How to Transfer Sleep Brain Patterns Between People
This patent describes a futuristic method for taking the brain activity patterns of a sleeping person and inducing those same patterns in another person to make them sleep.
Original patent title: “System and method of improving sleep”
This patent describes a futuristic method for taking the brain activity patterns of a sleeping person and inducing those same patterns in another person to make them sleep. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a method for 'transplanting a sleep state' from a 'first subject (donor)' to a 'second subject (recipient)'. This involves two main steps: first, 'capturing a sleep state of the first subject represented by brain activity patterns'. This means recording the specific electrical signals in the donor's brain when they are asleep. Second, it involves 'transplanting the sleep state of the first subject in the second subject by inducing the brain activity patterns in the second subject'. This implies using technology to make the recipient's brain produce the exact same sleep-related electrical signals as the donor's. For example, if a donor is in deep, restorative sleep, their brain patterns could be recorded and then played back, so to speak, into a recipient's brain to help them achieve that same deep sleep.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover inducing sleep through traditional methods like medication, hypnosis, or environmental changes (e.g., dimming lights, playing soothing sounds).
- Does not cover simply monitoring a subject's sleep patterns without actively inducing them in another person.
- Does not cover transferring other mental states, such as wakefulness, memories, or emotions, only a 'sleep state'.
- Does not cover methods where the recipient's brain activity patterns are not directly induced to match the donor's.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the concept of directly 'transplanting' a complex physiological state like sleep by capturing and then precisely replicating specific 'brain activity patterns' in another individual, rather than relying on indirect methods.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Future brain-computer interface systems for sleep therapy
Advanced neuro-stimulation devices for inducing specific brain states
Research into targeted sleep enhancement for astronauts or shift workers
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology, if realized, could revolutionize treatments for severe sleep disorders like insomnia or narcolepsy by providing a direct, non-pharmacological way to induce healthy sleep. It could also potentially enhance recovery for athletes or aid in learning by optimizing sleep quality. The ability to precisely control sleep states could have profound impacts on human health and performance.
Filed
September 25, 2022
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
While this specific 'sleep transplant' technology is highly speculative, companies like Neuralink, Kernel, and Synchron are actively researching and developing brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) that can read and write brain activity. These efforts lay foundational groundwork for understanding and potentially manipulating brain states, which could one day align with the broader goals of this patent.
Market impact
If this technology were to become viable, it could create an entirely new segment within the healthcare and wellness markets, focusing on direct neurological intervention for sleep. It would likely disrupt existing sleep aid industries, shifting focus from pharmaceuticals and behavioral therapies to advanced neuro-stimulation. The ethical and regulatory frameworks for such a technology would also require significant development.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a method for 'transplanting a sleep state' from a 'first subject (donor)' to a 'second subject (recipient)'. This involves two main steps: first, 'capturing a sleep state of the first subject represented by brain activity patterns'. This means recording the specific electrical signals in the donor's brain when they are asleep. Second, it involves 'transplanting the sleep state of the first subject in the second subject by inducing the brain activity patterns in the second subject'. This implies using technology to make the recipient's brain produce the exact same sleep-related electrical signals as the donor's. For example, if a donor is in deep, restorative sleep, their brain patterns could be recorded and then played back, so to speak, into a recipient's brain to help them achieve that same deep sleep.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the concept of directly 'transplanting' a complex physiological state like sleep by capturing and then precisely replicating specific 'brain activity patterns' in another individual, rather than relying on indirect methods.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover inducing sleep through traditional methods like medication, hypnosis, or environmental changes (e.g., dimming lights, playing soothing sounds).
- Does not cover simply monitoring a subject's sleep patterns without actively inducing them in another person.
- Does not cover transferring other mental states, such as wakefulness, memories, or emotions, only a 'sleep state'.
- Does not cover methods where the recipient's brain activity patterns are not directly induced to match the donor's.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$26K – $84K
Midpoint $53K · 16.0 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). How to Transfer Sleep Brain Patterns Between People (U.S. Patent No. 12,734,327). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734327/system-and-method-of-improving-sleep
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Transfer Sleep Brain Patterns Between People cover?
This patent describes a futuristic method for taking the brain activity patterns of a sleeping person and inducing those same patterns in another person to make them sleep.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology, if realized, could revolutionize treatments for severe sleep disorders like insomnia or narcolepsy by providing a direct, non-pharmacological way to induce healthy sleep. It could also potentially enhance recovery for athletes or aid in learning by optimizing sleep quality. The ability to precisely control sleep states could have profound impacts on human health and performance.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover inducing sleep through traditional methods like medication, hypnosis, or environmental changes (e.g., dimming lights, playing soothing sounds).
Patent monitoring