FR3109877A1 - Breathing control aid - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for assisting in controlling a user's breathing; comprising a housing provided with a spout and an opening, the spout being connected to the opening by a channel passing through the housing so as to allow the user to inhale and/or exhale through the channel via the spout and opening; and a detector of an air flow passing through the channel. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Breathing control aid

The invention relates to the field of breath control. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for assisting in the control of breathing, in particular of the respiratory cycle, of a user.

It has been established that the control of an individual's respiratory cycle could make it possible to act on the variability of his heart rate. This method of relaxation, known as cardiac coherence, could participate in the management of stress, anxiety, concentration, in particular so as to treat certain addictions such as tobacco addiction. In addition, this method could also participate in the treatment of certain cardiovascular diseases, such as high blood pressure or could strengthen immunity.

In particular, in the context of smoking cessation, this method would find an interest vis-à-vis competing solutions such as electronic cigarettes, nicotine patches or even cognitive or behavioral therapies. Indeed, these competing solutions aim either to displace the addiction, or to treat only one particular aspect of the addiction, namely behavioral, physical or psychological addiction. Conversely, the method of cardiac coherence would help to treat these different aspects simultaneously, and in particular physical and psychological dependence, without resorting to an invasive or medicinal solution and without displacing the dependence.

In a known way, during a cardiac coherence session, the individual seeks to act on the variability of his heart rate by carrying out respiratory cycles, namely successions of inspiration and expiration, regular and deep, without idle time. For example, the individual performs, on a daily basis, three sessions of six breathing cycles per minute for five minutes. However, in order to benefit from the benefits of this method, it is necessary to practice it rigorously, respecting during a session the times of inspiration and/or expiration, the frequencies of the respiratory cycles and the duration of session, with regular observance of the number of sessions per day over a long period. It has been observed that over the long term, this rigorous practice and this regular observance are lacking, which penalizes the success of the objective pursued by the individual. In addition, in the context of smoking cessation, the method alone does not make it possible to treat behavioral dependence.

There is thus a need for a tool allowing a user to practice a method of controlling his respiratory cycle in a rigorous manner with regular observance over a long period. In the context of smoking cessation, to this need is added that of being able to treat the three addictions that are psychological, physical and behavioral addictions. The present invention is placed in this context and aims to meet these needs.

1. Un boîtier pourvu d’un bec et d’une ouverture, le bec étant relié à l’ouverture par un canal traversant le boîtier de sorte à autoriser une inspiration et/ou une expiration de l’utilisateur par le canal via le bec et l’ouverture ;
2. Un détecteur d’un flux d’air passant au travers du canal.

For these purposes, the subject of the invention is a device for assisting the control of a user's breathing; including:

1. A housing provided with a spout and an opening, the spout being connected to the opening by a channel passing through the housing so as to allow inspiration and/or expiration of the user through the channel via the spout and the 'opening ;
2. A detector of an air flow passing through the channel.

The spout of the box is thus intended to be put in the mouth by the user, who can thus inhale and/or exhale through the channel, the flow of air thus blown in or sucked in by the user being able to be detected by the detector. It is understood that thanks to the invention, it is thus possible to check whether each inspiration and/or each expiration carried out by the user through the tool complies with the expectations of the breathing control method, with respect to - vis-à-vis the objectives pursued by the user. There is also a monitoring tool that can be configured to check regular compliance with this method. Finally, in the context of smoking cessation, it is possible to implement a method of cardiac coherence, which makes it possible to treat both psychological and physical addictions, thanks to the method itself, and behavioral addiction, of the makes the shape of the tool and the way to use it.

It should be noted that according to the invention, the device does not have any reservoir intended to receive tobacco, a liquid containing nicotine or a nicotine substitute and associated with a means, for example heating, arranged to generate from the content from the reservoir of vapor or smoke intended to be inhaled by the user.

