Systems and methods for guiding a user's breathing

Abstract

A system and method is used for guiding a user's breathing over multiple time windows, where a target breathing rate is adapted over multiple time windows from a starting target breathing rate to an ending target breathing rate by setting the target breathing rate for the next time window based on a compliance measure of how well the user is following the target breathing rate in the current time window and a variability value representing how stable the user's breathing rate is during the current time window.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to slow paced breathing systems and methods. [Background technology]

[0002] Slow, rhythmic breathing is thought to be beneficial for relaxation. Paced breathing is slow, deep diaphragmatic breathing, a technique used to calm the body and distract from worries. Paced breathing is known to produce physiological changes in humans that are similar to those observed when preparing for sleep. Therefore, slow-paced breathing (SPB) has been proven effective in reducing stress and increasing self-control of many physical parameters, and some studies have also reported that paced breathing modulates human autonomic nervous function to improve sleep.

[0003] Certain paced breathing products are available on the market that use haptics, vibration, or other interactive methods to guide the user to follow a certain paced breathing pattern generated by the product. Typically, a certain paced breathing pattern is built into the product, meaning that the program transitions from a certain breathing rate, such as 12 bpm (breaths per minute), to another certain breathing rate, such as 8 bpm, within a certain period of time, or otherwise maintains a certain breathing rate. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the user may not be able to follow the output breathing rate, which may cause discomfort and even cause the user to give up on the exercise.

[0005] For example, adaptive breathing rate control methods have been proposed that measure a user's breathing rate and adjust the output breathing rate accordingly, however this adjustment may still not be appropriate for the user and may require a longer time to have a stable breathing rate before being able to comply with the newly adjusted breathing rate.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a more intelligent approach to paced breathing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The invention is defined by the claims.

[0008] According to an example in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for guiding the breathing of a user over a plurality of time windows, the system comprising a controller for controlling an actuator for providing guidance to the user to follow a target breathing rate, the controller comprising: receiving a respiration rate of the user; Set the starting target respiration rate Adapting the target respiration rate over multiple time windows, from a start target respiration rate to an end target respiration rate, by setting the target respiration rate for the next time window based on a measure of how well the user is following the target respiration rate in the current time window and a variance value representing how stable the user's respiration rate is during the current time window. It is configured as follows.

[0009] The system is particularly used for slow paced breathing to assist the user in following a breathing pattern. Before initiating a paced breathing program, a starting breathing rate is set. The rate may be fixed, or the user's breathing rate may be used to set a starting target breathing rate for the generated paced breathing program.

[0010] The target breathing rate is adaptive in that the user's breathing rate is measured and a determination of how well the user is following the guidance is based, inter alia, on a followability measure that indicates how well the user is able to follow the target and a variability value that indicates the stability of the user's breathing.

[0011] This adaptation is determined at the end of each time window, thus in real time. Therefore, the program is fully adaptive, since a new target is set at the end of each time window. The time window may have a duration ranging from 30 seconds to 2 minutes, e.g., 1 minute. This is the time during which stability values ​​are evaluated, and is the shortest duration between successive changes in the target respiration rate.

[0012] The adaptation can decrease the target breathing rate in each time window, maintain the current target breathing rate, or even increase the target breathing rate. This adaptive method improves the user experience, as it avoids forcing the user to adhere to a particular breathing rate that the user cannot comfortably follow.

[0013] The target respiration rate end value can be set, for example, according to best practices, e.g., based on a population survey. Alternatively, it can be set according to the user's health condition and needs. The period over which the target respiration rate is adapted can range, for example, from 5 to 15 minutes. The step size is then the size required to reach the end target respiration rate from the start target respiration rate in the available number of steps. For example, the step size is (start target respiration rate - end target respiration rate) / available number of steps. In one embodiment, if the start target respiration rate is lower than the end target respiration rate (i.e., the user is already breathing at a slow pace), the system can be configured to always output the user's start respiration rate for the duration of the system's runtime. In such a case, it is undesirable to increase the respiration rate to the higher end target respiration rate.

[0014] The adaptation process can be terminated automatically when a predetermined time has expired or when it is manually turned off by the user, which can be a portion of or equal to the runtime of the system.

[0015] The sensed respiration rate may be the respiration rate at any particular point in time within the current time window, such as the end of the current time window (but it may equally be the average respiration rate over the current time window).

[0016] The controller may be configured to set a lower target respiration rate for the next time window, for example, when the measure of compliance falls below a compliance threshold, indicating that the target respiration rate can be complied with.

[0017] In this example, a high value of the compliance measure indicates poor compliance (e.g., large variance), but of course the compliance measure may instead have a high value for good compliance.

[0018] For example, a lower target respiration rate can be obtained by decreasing the target respiration rate for the current time window by a fixed amount. This provides a simple process to implement. However, the fixed amount may be initially selected based on the difference between the starting target respiration rate and the ending target respiration rate. This fixed amount can be selected based on the step size described above.

