Device for interrupting the snoring of a sleeping person

• US 4,788,533 A
• Filed: 07/26/1985
• Issued: 11/29/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jean Claude Mequignon
• Original Assignee: Jean Claude Mequignon
• Inventors: Mequignon, Jean Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Swanns, III, Glen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mullen, Jr., Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US06/759,289
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 340/575, 340/407, 340/573, 128/1 R, 128/905, 128/716, 128/721, 128/132 R
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00

Abstract

A device is provided for interrupting the snoring of the subject as soon as it starts. Said device comprises a microphone (2) for picking up the noise emitted by the subject, and means (3) for comparing the intensity of the noise picked up by the microphone (2) with a given alarm threshold. It is characterized by the fact that it further comprises means (6) which, should the alarm threshold be exceeded, emit for a given brief time a sound stimulus of an intensity sufficient to be perceived by the subject but insufficient to awaken him.

Claims

1. A device for interrupting the snoring of a sleeping subject as soon as it starts and which uses the phenomena of subconscious perception of a fixed frequency sound wave stimulus to cause a snoring sleeper to react to the sound stimulus which is maintained at a level not loud enough to wake the subject but sufficiently loud to cause a subconscious physical response, the result of which is to cause a behavioral change and interruption of the snoring without waking the subject, said device including a microphone (2) for picking up snoring noise emitted by the subject and means (3) for comparing the intensity of the noise picked up by the microphone (2) with a given alarm threshold, means (6) for disabling the microphone for a predetermined period upon the noise exceeding the alarm threshold and means for actuating a sound device so as to emit a fixed frequency sound stimulus within the range of 1700 and 2300 Hz and of an intensity between 50 db and 90 db such that the sound stimulus is perceived by the subconscious perception of the subject but insufficient to awaken the subject, said sound device being activated for a period between approximately 2 and 3 seconds so that the sound stimulus is emitted for a predetermined period less than the predetermined period of disablement of the microphone.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said means (6) comprises a vibrator (9).

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said means (6) includes means (7) for adjusting the intensity of the sound stimulus emitted between 50 and 90 dB.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said means (6) includes means (8) for adjusting the duration of emission of the sound emitted between 2 and 3 seconds after the alarm threshold has been exceeded.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said means (6) includes means for disabling the microphone, (2) for a time adjustable between 5 and 10 seconds.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means (6) includes an adjustable delay for controlling the predetermined period of the sound stimulus.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein said means for disabling including means for automatically reactivating the microphone to cause it to resume its monitoring function.

8. A device for interrupting the snoring of a subject as set forth in claims 2, 3, 4, 5, 15 or 7 wherein the means (6) for disabling the microphone is operative to disable the microphone for a predetermined period of between 5 and 10 seconds upon the noise exceeding the alarm threshold.