By air flow detector is meant in particular a detector comprising a pressure sensor, for example of the piezoresistive or capacitive type, arranged to intercept a flow of air passing through the channel, for example extending into the channel or vis-à-vis an orifice of the channel. If necessary, the air flow detector can be arranged to detect an air flow passing through the channel when a pressure greater than a given threshold is exerted on said pressure sensor. If desired, the airflow detector can be arranged to detect only airflows passing through the channel in a given direction. It has indeed been found that in the context of smoking cessation, only the control of inspirations is important. Conversely, in the context of the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and in particular hypertension, only the control of expirations is important.

In one embodiment, the device comprises a processing unit arranged to detect a sequence of inspirations and/or expirations carried out by the user through the channel, from the detections of airflow operated by the detector of air flow. A sequence of inspirations and/or expirations is understood to mean a succession of inspirations and/or expirations whose overall duration is greater than a predetermined sequence duration.

Advantageously, the airflow detector can be arranged to determine a duration of an airflow detected by the airflow detector and the airflow detector can be arranged to compare said determined duration of each detected airflow at a predetermined flow duration. For example, the detector can be arranged to determine whether said determined duration of each air flow detected is within a given range, in particular from 4 to 6 seconds. In this way, it is possible to control the duration of inspirations and/or expirations of the user.

Advantageously, the processing unit can be arranged to determine a number of successive airflow detections by the airflow detector, the duration of which is greater than the predetermined threshold duration, the processing unit detecting a sequence of inspirations and/or expirations when the determined number is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold number. It is thus possible to check that a sequence of inspirations and/or expirations lasts long enough to carry out a cardiac coherence session. For example, we can check that each session carried out by the user includes a sequence of at least six successive inspirations each lasting between 4 and 6 seconds, or that in other words, the session lasts at least one minute.

Advantageously, the processing unit may include a memory in which a counter is stored, the processing unit being arranged to add a number relating to each inspiration and/or expiration sequence detected to said counter. If necessary, the processing unit may be arranged to periodically subtract a number from said counter. For example, the processing unit could be arranged to determine the duration of each sequence of inspirations and/or expirations detected, said number added by the processing unit being a number relating to the determined duration of this detected sequence . As a variant, the processing unit could be arranged, in the absence of detection of a sequence of inspirations and/or expirations during a predetermined period, to subtract a predetermined number from said counter. In this way, we come to estimate a state of cardiac coherence of the user, vis-à-vis the last sessions carried out by the user and/or the period since the last session carried out. It is thus possible to give an indication of this state to the user, so that he can carry out a new session if necessary.

If desired, the device may include a light indicator visible to the user, and a control unit, the control unit being arranged to control said light indicator as a function of the state of said counter. For example, the light indicator can comprise a plurality of light sources that can be selectively activated, each of the light sources being associated with a distinct given threshold value, and the control unit can be arranged to control the activation of each light source when the counter value is greater than the threshold value associated with this light source and to control the deactivation of each light source when the counter value is less than the threshold value associated with this light source. For example, the light sources can be arranged linearly on the housing in a given direction, and the values associated with said light sources are increasing along said direction.

In one embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a member for transmitting a signal intended for the user and a control unit, the control unit being suitable for receiving an instruction to initiate a breathing control sequence and being arranged, upon receipt of said initiation instruction, to control the transmitting member for the transmission of a sequence of signals intended for the user. For example, the signal emitting member may comprise one or more of the following elements: a light source, the signal being a light signal; a vibrating member, for example of the piezoelectric type, the signal being a vibrating signal; a loudspeaker, the signal being a sound signal. Each signal emitted by the emitter may, for example, indicate to the user the start of an inspiration or an expiration. It is thus possible to guide the user's inspirations and/or expirations when performing a cardiac coherence session in order to guarantee that the sequence will comply with the expectations of the respiratory cycle control method.

