Achieving a relaxed state

• US 20040254501A1
• Filed: 03/11/2003
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microlife Corporation (Morgan Stanley)
• Original Assignee: Microlife Corporation (Morgan Stanley)
• Inventors: Mault, James R.
• Application Number:
  US10/344,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20040254501A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/083 Measuring rate of metabolism by using breath test, e.g. measuring rate of oxygen consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis

Abstract

A process for assisting a person to achieve a relaxed state includes providing a metabolic rate meter, determining the metabolic rate of the person at intervals using the metabolic rate meter, and providing feedback to the person, wherein the feedback is correlated with the metabolic rate of the person, so as to assist the person to achieve a relaxed state.

Claims

1. A method for achieving a relaxed state during metabolic rate measurement, said method comprising the steps of:

breathing into an indirect calorimeter for determining oxygen consumption by the user;

determining the metabolic rate by the indirect calorimeter using the oxygen consumption;

providing the metabolic rate from the indirect calorimeter to a feedback mechanism; and

receiving feedback from the feedback mechanism by the user, correlating a relaxed state with the metabolic rate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback correlates a difference between the metabolic rate determined for the user and a resting metabolic rate of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback correlates a difference between the metabolic rate determined for the user and an initial metabolic rate determined for the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback is an audible signal indicating progress towards a relaxed state.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback is a visual signal indicating progress towards a relaxed state.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback is a mechanical oscillation indicating progress towards a relaxed state.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback is an aromatic signal indicating progress towards a relaxed state.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback is a synthesized speech signal indicating progress towards a relaxed state.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback is an electromagnetic radiation signal indicating progress towards a relaxed state.

10. The method of claim 1 including the step of determining if a hazardous gas is present in the environment and warning the user of the hazardous gas.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the relaxed state is achieved when the determined metabolic rate reaches a predetermined steady state value.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of monitoring the environment of the user over time;

and correlating changes in the environment with changes in the metabolic rate of the user.

13. The method of claim 1 further including the step of monitoring an activity level for the user, and correlating activity level with changes in the metabolic rate of the user.

14. A method for achieving a relaxed state during metabolic rate measurement, said method comprising the steps of:

monitoring a physiological parameter for a user;

determining a metabolic rate for the user, wherein the metabolic rate is determined using a previously determined correlation between a physiological parameter for the user and a metabolic rate for the user; and

providing feedback to the user correlating a relaxed state with the metabolic rate determined for the user.

15. The method of claim 14 further including the steps of:

measuring a physiological parameter using a physiological monitor mounted to the user;

correlating the physiological parameter with metabolic rate; and

using the physiological parameter to monitor progress towards the predetermined relaxed state.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the physiological parameter is a pulse rate.

25. The system of claim 15 further comprising a remote computer system in communication with said indirect calorimeter via a communications network and the remote computer system provides feedback to the user via the communications network through an entertainment device.

17. A system for achieving a relaxed state during metabolic rate measurement of a user comprising:

an indirect calorimeter for periodically determining a metabolic rate of the user as the user breathes through the indirect calorimeter;

a feedback mechanism operatively in communication with the indirect calorimeter, wherein said feedback mechanism provides the user with feedback correlating the determined metabolic rate with a predetermined relaxed state.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said feedback mechanism includes a display for displaying the metabolic rate.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said feedback mechanism is a portable computing device in communication with the indirect calorimeter, wherein a the display of said portable computing device provides feedback to the user.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the indirect calorimeter includes a mask in contact with the face of the user for transmitting the respiratory gases of the user.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein said feedback mechanism is an electronic device having a display, a data entry mechanism, a processor and an audible signaling means.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said electronic device is a personal digital assistant.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein said electronic device is an interactive television operatively connected to an interactive television network.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein said electronic device is an entertainment device in communication with the indirect calorimeter.

26. The system of claim 17 wherein the feedback is a sensation provided to the person to assist the person in achieving a relaxed state.

27. The system of claim 17 wherein the feedback is a relaxing image displayed on the display screen of a personal digital assistant.

28. The system of claim 17 wherein said indirect calorimeter includes a means for receiving a relaxing audible signal for assisting the person in achieving a relaxed state.

29. The system of claim 17 wherein said indirect calorimeter and said feedback mechanism are incorporated in a common housing.

