Awareness enhancement and monitoring devices for the treatment of certain impulse control disorders
First Claim
1. Apparatus for discouraging trichotillomania and other unwanted behaviors, comprising:
- a proximity detector operative to generate an alert in the event that a user'"'"'s hand approaches an area of their body associated with an unwanted behavior;
a memory for storing information associated with the event;
an input allowing a user to characterize the event; and
an interface enabling at least the information to be recalled for later review.
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Abstract
Apparatus for monitoring and discouraging trichotillomania and other unwanted behaviors includes a proximity detector, an event logger, and a user input facilitating event characterization. The proximity detector includes a sensor and an element associated with the arm, hand, finger, head or other user body part. The proximity detector is operative to generate an output signal in the event that the element has physically moved to within a predetermined distance relative to the sensor. The apparatus further includes a device operative to alert the user in response to the output signal generated by the proximity detector. Additional circuitry is provided enabling events to be examined and reviewed. Such circuitry would include a memory for storing information associated with alert events and an interface allowing the events to be examined and reviewed on a personal computer, for example. The provision of a real-time clock further enables date or time information to be stored in conjunction with an event. For additional insight into the events, an input may be provided allowing a user to characterize an event at the time of occurrence.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. Apparatus for discouraging trichotillomania and other unwanted behaviors, comprising:
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a proximity detector operative to generate an alert in the event that a user'"'"'s hand approaches an area of their body associated with an unwanted behavior;
a memory for storing information associated with the event;
an input allowing a user to characterize the event; and
an interface enabling at least the information to be recalled for later review. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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- 8. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the element worn on the arm, hand or finger is a ring.
Specification