For example, the control unit can be arranged, upon receipt of said instruction, to control the transmitting device for the periodic transmission of signals to the user according to a predetermined frequency and duration. According to one example, the emitter may emit a continuous vibration for 5 seconds to indicate to the user an inspiration duration, then be inactive for 5 seconds during which the user can exhale, and so on for 5 minutes. According to another example, the emitter may emit a continuous vibration for 5 seconds to indicate to the user an inspiration duration, then be emit a separate continuous vibration for 5 seconds during which the user can exhale, and so on for 5 minutes.

Preferably, the control unit may comprise a memory in which the parameters of said sequence of signals are stored, and in particular the frequency and the duration of the signals and the duration of the sequence of signals.

Advantageously, the device may comprise a processing unit arranged for, during a first detection of an air flow by the air flow detector and in the absence of detection preceding said first detection for a given duration, generating said initiation instruction intended for the control unit. It is understood that according to this characteristic, it is the first inspiration or the first expiration performed by the user through the channel of the tool which triggers the sequence of signals. Alternatively, the device may include a button that can be activated by the user to generate said initiation instruction. As a further variant, the device may include a communication unit arranged to receive said initiation instruction generated and transmitted from an electronic device saying and to transmit it to the control unit.

Still advantageously, the control unit can be capable of receiving a reminder instruction and can be arranged, upon receipt of said reminder instruction, to control the transmitting device for the emission of a reminder signal to destination of the user. This provides a means of reminding the user to guarantee regular observance of the method. For example, the processing unit can be arranged to, in the absence of detection for a given period, generate said callback instruction intended for the control unit. As a variant, the processing unit can be arranged to generate said callback instruction intended for the control unit as a function of the state of the counter. As a further variant, the device may comprise a communication unit arranged to receive said reminder instruction generated and transmitted from a remote electronic device and to transmit it to the control unit.

In one embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a unit for communicating with a remote electronic device, the communication unit being arranged to transmit to said remote electronic device information relating to the detection of one or more streams of air passing through the channel by said detector. For example, the communication unit may be a wireless communication unit, in particular of the Bluetooth type or of the Wifi type, capable of communicating with a smart mobile telephone or a touch pad. Said information relating to the detection of one or more airflows may in particular include the number of airflows detected, the duration of each of the airflows detected, the duration of a detected sequence, the frequency and/or or the overall duration of the sequences detected over a given period, in particular over a day. It is thus possible for the user to measure and follow his observation of the method of controlling his respiratory cycle, in order to estimate whether this actually makes it possible to achieve the objectives pursued by the user.

Advantageously, the communication unit can be able to receive from said remote electronic device an update instruction containing new parameters of the signal sequence, for example containing a frequency and duration set, and the control unit can be arranged to replace the parameters of said sequence stored in its memory with the new parameters.

In one embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises a first compartment and a second compartment, the processing unit and/or the control unit and/or the communication unit being arranged on a printed circuit board mounted in the first compartment. Where applicable, the airflow detector extends at least partially into the second compartment, which defines the channel, and said printed circuit board is connected to the airflow detector. If desired, at least two of the processing, control and communication units are formed by the same microcontroller.

Advantageously, the device comprises an adjustable shutter extending in the channel and arranged to allow adjustment of the air flow that it is possible to blow or suck through the channel.

The present invention is now described using only illustrative examples and in no way limiting the scope of the invention, and from the accompanying illustrations, in which:

represents, schematically and partially, an exploded view of a breathing control aid device according to one embodiment of the invention; And

represents, schematically and partially, a control method of the device of [FIG. 1].

In the following description, the identical elements, by structure or by function, appearing in different figures retain, unless otherwise specified, the same references.

We represented in an exploded view of a device 1 to help control a user's breathing.

The device 1 comprises a housing 2 of generally tubular shape, formed of two lower 2a and upper 2b half-shells, and intended to be closed at one of its ends by a spout 21 and at the other of these ends by a plug 22 pierced with an opening.

The box 2 comprises a first compartment 23 and a second compartment 24, separated from each other by a longitudinal wall 2c formed in the lower half-shell 2a, and extending as far as the upper half-shell 2b when the two half-shells are assembled, so as to guarantee the tightness of the two compartments. The second compartment 24 connects the spout 21 to the opening of the cap 22 to define a channel passing through the housing 2. The user can thus put the spout 21 of the device 1 in his mouth and inhale or exhale through the second compartment 24.

