Method for stimulating the falling asleep and/or relaxing behavior of a person and an arrangement therefor

• US 4,573,449 A
• Filed: 03/08/1983
• Issued: 03/04/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Egon F. Warnke
• Original Assignee: Egon F. Warnke
• Inventors: Warnke, Egon F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US06/473,353
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 128/1 C, 128/422
• US Class Current: 600/28
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided with which a person suffering from sleeplessness can be more easily relaxed and may more rapidly fall asleep. In particular, sound pulses are emitted by an electro-acoustic transducer, according to the cadence of which, the person seeking to fall asleep is induced to breathe in and out over a predetermined period of time. By suitably selecting the pulse sequence frequency, the pitch and the amplitude of the sound pulses may be adjusted thereby enhancing the process of falling asleep.

Claims

1. A method for inducing relaxed behavior in a person comprising the steps:

generating an oscillating signal;

converting said signal to an audible pulse train sequence having a pulse repetition rate substantially equal to the breathing rate of a person on the verge of falling asleep;

said audible pulse train sequence comprising two sounds of alternating frequency having a pause between them;

gradually reducing the pulse repetition rate and alternating frequencies over time;

instructing the person to inhale and exhale in time with the two sounds of alternating frequency; and

terminating said pulse train after a predetermined time interval.

2. An apparatus for inducing relaxed behavior in a person, comprising:

an oscillator connected to an electro-acoustic tranducer, a first counter means connected to said oscillator for determining the frequency of the signal from said oscillator to said electro-acoustic transducer, a second counter means connected to said first counter means and said electro-acoustic transducer by gate means such that the signal from said first counter means to said oscillator is intermittently interrupted;

said first counter means being connected to said oscillator and said second counter means such that two different frequencies of said oscillator are alternately applied to said electro-acoustic transducer and such that the two different frequencies of said oscillator decrease over time;

said second counter means connected to said first counter length of the interruption to increase over time until the signal produced at said electro-acoustic transducer terminates.