Breathing biofeedback device

Abstract

Disclosed are biofeedback methods and devices suitable for providing biofeedback useful for helping a user control an own breathing, for example, to help in inducing deep breathing, and such biofeedback devices further comprising a dispenser for dispensing an inhalable substance.

1 . A biofeedback device for providing biofeedback useful for helping a user control breathing, the device comprising:
 a housing configured to be hand-held by the user;   an exhalation inlet for receiving exhaled breath from the mouth of the user;   physically associated with said housing, an inhalable substance outlet and a functionally-associated dispenser configured for dispensing an inhalable substance to the user through said inhalable substance outlet, wherein said housing is configured so that when said exhalation inlet is positioned for said receiving said exhaled breath from the mouth, said inhalable substance outlet is located in proximity of the nostrils of the user;   physically associated with said housing, an exhalation determiner functionally associated with said exhalation inlet, configured to determine when exhaled breath is received by said exhalation inlet; and   a reporter associated with said exhalation determiner, said reporter configured to provide a signal related to an exhalation duration of said exhaled breath received from said exhalation determiner to the user.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said exhalation inlet is functionally associated with an exhalation conduit including an exhalation outlet, configured so that exhaled breath received by said exhalation inlet passes through said exhalation conduit and exits through said exhalation outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a flow-restrictor functionally associated with said exhalation conduit, configured for limiting the rate of flow of said exhaled breath through said conduit. 
     
     
         4 . A biofeedback device for providing biofeedback useful for helping a user control breathing, the device comprising:
 a housing configured to be hand-held by the user;   an exhalation inlet for receiving exhaled breath from the mouth of the user, wherein said exhalation inlet is functionally associated with an exhalation conduit including an exhalation outlet, configured so that exhaled breath received by said exhalation inlet passes through said exhalation conduit and exits through said exhalation outlet, and a flow-restrictor functionally associated with said exhalation conduit, configured for limiting the rate of flow of said exhaled breath through said conduit;   physically associated with said housing, an exhalation determiner functionally associated with said exhalation inlet, configured to determine when exhaled breath is received by said exhalation inlet; and   a reporter associated with said exhalation determiner, said reporter configured to provide a signal related to an exhalation duration of said exhaled breath received from said exhalation determiner to the user.   
     
     
         5 . The device of any one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein said signal is selected from the group consisting of a visual signal, audible signal, a tactile signal, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The device of any one of  claims 1  to  5 , for use in the relief or treatment of a condition responsive to controlled breathing. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said condition is a stress-related condition. 
     
     
         8 . The device of any one of  claims 1  to  7 , wherein at least one of said inhalable substance outlet and said dispenser is contained within an integrally formed part of said housing. 
     
     
         9 . The device of any one of  claims 1  to  8 , further comprising an inhalable substance reservoir functionally associated with said inhalable substance outlet, said reservoir configured to store said inhalable substance and to release said inhalable substance to said dispenser. 
     
     
         10 . The device of any one of  claims 1  to  9 , wherein said dispenser is a passive dispenser, comprising a reservoir configured to passively release said inhalable substance via said inhalable substance outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The device of any one of  claims 1  to  9 , wherein said inhalable substance is an essential oil or an essential oil combination. 
     
     
         12 . The device of any one of claims, said inhalable substance for the relief or treatment of a stress-related condition. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein said inhalable substance is selected from the group consisting of basil oil, bergamot oil, black pepper, cedarwood oil, chamomile oil, cinnamon oil, citrodora oil, clary sage oil, cypress oil, elemi oil, eucalyptus oil, fennel oil, frankincense oil, geranium oil, ginger oil, grapefruit oil, hyssop oil, jasmine oil, lavender oil, lemon oil, lemon balm oil, lemongrass oil, lime oil; mandarin oil, marjoram oil, neroli oil, nutmeg oil, orange oil; palmarosa oil; patchouli oil, peppermint oil; petitgrain oil, rose oil; rosemary oil, sandalwood oil, spearmint oil; thyme oil; vanilla oil; vetiver oil; wintergreen oil; and ylang ylang oil; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The device of any one of  claims 1  to  13 , further comprising a cover couplable to said housing, configured to substantially prevent at least one of entry of air into said exhalation inlet, diffusion of said inhalable substance out of said device prior to use, and soiling of said exhalation inlet, when said cover is coupled to said housing. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the device is configured so that removal of said cover activates said reporter and/or said exhalation determiner. 
     