The device 1 comprises two printed circuit boards 4a and 4b, intended to be mounted in the first compartment 23. An airflow detector 3 is mounted on the printed circuit board 4a, at the level of one end intended to come opposite the spout 21 at the level of the second compartment 24. The air flow detector 3 is thus capable of detecting a flow of air blown in or sucked in by the user through the second compartment 24. It is note that the half-shell 2a includes a transverse low wall 2d intended to close the first compartment 23.

In the example described, without this being limiting, the air flow detector 3 comprises a piezoresistive type pressure sensor, arranged to detect a flow of air sucked in by the user through the second compartment 24 when this air flow exerts pressure on this sensor above a given threshold. Furthermore, the airflow detector 3 comprises a processing module arranged to determine the duration of each airflow that it detects and to determine whether said duration is within a range of 4 to 6 seconds.

Device 1 comprises an electrical power source in the form, in the example described, of a battery 41 associated with a connector 41a. Device 1 also includes a microcontroller 42 mounted on printed circuit board 4b, which is connected to connector 41a to receive the electrical power supplied by battery 41. Device 1 further includes five light-emitting diodes 43 and a push button 44 mounted on the printed circuit board 4a, the boards 4a and 4b being electrically connected by a connection means, for example a flexible printed circuit board (not shown). Furthermore, the device 1 comprises a vibrating motor 45, for example of the piezoelectric type and a sound generator 46, for example of the piezoelectric type, each electrically connected to the printed circuit board 4b, for example by a wire connection.

1. une unité de traitement Ut recevant des informations du détecteur de flux d’air 3 relatives aux détections réalisées par ce détecteur et agencée pour détecter une séquence d’inspirations et/ou d’expirations réalisée par l’utilisateur au travers du deuxième compartiment 24.
2. une unité de contrôle Uc pour contrôler lesdites diodes électroluminescentes 43, le moteur vibrant 45 et le générateur sonore 46.
3. une unité de communication sans-fil Ub, par exemple Bluetooth dans l’exemple décrit, pour recevoir et émettre des informations depuis et à destination d’un appareil électronique distant, par exemple un téléphone mobile dans l’exemple décrit ;
4. une mémoire M.

The microcontroller 42 comprises:

1. a processing unit Ut receiving information from the airflow detector 3 relating to the detections carried out by this detector and arranged to detect a sequence of inspirations and/or expirations carried out by the user through the second compartment 24.
2. a control unit Uc for controlling said light-emitting diodes 43, the vibrating motor 45 and the sound generator 46.
3. a wireless communication unit Ub, for example Bluetooth in the example described, for receiving and transmitting information from and to a remote electronic device, for example a mobile telephone in the example described;
4. a memory Mr.

The light-emitting diodes 43 are arranged linearly on the printed circuit board so as to come opposite openings 25 made in the upper half-shell 2b of the case 2.

The battery 41 is arranged to electrically supply the various electronic components of the device 1, the push button 44 being able to be activated by means of a button 26 mounted on the box 2 to activate or deactivate this battery 41.

In connection with the , we will describe an example of a mode of operation of the device 1 making it possible to help the user to carry out a session to control his breathing of the cardiac coherence type, with a view to smoking cessation.

During a first step E1, the user inhales a first time through the second compartment 24 for a period of 5 seconds. The detector 3 thus carries out a detection of an air flow of duration Df comprised between 4 and 6 seconds and communicates this detection to the processing unit Ut of the microcontroller 42, which determines that it is a first inspiration of a sequence of inspirations to come, insofar as no detection has been carried out by the detector 3 previously, in particular during a given period. In response to this first detection, the processing unit Ut generates a control instruction I intended for the control unit of the microcontroller 42.

