CN-116390791-B - Apparatus and method for prompting conscious breathing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for prompting a subject to conscious breathing, comprising a deformable body having an interior volume, the deformable body having an opening in fluid communication with the interior volume and an external environment, and a valve located at the opening, wherein the valve is adapted to regulate a fluid flow rate between the interior volume and the external environment. The present invention helps to suggest conscious breathing.

Inventors

• D.J. Thomas

Assignees

• 泽诺私人有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20211101

Priority Date

20201030

Claims (20)

1. 1. An apparatus for prompting conscious breathing in a subject, comprising: a deformable body having an interior volume, the deformable body having an opening in fluid communication with the interior volume and an external environment; Two or more rods connected to the deformable body and extending into the interior volume, the two or more rods adapted to deflect in response to deformation of the deformable body; A handle or strap connected to the two or more rods, deformation of the deformable body causing the handle or strap to provide stimulation to the subject, and A valve at the opening, wherein the valve is adapted to regulate a fluid flow rate between the interior volume and the external environment.
2. 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a fluid flow control adapted to regulate a fluid flow rate of the valve.
3. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the valve and the fluid flow control are adapted to adjust the flow rate discretely or continuously.
4. 4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the valve and fluid flow control are adapted to adjust the fluid flow rate between at least two different flow rates.
5. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the valve and fluid flow control are configured to adjust the fluid flow rate between a low fluid flow rate, a medium fluid flow rate, and a high fluid flow rate.
6. 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the handle or band defines an interior volume thereof.
7. 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the interior volume of the handle or band is in fluid communication with the valve and the interior volume of the body.
8. 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the handle or strap comprises a hole at its distal end.
9. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the handle or strap is integrally formed with the valve.
10. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for prompting the subject to consciously breathe.
11. 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the subject is prompted to consciously breathe when in use.
12. 12. The device of claim 9, wherein the handle or strap is interchangeable.
13. 13. The device of claim 9, wherein the handle or strap is adjustable.
14. 14. The device of claim 9, wherein the deformable body has an internal volume between 76 cm 3 and 105 cm 3 .
15. 15. The apparatus of any one of claims 6-14, wherein the low fluid flow rate is between 13.8cm 3 /s and 19.1cm 3 /s, wherein the medium fluid flow rate is between 19cm 3 /s and 26.3cm 3 /s, and wherein the high fluid flow rate is between 30.4cm 3 /s and 42cm 3 /s.
16. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the time required to expel the volume of internal air and the time required for air to enter the internal volume is 5.5s when configured as a low fluid flow rate, 4s when configured as a medium fluid flow rate, and 2.4s when configured as a high fluid flow rate.
17. 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the two or more rods are connected to the handle.
18. 18. The device of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a single opening and/or a single valve.
19. 19. The device of claim 1, wherein the stimulus is a slapping motion.
20. 20. A method for prompting conscious breathing in a subject, the method comprising: the subject holding device comprising a deformable body having an interior volume, the deformable body having an opening in fluid communication with the interior volume and an external environment, two or more rods connected to the deformable body and extending into the interior volume, the two or more rods adapted to deflect in response to deformation of the deformable body, a handle or strap connected to the two or more rods, deformation of the deformable body causing the handle or strap to provide stimulation to the subject, and a valve at the opening, wherein the valve is adapted to regulate fluid flow rate therebetween; the subject applies pressure to the body to expel fluid from the interior volume, The subject removes the pressure on the body to allow fluid to enter the interior volume, Wherein the subject inhales or exhales when fluid is expelled from the internal volume and the subject performs the other of the inhaling or exhaling when the fluid is allowed to flow into the internal volume, Thereby prompting the subject to consciously breathe.

Description

Apparatus and method for prompting conscious breathing Technical Field The present invention relates to the field of respiration. More particularly, the present invention relates to conscious breathing. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for prompting conscious breathing. Background Any reference herein to background art should not be construed as an admission that such art forms part of the common general knowledge in australia or elsewhere. Anxiety disorders are common mental disorders in modern society. Recent numbers indicate that about 18% of the U.S. population suffers from anxiety disorders. Similar proportions were observed in australia. It will be appreciated that anxiety is a significant problem. There are several ways to treat anxiety. Including psychotherapy and psychotropic therapy. However, it is speculated that anxiety disorders may also be alleviated by correcting breathing patterns. This is especially true for people experiencing elevated anxiety levels or panic states (i.e., panic attacks). Respiration modulation is presumed to alleviate such problems. Regulation of respiration is also assumed to have applications beyond anxiety treatment (e.g., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Studies in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder children have shown that repetitive movement may increase concentration and attention. This repetitive motion is known as stimulation. Stimulation is related to self-stimulating behavior that typically involves repetitive motion and sound. In this regard, stimulation may calm a person by preventing less predictable environmental stimuli. There is increasing evidence that repetitive behavior may be very useful. In this regard, the stimulatory behavior may give individuals, including autism spectrum disorder patients, a sense of control, helping them to cope with overwhelming external stimuli and convey their mood. Stimulation is also considered as a useful aid to meditation exercises. It is well recognized that meditation is a widely used practice for promoting mental health. It will be appreciated that it would be advantageous to alleviate one or more of the above problems, or at least provide the consumer with a useful or commercial alternative. Disclosure of Invention In one aspect, although it need not be the only or indeed the broadest aspect, the invention resides in an apparatus for prompting a subject to consciously breathe comprising: A deformable body having an interior volume, the deformable body having an opening in fluid communication with the interior volume and an external environment, and A valve at the opening, wherein the valve is adapted to regulate a fluid flow rate between the interior volume and the external environment. In one embodiment, the device further comprises a fluid flow control adapted to adjust the fluid flow rate of the valve. In some embodiments, the valve and the fluid flow control are adapted to adjust the flow rate discretely or continuously. In one embodiment, the valve and the fluid flow control are adapted to adjust the fluid flow rate between at least two different flow rates. In one embodiment, the deformable body comprises a single opening. In another embodiment, the deformable body comprises a single valve. In one embodiment, the device further comprises one or more rods extending into the interior volume. In certain embodiments, the one or more rods are connected to the handle. In one embodiment, the deformable body has an internal volume of between about 50cm 3 and about 150cm 3, between about 50cm 3 and about 100cm 3, between about 100cm 3 and about 150cm 3, between about 75cm 3 and about 125cm 3, between about 76cm 3 and about 105cm 3, between about 90cm 3 and about 110cm 3, between about 100cm 3 and about 110cm 3, about 76cm 3, or about 105cm 3. In one embodiment, the valve and the fluid flow control are configured to adjust the fluid flow rate between a low fluid flow rate, a medium fluid flow rate, and a high fluid flow rate. In one embodiment, the low fluid flow rate is between about 15cm 3/s and about 23cm 3/s, between about 17cm 3/s and about 21cm 3/s, between about 19cm 3/s and about 20cm 3/s, or about 19.1cm 3/s. In one embodiment, the medium fluid flow rate is between about 23cm 3/s and about 33cm 3/s, between about 23cm 3/s and about 30cm 3/s, between about 25cm 3/s and about 27cm 3/s, or about 26.3cm 3/s. In embodiments, the high fluid flow rate is between about 33cm 3/s and about 50cm 3/s, between about 35cm 3/s and about 45cm 3/s, between about 40cm 3/s and about 44cm 3/s, or about 42cm 3/s. In one embodiment, the means for prompting the subject to consciously breathe is combined with a printing direction (printed directions) that correlates the fluid flow rate setting of the valve to the breathing rate. The invention also relates to the use of the device for alerting a subject to conscious breathing. The invention also resides in a device for promp