Interventive diagnostic device

• US 8,658,878 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2012
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 2breathe Technologies Ltd
• Original Assignee: InterCure Ltd.
• Inventors: Wagner, Naphtali
• Primary Examiner(s): Warren, David S.
• Application Number:
  US13/471,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20120225412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 84600-602, 846/12, 846/36, 846/52, 846/68, 482/13
• US Class Current: 84/612
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4035 Evaluating the autonomic nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4857 Indicating the phase of biorhythm clocks or watches with indicators for biological cycles G04B19/264
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4884 inducing physiological or psychological stress, e.g. applications for stress testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7425 Displaying combinations of multiple images regardless of image source, e.g. displaying a reference anatomical image with a live image geometric transforms for image registration G06T3/14; enhancement using image fusion G06T5/50; algorithms for registration of images G06T7/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/00 Measuring physical parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are described for facilitating improving health of a user. In accordance with some applications, a first physiological variable, which is indicative of a voluntary action of the user, is received. A second physiological variable, which is not entirely under the direct voluntary control of the user, is received. Responsive to the first and second variables, the second physiological variable is changed in a desired manner, by using circuitry to direct the user to modify a parameter of the voluntary action, by generating an output signal. Other applications are also described.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating improving health of a user, comprising:

receiving a first physiological variable, which is indicative of a voluntary action of the user;

receiving a second physiological variable, which is not entirely under the direct voluntary control of the user; and

responsive to the first and second variables, changing the second physiological variable in a desired manner, by using circuitry to direct the user to modify a parameter of the voluntary action, by generating an output signal,

wherein receiving the first and second physiological variables comprises measuring respiration of the user using a respiration sensor, and generating a respiration signal in response thereto.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating the output signal comprises generating the output signal so as to facilitate a change in a condition of the user selected from the group consisting of:

an improvement in congestive heart failure of the user, an improvement of a blood pressure disorder of the user, an improvement in asthma of the user, an improvement in cystic fibrosis of the user, an increase in mechanical compliance of arteries of the user, and an increase in oxygenation of tissue of the user, a reduction in excessive sympathetic activity of the user, a modification of peristaltic activity of the user, a modification of vasomotor activity of the user, an increase of heart rate variability of the user, an increase of venous return to a heart of the user, a reduction of vasomotor tone of the user, a reduction of airway resistance of the user, an increase of endurance of an expiratory muscle of the user, an increase of blood flow in capillaries of the user, and a reduction of pain experienced by the user.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating the output signal comprises generating a music signal.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating the output signal comprises outputting sounds.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating the output signal comprises displaying one or more patterns on a screen.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the second physiological variable comprises deriving from the respiration signal a variable indicative of a flow characteristic of the user'"'"'s respiration.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein receiving the second physiological variable comprises deriving from the respiration signal a variable indicative of a stability of breathing of the user.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the first physiological variable comprises deriving from the respiration signal a variable selected from the group consisting of:

a respiration rate of the user, an inspiration time of the user, and an expiration time of the user.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the second physiological variable comprises deriving from the respiration signal a variable that is indicative of a percentage of time spent by the user in a pathological breathing pattern.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein measuring the respiration comprises measuring a characteristic of the user'"'"'s respiration and determining, responsive thereto, an indication of airway resistance of the user.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein measuring the respiration comprises measuring a characteristic of the user'"'"'s respiration and determining, responsive thereto, a mechanical load against which the user breathes.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating the output signal comprises:

determining, responsive to the first physiological variable, a current value of an Expiratory ;

Inspiratory (E;

I) ratio of the user;

determining a desired final value of the E;

I ratio; and

generating the output signal so as to direct the user to vary the user'"'"'s E;

I ratio from the current value thereof, through one or more intermediate values thereof, to the desired final value.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating the output signal comprises:

determining, responsive to the first physiological variable, a current respiration rate of the user;

determining a desired final respiration rate; and

generating the output signal so as to direct the user to vary the user'"'"'s respiration rate from the current value thereof, through one or more intermediate values thereof, to the desired final value.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating the output signal comprises:

determining, responsive to the first physiological variable, a current value of an Expiratory;

Inspiratory (E;

I) ratio of the user,

determining a desired final value of the E;

I ratio; and

generating the output signal so as to direct the user to vary the user'"'"'s E;

I ratio from the current value thereof, through one or more intermediate values thereof, to the desired final value, at generally the same time as directing the user to vary the respiration rate.