Upon receipt of the control instruction I, the control unit Uc, in a step E2, recovers from the memory M a set of parameters of a sequence of signals, namely a signal duration Dv, a frequency of signals Fv and a sequence duration T. The control unit Uc, in a step E2', controls the vibrating motor 45 and the sound generator 46 for the periodic emission of vibrating and sound signals intended for the user according to the signal duration, signal frequency and sequence duration. According to one example, the vibrating motor 45 and the sound generator 46 could emit a continuous vibration and a rising sound signal for 5 seconds to indicate to the user an inspiration duration, then be inactive for 5 seconds during which the user can exhale, and so on for 5 minutes.

Simultaneously with the emission of the signals by the vibrating motor 45 and the sound generator 46, the air flow detector 3 carries out in steps E3, for each inspiration carried out by the user through the second compartment 24 with sufficient intensity and a duration Df of between 4 and 6 seconds, a detection of the airflow corresponding to this inspiration and communicates this detection to the processing unit Ut of the microcontroller 42.

The processing unit Ut determines, in a step E4, the number Nf of successive airflow detections performed by the airflow detector 3, as well as the sum Ds of the durations Df of these detected airflows . When the number of successive detections Nf becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined number N, for example 6 in the case described, and/or the sum Ds of the durations Df of the air flows detected becomes greater than a predetermined duration D, by example 1 minute in the case described, the processing unit Ut determines that a valid inspiration sequence, that is to say of sufficient duration with regard to the control method implemented by the user and the objectives pursued, has been carried out by the user.

A counter is stored in the memory M of the microcontroller 42. Following the detection of a valid inspiration sequence by the processing unit Ut, the processing unit Ut comes to increment the counter, in a step E5, as a function of the duration of this sequence, corresponding to the sum of the durations Df of the air flows detected successively. In the example described, this step E5 is performed simultaneously with steps E3 and E4, the counter incrementing for each additional minute of the sequence. It should be noted that the microcontroller 42 has a clock allowing the processing unit Ut to decrement the counter periodically, every hour, in a step E5′.

This counter thus represents a state of cardiac coherence of the user, on the principle that each minute of a valid inspiration sequence makes it possible to accumulate one hour of cardiac coherence, which therefore dissipates after one hour.

Each light-emitting diode 43 is associated, at the level of the control unit Uc of the microcontroller 42, with a threshold value, the threshold values increasing with the direction of arrangement of the diodes 43 on the device 1. For example, the first diode light-emitting diode 43, located on the side of the beak 21, is associated with the value 1 and the last light-emitting diode 43, located on the side of the opening 22, is associated with the value 5. The control unit Uc, in a step E6 , thus controls the activation of each light-emitting diode 43 when the value of the counter is greater than or equal to the threshold value associated with this light-emitting diode 43 and to control the deactivation of each light-emitting diode 43 when the value of the counter is less than the value threshold associated with this light-emitting diode 43. The light-emitting diodes 43 thus come to indicate to the user his state of cardiac coherence, like a battery charge indicator.

In a step E7, following the detection of a given event, the processing unit Ut generates a callback instruction R intended for the control unit Uc. Alternatively or cumulatively, the event may be the passage of a predetermined time, an absence of detection of an air flow by the detector 3 for a given period or even the fall of the counter below a threshold given. On receipt of the recall instruction R, the control unit Uc, in a step E7′, controls the vibrating motor 45 for the emission of a vibrating signal and the sound generator 46 for the emission of a sound signal intended to remind the user of the need to carry out a breathing control session.

It should be noted that the device 1 described in this example may or may not be associated with a computer program embedded on a remote electronic device, for example an application installed on a mobile telephone, with which the communication unit Ub can communicate. The communication unit Ub can for example transmit to this computer program a set of data relating to the detections operated by the device 1, namely the number Nf of air flows detected for each sequence, the duration Df of each of the flows of air detected for each sequence, the duration Ds of each detected sequence, or even the frequency and/or the overall duration of the sequences detected over a given period, in particular over a day. It is thus possible for the user to view on this remote electronic device, using the computer program, all of this data, in particular in order to check whether his practice complies with the requirements of the control method he employs and whether his observance is sufficiently regular with regard to the objectives he is pursuing.

