vibrating, walking, or generating audible artifacts.
The system generates stochastic vibrotactile waveforms using wave shaping executed locally on a Texas Instruments DSP-enabled amplifier, keeping signal processing close to the output stage for minimal latency and maximum control. The large, thin disk enclosure houses internal rib structures engineered for controlled energy transmission, directing vibration through the mattress and into the user rather than into the bed frame or floor. A wireless communication link connects the device to an iOS companion application that provides user control, calibration, and leveling, ensuring consistent performance across different mattress types and sleeping positions.
Alpha and production prototypes have been delivered demonstrating reliable vibrotactile transmission through a wide range of mattress materials, with wireless mobile control providing a seamless user experience. The platform architecture is designed for expansion into additional vibrotactile product form factors while maintaining efficient energy coupling and user comfort. This project demonstrates Grinalds Solutions' ability to work responsibly in medical-adjacent product spaces, integrating mechanical, electrical, and DSP design into a cohesive consumer product where the mechanical-electrical system interaction is just as critical as the signal processing itself.
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