15. Apparatus for facilitating improving health of a user, comprising:

a respiration sensor, adapted to generate a respiration signal in response to respiration of the user; and

circuitry, adapted to;

receive the respiration signal from the respiration sensor, and derive therefrom;

a first physiological variable, which is indicative of a voluntary action of the user, and

a second physiological variable, which is not entirely under the direct voluntary control of the user, and

responsive thereto, generate an output signal which directs the user to modify a parameter of the voluntary action, such that the second physiological variable will be changed in a desired manner.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the sensor is configured to derive the second physiological variable from the respiration signal, by deriving from the respiration signal a variable indicative of a flow characteristic of the user'"'"'s respiration.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the sensor is configured to derive the second physiological variable from the respiration signal, by deriving from the respiration signal a variable indicative of a stability of breathing of the user.

18. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the circuitry is adapted to generate the output signal to direct the user to modify the parameter of the voluntary action, so as to facilitate a change in a condition of the user selected from the group consisting of:

an improvement in congestive heart failure of the user, treatment of a blood pressure disorder of the user, an improvement in asthma of the user, an improvement in cystic fibrosis of the user, an increase in mechanical compliance of arteries of the user, an increase in oxygenation of tissue of the user, a reduction in excessive sympathetic activity of the user, a modification of peristaltic activity of the user, a modification of vasomotor activity of the user, an increase of heart rate variability of the user, an increase of venous return to a heart of the user, a reduction of vasomotor tone of the user, a reduction of airway resistance of the user, an increase of endurance of an expiratory muscle of the user, an increase of blood flow in capillaries of the user, and a reduction of pain experienced by the user.

19. Apparatus according to claim 15, and comprising a belt adapted to be placed around a torso of the user, wherein the respiration sensor is adapted to generate the respiration signal responsive to a change in circumference of the torso.

20. Apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a speaker, wherein the circuitry is adapted to drive the speaker to generate music, so as to direct the user to modify the parameter of the voluntary action.

21. Apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a speaker, wherein the circuitry is adapted to drive the speaker to output sounds, so as to direct the user to modify the parameter of the voluntary action.

22. Apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a screen, wherein the circuitry is adapted to drive the screen to display one or more patterns corresponding to the output signal, so as to direct the user to modify the parameter of the voluntary action.

23. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the respiration sensor is adapted to measure a characteristic of the user'"'"'s respiration so as to facilitate a determination of airway resistance of the user.

24. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the respiration sensor is adapted to measure a characteristic of the user'"'"'s respiration so as to facilitate a determination of a mechanical load against which the user breathes.

25. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the circuitry is adapted to:

(a) determine, responsive to the first signal, a current value of an Expiratory;

Inspiratory (E;

I) ratio of the user, (b) determine a desired final value of the E;

I ratio, and (c) generate the output signal so as to direct the user to vary the user'"'"'s E;

I ratio from the current value thereof, through one or more intermediate values thereof, to the desired final value.

26. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the circuitry is adapted to:

(a) determine, responsive to the first signal, a current respiration rate of the user, (b) determine a desired final respiration rate, and (c) generate the output signal so as to direct the user to vary the user'"'"'s respiration rate from the current value thereof, through one or more intermediate values thereof, to the desired final value.

27. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the circuitry is adapted to:

(a) determine, responsive to the first signal, a current value of an Expiratory;

Inspiratory (E;

I) ratio of the user, (b) determine a desired final value of the E;

I ratio, and (c) generate the output signal so as to direct the user to vary the user'"'"'s E;

I ratio from the current value thereof, through one or more intermediate values thereof, to the desired final value, at generally the same time as directing the user to vary the respiration rate.