Furthermore, the computer program can define a monitoring program for these objectives that is variable or adjustable over time. The communication unit Ub can thus receive from the remote electronic device updates of the various parameters of the device according to the state of progress of the user vis-à-vis this monitoring program, and in particular the following parameters: the parameters of the signal sequences that the vibrating motor 45 and/or the sound generator 46 must emit, namely the signal duration Dv, the signal frequency Fv and the sequence duration T or even the reminder times or counter decrement periods. Following receipt of these updates by the communication unit Ub, the control unit Uc can then replace the values of these parameters stored in its memory M with the new values.

The foregoing description clearly explains how the invention makes it possible to achieve the objectives it has set itself, and in particular by proposing a device for assisting the control of a user's breathing integrating an air flow detector insufflated or aspirated by the user into a channel of the device. Thanks to the invention, it is thus possible to control the practice of the method of controlling his breathing followed by the user and in particular to check whether the inspirations and/or the expirations carried out by the user comply with the expectations of this method vis-à-vis the objectives pursued by the user and to check whether the user observes this method regularly over a long period.

In any event, the invention cannot be limited to the embodiments specifically described in this document, and extends in particular to all equivalent means and to any technically effective combination of these means. In particular, provision may be made for other types of airflow detector than that described, and in particular capacitive-type pressure sensors, other types of signal-emitting devices intended for the user, and in particular organs emitting light or sound signals. Finally, it will be possible to envisage other methods of controlling breathing than that described, and in particular methods using values other than those mentioned or involving exhalations rather than inspirations by the user.

Claims (10)

Device (1) to help control a user's breathing; comprising:

1. A housing (2) provided with a spout (21) and an opening (22), the spout being connected to the opening by a channel (24) passing through the housing so as to allow inspiration and/or expiration from the user through the channel via the spout and the opening;
2. A detector of an air flow (3) passing through the channel.

Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the device comprises a processing unit (Ut) arranged to detect a sequence of inspirations and/or expirations carried out by the user through the channel (24), from the air flow detections operated by the air flow detector (3). Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the air flow detector (3) is arranged to determine a duration (Df) of an air flow detected by the air flow detector and in which the airflow detector is arranged to compare said determined duration of each airflow detected with a predetermined threshold duration. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the processing unit (Ut) is arranged to determine a number (Nf) of successive airflow detections by the airflow detector (3) whose duration (Df) is greater than the predetermined threshold duration, the processing unit detecting a sequence of inspirations and/or expirations when the determined number is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold number (N). Device (1) according to one of Claims 2 to 4, in which the processing unit (Ut) comprises a memory (M) in which a counter is stored, in which the processing unit is arranged to add a number relating to each inspiration and/or expiration sequence detected at said counter; and wherein the processing unit is arranged to subtract a number periodically from said counter. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a luminous indicator (43) visible to the user and a control unit (Uc), and in which the control unit is arranged to control the said indicator illuminated according to the state of said counter. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a member (45, 46) for transmitting a signal intended for the user and a control unit (Uc), the control unit being capable of receiving an initiation instruction (I) of a breath control sequence and being arranged, upon receipt of said initiation instruction, to control the emitting device for the emission of a sequence of signals intended for the user. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a processing unit (Ut) arranged so that, during a first detection of an air flow by the air flow detector (3) and in the absence of detection preceding said first detection for a given duration, generating said initiation instruction (I) intended for the control unit (Uc). Device (1) according to one of Claims 7 or 8, in which the control unit (Uc) is able to receive a recall instruction (R) and is arranged, on receipt of the said recall instruction, to control the transmitting unit (45, 46) for transmitting a reminder signal to the user Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a communication unit (Ub) with a remote electronic device, the communication unit being arranged to transmit to said remote electronic device information relating to the detection of one or more air flows passing through the channel (24) by said detector.