Health care gaming device and method using the same

• US 20080294061A1
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Treatyou Medical Technology Company
• Original Assignee: Treatyou Medical Technology Company
• Inventors: Wang, Shiow-Chen, Li, Yin-Han
• Application Number:
  US11/894,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20080294061A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/538
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0876 using means deflected by the fluid stream, e.g. flaps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition

Abstract

A health care gaming device includes: a case, which can be placed on a platform or be handheld by an user; at least one communicating tube provided in the case; an inflow/outflow unit connected to the communicating tube, for the user to exhale and inhale gas; at least one sensor connected to the communicating tube, for sensing gas inflow and outflow and detecting gas flow; a processing unit connected to the sensor, for measuring pulmonary function and executing games; a display unit connected to the processing unit; and a keying unit connected to the processing unit, wherein the sensor generates a sensed deformation due to gas flowing in the communicating tube; the processing unit analyzes the sensed deformation and converts the analytical result to measurement data for pulmonary function or uses the analytical result as game data for proceeding games; and the display unit displays the measurement data and game pictures. The invention also discloses a method using such health care gaming device.

Claims

1. A health care gaming device, which measures pulmonary function and uses games for lung training, comprising:

a case, which can be placed on a platform or handheld by an user;

at least one communicating tube provided in the case;

an inflow/outflow unit connected to the communicating tube, for the user to exhale and inhale gas;

at least one sensor connected to the communicating tube, for sensing gas inflow and outflow and detecting gas flow;

a processing unit connected to the sensor, for measuring pulmonary function and executing games;

a display unit connected to the processing unit; and

a keying unit connected to the processing unit, for the user to select functions of the gaming device, set game parameters, and play games;

wherein the sensor generates a sensed deformation due to gas flowing in the communicating tube;

the processing unit analyzes the sensed deformation and converts the analytical result to measurement data for pulmonary function or uses the analytical result as game data for proceeding games; and

the display unit displays the measurement data and game pictures.

2. The health care gaming device as described in claim 1, wherein the measurement data of pulmonary function includes forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in the first second, and total forced expiratory volume.

3. The health care gaming device as described in claim 1, wherein the inflow/outflow unit comprises a blowing device having a converging outlet.

4. The health care gaming device as described in claim 1, wherein the inflow/outflow unit comprises:

an inhalation device having a diverging outlet and a flexible conduit.

5. The health care gaming device as described in claim 1, wherein the inflow/outflow unit is a detachable assembly.

6. The health care gaming device as described in claim 5, wherein the inflow/outflow unit is able to accept inflow of other gases.

7. The health care gaming device as described in claim 5, wherein the inflow/outflow unit is worn on the ear or the head of the user.

8. The health care gaming device as described in claim 1, wherein the sensor is disposed inside the communicating tube.

9. The health care gaming device as described in claim 1, wherein the sensor is an elastic or piezoelectric sensing element.

10. The health care gaming device as described in claim 1, wherein the connection between the display unit and the processing unit is wireless.

11. The health care gaming device as described in claim 1, wherein the display unit is a computer, a television or a display screen.

12. The health care gaming device as described in claim 1, wherein the game parameter setting includes:

setting gas inflow/outflow data to be game data, for controlling the moves of on-screen targets in the game.

13. The health care gaming device as described in claim 1, further comprising:

a hand-pressing device, which is a hollow compressible container and connected to the communicating tube, for game operation and hand exercise.

14. The health care gaming device as described in claim 13, wherein the hand-pressing device comprises:

a handling portion having a surface that is evenly distributed with round protrusions, and the surface provides massage therapy to hands that come in contact therewith.

15. A method using a health care gaming device, the health care gaming device being capable of measuring pulmonary function and using games for lung training, wherein the health care gaming device comprises:

an inflow/outflow unit, a processing unit, at least one sensor, and a display unit, the method comprising;

a user selecting the measuring function or training function of the gaming device;

the user exhaling and inhaling gas by using the inflow/outflow unit;

the sensor sensing gas inflow and outflow and detecting gas flow;

the processing unit analyzing the gas flow;

when the user selects the training function, the processing unit using the analytical result as game data and the display unit displaying game pictures; and

when the user selects the measuring function, the processing unit converting the analytical result to measurement data and the display unit displaying the measurement data.

16. The method using a health care gaming device as described in claim 15, further comprising:

after the training function is selected, the user setting game parameters.

17. The method using a health care gaming device as described in claim 16, wherein the game parameter setting includes:

setting gas inflow/outflow data to be game data, for controlling the moves of on-screen characters in the game.

18. The method using a health care gaming device as described in claim 15, wherein the measurement data includes:

forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in the first second, or total forced expiratory volume.

19. The method using a health care gaming device as described in claim 15, wherein the sensor generates a sensed deformation due to the gas flow.