30. The system of claim 17 further comprising a global positioning satellite receiver operatively in communication with said indirect calorimeter for determining energy expenditure of the user and correlating the energy expenditure of the user with achieving a relaxed state.

31. The system of claim 17 further comprising a plurality of metabolic rate meters operatively connected to a central control unit for monitoring the progress of a plurality of users towards a relaxed state by an attendant, and the attendant individually assisting each user in achieving a relaxed state.

32. The system of claim 17 wherein the metabolic rate is monitored by a group of persons to encourage a member of the group in achieving a relaxed state.

33. The system of claim 17 wherein the system is used to assist a non-human user in achieving a relaxed state.

34. A system of claim 17 wherein the feedback indicates a degree of relaxation.

35. A system for achieving a relaxed state during metabolic rate measurement comprising:

a support for supporting a person during metabolic rate measurement;

an indirect calorimeter for periodically determining a metabolic rate of the person as the person breathes through the indirect calorimeter;

a control device having a display screen and operatively in communication with said indirect calorimeter, wherein the determined metabolic rate is displayed on said display screen to provides the person with visual feedback correlating the determined metabolic rate with a predetermined relaxed state; and

a vibrating mechanism disposed in said support to provide the person with a physical signal indicating progress towards a relaxed state.

36. A system for achieving a relaxed state of a person during metabolic rate measurement comprising:

a physiological monitor which measures a physiological parameter that correlates with metabolic rate;

an indirect calorimeter for periodically determining a metabolic rate of the person using said measured physiological parameter while the person breathes through the indirect calorimeter; and

a feedback mechanism operatively in communication with the indirect calorimeter, wherein said feedback mechanism provides the person with feedback correlating the determined metabolic rate with a predetermined relaxed state.

37. A system as set forth in claim 36 wherein said physiological monitor is a wrist mounted device that measures the person'"'"'s pulse rate.

38. A system for achieving a relaxed state during metabolic rate measurement comprising:

an indirect calorimeter for periodically determining a metabolic rate of a person while the person breathes through the indirect calorimeter;

a feedback mechanism having a controller, an environmental sensor, an environmental controller, and a display wherein said feedback mechanism is operatively in communication with the indirect calorimeter and adjusts the environmental conditions corresponding with the periodically determined metabolic rate to iteratively determine optimum environmental conditions for achieving a relaxed state, and provides the person with feedback correlating the determined metabolic rate with a predetermined relaxed state.

39. A breathing apparatus, comprising:

a source of respiratory gases;

a respiratory tube operatively connected to a respiratory connector;

an inlet tube operatively connecting said source of respiratory gases with a respiratory connector;

an indirect calorimeter operatively connected to said respiratory connector, wherein said indirect calorimeter includes a flow pathway through which exhaled and inhaled gases pass, the flow pathway having a fluid coupling with the source of inhaled gas, a sink for exhaled gas, and said respiratory connector through which the person breathes, and a respiratory gas analyzer adapted to determine the flow rate of gases and the partial pressure of at least one gas passing through at least a part of the flow pathway for determining a metabolic rate of the person;

a feedback mechanism coupled to the indirect calorimeter, and adapted to provide feedback to the person correlating metabolic rate of the person with a predetermined relaxed state.

40. The breathing apparatus of claim 39 wherein a ventilatory equivalent relates inhaled volume to oxygen consumption to determine a state of hyperventilation of the person, and corrects for carbon dioxide depletion if hyperventilation is detected.

41. The breathing apparatus of claim 39, wherein the respiratory gas analyzer is a pair of ultrasonic transducers.

42. The breathing apparatus of claim 39, wherein the respiratory gas analyzer is an oxygen sensor.

43. The breathing apparatus of claim 39, wherein the respiratory gas analyzer is a capnometer.

44. A system for achieving a relaxed state during metabolic rate measurement comprising:

a ventilator for providing respiratory gases to a person;

a metabolic rate meter operatively connected to said ventilator, wherein said metabolic rate meter is an indirect calorimeter;

a patient feeding mechanism; and

a feedback mechanism for controlling the environment of the patient to assist the patient in achieving a related state, and adjusting feeding of the patient using the patient feeding mechanism, corresponding to the metabolic rate of the patient.