     
         16 . The device of any one of  claims 2  to  15 , wherein said exhalation conduit is contained within said housing. 
     
     
         17 . The device of any one of  claims 3  to  16 , wherein said exhalation determiner is configured to function as said flow-restrictor. 
     
     
         18 . The device of any one of  claims 2  to  14 , further comprising a one-way valve functionally associated with said exhalation conduit, configured for allowing passage of exhaled breath from said exhalation inlet through said exhalation conduit and out through said exhalation outlet but for preventing inhalation of air from said exhalation outlet, through said exhalation conduit and out through exhalation inlet. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said exhalation determiner is configured to function as said one-way valve. 
     
     
         20 . A biofeedback method useful for helping a user control breathing, the method comprising:
 determining when a user is exhaling; and   
       providing a signal related to an exhalation duration of said exhaling to said user. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , for the relief or treatment of a condition responsive to controlled breathing. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said condition is a stress-related condition. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  or  22 , wherein said signal comprises a comparison to a preferred exhalation duration. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said preferred exhalation duration is fixed. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said preferred exhalation duration is variable. 
     
     
         26 . The method of any one of  claims 23  to  25 , wherein said signal further comprises a comparison to a preferred pattern of at least two exhalations. 
     
     
         27 . The method of any one of  claims 20  to  26 , wherein said signal is selected from the group consisting of a visual signal, audible signal, a tactile signal, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The method of any one of  claims 20  to  27 , further comprising administering an inhalable substance to the subject, so that the subject inhales the inhalable substance between said exhalations. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said inhalable substance is an essential oil or combination of essential oils. 
     
     
         30 . A biofeedback method useful for helping a user control breathing, the method comprising:
 a) providing a device for measuring exhalation duration of a user, said device having:
 a variable preferred exhalation duration, 
 a target exhalation duration, and 
 a update threshold difference value; 
   b) for a given use-event of said device by a user, setting said preferred exhalation duration to said target exhalation duration; and   c) during at least part of said given use-event of said device by said user, repeatedly determining an actual exhalation duration of said user, and
 if said actual exhalation duration is less than said preferred exhalation duration by at least said update threshold difference value, reducing said preferred exhalation duration, or 
 if said actual exhalation duration is substantially equal to or greater than said preferred exhalation duration, providing a signal indicating such to said user. 
   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said target exhalation duration is set through a user interface. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said target exhalation duration is set by the results of a previous use of said device. 
     
     
         33 . The method of any one of  claims 30  to  32 , wherein:
 subsequent to said determining an actual exhalation duration of said user, 
 
       if said actual exhalation duration is substantially equal to said preferred exhalation duration, increasing said preferred exhalation duration. 
     
     
         34 . The method of any one of  claims 30  to  33 , wherein:
 subsequent to said determining an actual exhalation duration of said user, 
 
       if said actual exhalation duration is greater than said preferred exhalation duration, increasing said preferred exhalation duration. 
     
     
         35 . The method of any one of  claims 30  to  34 , wherein:
 subsequent to said determining an actual exhalation duration of said user, 
 
       if said actual exhalation duration is less than said preferred exhalation duration by less than said update threshold difference value, increasing said preferred exhalation duration. 
     
     
         36 . The method of any one of  claims 30  to  35 , wherein a said signal is selected from the group consisting of a visual signal, audible signal, a tactile signal, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         37 . The method of any one of  claims 30  to  36 , further comprising administering an inhalable substance to the subject, so that the subject inhales the inhalable substance between said exhalations.