Portable device for controlling Circadian Rhythm disorders

• US 5,197,941 A
• Filed: 07/30/1991
• Issued: 03/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Barbara Whitaker
• Original Assignee: Barbara Whitaker
• Inventors: Whitaker, Barbara
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US07/737,670
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 600/26-78, 128/419 N
• US Class Current: 600/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/02 with activated or ionised fluids, e.g. electrohydrodynamic [EHD] or electrostatic devices; Ozone-inhalators with radioactive tagged particles
• 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 therapeutic system for modifying a person'"'"'s circadian rhythms employs components which generate physical factors such as light, sound and airborne negative ions which are caused to contact the person. The generation of the physical factors occurs in manually or electronically controllable intensities and durations at cyclic intervals of variable length.

Claims

1. A system for programmably varying the levels of light, sound, and airborne negative ions exposed to an individual for the therapeutic purpose of modifying the individual'"'"'s Circadian Rhythms, said system comprised of the following elements:

a) power supply means adapted to receive line current input voltages to be used throughout said system,

b) a clock module having an operator adjustable wake time at which said clock module initiates a light output cycle,

c) an up ramp module having current input and output means and adapted to be initiated by the light output cycle of said clock module, said up ramp module adapted to controllably increase its output means from zero to 100% of said input current, over an operator adjustable wake duration,

d) a sleep function module activated by said individual at the beginning of the desired sleep period, and having a sleep cycle output interactive with a down ramp module,

e) said down ramp module having current input and output means and adapted to be initiated by said sleep cycle output, said down ramp module adapted to controllably decrease its output means from 100% of said input current to zero over an operator adjustable sleep function duration,

f) a lamp control module having an input terminal adapted to receive line current, and a control terminal adapted to receive current from said up ramp and down ramp modules, said lamp control module adapted to vary the line current in response to current received from said up and down ramp modules,

g) a lamp receiving current from said lamp control module and providing light exposure to said individual,

h) a sound generator module adapted to receive line current and be activated by control signals from the output means of said up and down ramp modules, said sound generator creating an audio output signal,

i) speaker means receiving said audio output signal and generating audible sound,

j) an ion generator module having a line input and activated by a control signal from said clock module or said sleep function module, and thereby toggle an ion generator output signal on and off,

k) ion generator means adapted to be toggled on and off by said ion generator output signal, said ion generator means adapted to provide exposure of said individual to a stream of ionized air, and

l) housing means for protectively enclosing the aforesaid elements a through k.

2. The system of claim 1 further provided with switch means for overriding control of said lamp, speaker means and ion generator means.