Method and device for snoring management

• US 20070102009A1
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Original Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Inventors: Wong, Thomas, Chung, Joanne, Fan, K.L., Tao, X.M., Chow, W.L., Ng, Alice
• Application Number:
  US11/267,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20070102009A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00

Abstract

An anti-snoring device and method for stopping a person from snoring. The device comprises a casing that contains a microcontrol unit and is adapted to be wearable on a person'"'"'s limb. The casing is connected to a belt having an inner surface and an outer surface, and the belt comprises two electrically conductive wires. Each electrically conductive wire has one end being exposed to the inner surface of the belt and the other end leading from the casing. A microphone is also included into the device for detecting snoring sounds and communicating with the microcontrol unit. The device can detect snoring sound and send an electrical stimulation to an acupuncture point of the person to reduce or eliminate snoring.

Claims

1. An anti-snoring device comprising:

(a) a casing, comprising a microcontrol unit and adapted to be wearable on a person'"'"'s limb;

(b) a belt for securing said casing on said person'"'"'s limb, having an inner surface and an outer surface and adapted to connect to the casing;

(c) two electrically conductive wires leading from said casing, one end of each wire being exposed on said inner surface of said belt; and

(d) a microphone for detecting sounds and being in communication with said microcontrol unit.

2. The anti-snoring device according to claim 1, wherein said microphone is integrated into the casing.

3. The anti-snoring device according to claim 1, wherein said microphone is physically separate from said casing.

4. The anti-snoring device according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive wires are embedded in the belt.

5. The anti-snoring device according to claim 1, wherein said belt is fabric and said electrically conductive wires are woven into the fabric.

6. The anti-snoring device according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive wires are made of polyester coated with a metal or a mixture of two or more metals.

7. The anti-snoring device according to claim 6, wherein said polyester is coated with silver.

8. The anti-snoring device according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive wires are made of stainless steel.

9. The anti-snoring device according to claim 1, wherein said casing further comprises:

(a) a high voltage capacitor for storing electrical charges;

(b) a voltage booster for charging said high voltage capacitor; and

(c) an electrical actuator for releasing an electrical pulse.

10. The anti-snoring device according to claim 1 further comprising a set button for presetting said electrical pulse at a preset level of intensity.

11. The anti-snoring device according to claim 1 further comprising a LED for displaying said preset level of intensity, or displaying events of releasing said electrical pulse, or both.

12. The anti-snoring device according to claim 1 further comprising a test button for testing said preset level of intensity of said electrical pulse.

13. The anti-snoring device according to claim 7 further comprising a set button for presetting said electrical pulse at a preset level of intensity.

14. A method for reducing or eliminating the snoring of a person comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting a series of sounds in an environment and communicating said sounds to a microcontrol unit,

(b) determining whether said series of sounds exceeds a pre-determined threshold;

(c) delivering an electrical stimulation after said threshold is exceeded, to an acupoint of said person for reducing or eliminating the snoring.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the acupoint is a Lung Acupoint.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the Lung Acupoint is LU7(Lieque).

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein said threshold can be adjustable.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein said electrical stimulation is delivered after said threshold is exceeded three times.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein in step (b) further comprising communicating said sound level by a wireless means.