[0019] The controller may, for example, determine when the compliance measure exceeds a compliance threshold, indicating an inability to comply with the target respiration rate. the variable value, and / or A difference value that represents how close the user's breathing rate is to the target breathing rate over the current time window The target respiration rate for the next time window is set based on the

[0020] Thus, if the user is not able to comply with the target breathing rate at all and the user's breathing rate still needs to be reduced, the target is adapted in an intelligent manner: if the user is able to comply with the target, the target is reduced from one time window to the next, as described above.

[0021] The difference value, which indicates how close the user's breathing rate is to the target breathing rate over a time window, may be based on, for example, the difference between the user's final breathing rate value in the time window and the target breathing rate value in the time window, and in some embodiments, the difference value may also indicate whether the target breathing rate is greater than or less than the user's breathing rate.

[0022] The controller is configured, for example, to set the target respiration rate for the next time window to be the same as the target respiration rate in the current time window if the difference value does not exceed a first threshold and the variation value does not exceed a second threshold.

[0023] Therefore, even if the user is unable to follow the target correctly, the same target breathing rate is used because of the low variability and small difference, and therefore the user is expected to be able to follow the target in the next time window.

[0024] The controller is further configured to thus set the target respiration rate for the next time window to be the same as the target respiration rate for the current time window only if the target respiration rate for the current time window was not the same as the target respiration rate for the previous time window.

[0025] Therefore, an additional determination is made as to whether the current paced breathing rate will continue for an additional step. If the user is unable to follow the paced breathing rate in the current step, but the difference value is small and the variability is low (meaning, as described above, that the user is not able to follow the target, but is close to doing so), the user may be given another step to follow. If, during the next step, the user is still unable to follow the target, but the difference value is small and the variability is low (thus, the same target is being followed twice in a row), the target is increased to make it easier for the user to follow.

[0026] Therefore, the controller, in this particular situation, When the target respiration rate for the current time window is not the same as the target respiration rate for the previous time window, setting the target respiration rate for the next time window to be the same as the target respiration rate for the current time window; and When the target respiration rate for the current time window is the same as the target respiration rate for the previous time window, set the target respiration rate for the next time window higher. It is further configured as follows.

[0027] The controller is configured to set a higher target respiration rate for the next time window, for example, if the difference value does not exceed a first threshold and the variation value exceeds a second threshold.

[0028] Thus, if the user is close to meeting the current target breathing rate but is unable to achieve it with low variability, a higher target breathing rate is set.

[0029] The controller may be configured to set a higher target respiration rate for the next time window if the difference value exceeds a first threshold and the user's respiration rate is higher than the target respiration rate for the current time window.

[0030] Thus, if the user is far from meeting the target breathing rate and is breathing too fast to meet the target, a higher breathing rate is set.

[0031] The higher target respiration rate can be obtained, for example, by increasing the target respiration rate by a fixed amount, which provides simple adaptation to the target respiration rate, and this fixed amount can be selected based on the step size described above.

[0032] The controller is configured to set the user's breathing rate in the current time window as the target breathing rate for the next time window when the compliance measure exceeds the compliance threshold and the user's breathing rate is below the target breathing rate for the current time window. For example, the end value of the user's breathing rate in the current time window is selected to represent the user's breathing rate in the current time window. Thus, if the user cannot comply with the target breathing rate but is already breathing at a rate lower than the target, the target for the next time window is set as the user's breathing rate. This reduces the time it takes to reach a desired stable, slow breathing rate. This is a first approach to handling a user's breathing rate that is already below the target breathing rate.

[0033] According to a second approach for handling a user's respiration rate that is already below the target respiration rate, the controller is configured to set the user's respiration rate in the current time window as the target respiration rate for the next time window when the difference value exceeds a first threshold and the user's respiration rate is lower than the target respiration rate in the current time window. For example, an ending value of the user's respiration rate in the current time window is selected to represent the user's respiration rate in the current window.

[0034] In this case, the user has already significantly met (and exceeded) the target, which in this case is the user's breathing rate at that time.

[0035] The controller is configured to set the starting target respiration rate based on at least one initial respiration rate of the user, for example, during a time period before an initial time window of the plurality of time windows.

[0036] Thus, the starting target breathing rate takes into account the user's initial breathing rate. Compared to a constant, gradually slowing program (e.g., from a starting breathing rate of 12 bpm to an ending breathing rate of 6 bpm), this provides a better personalized user experience as the user smoothly enters the paced breathing program.

[0037] The starting target respiration rate can be, for example, if the variance of the at least one initial respiration rate during said time period is below a third threshold, setting the average of the at least one initial respiration rate during said time period as a starting target respiration rate; or If the variation of at least one initial respiration rate during the time period is below a third threshold, setting the last initial respiration rate during the time period as a starting target respiration rate. It is set by

[0038] The initially sensed respiration rate may be the average over said time period (which has had sufficiently low variability) or the respiration rate at the end of said time period.

[0039] The controller is configured to adapt the target respiration rate over multiple time windows, for example, from a starting target respiration rate to an ending target respiration rate within a predetermined period of time, where the target respiration rate adapts to the ending target respiration rate during an initial portion of the predetermined period and remains constant at the ending target respiration rate for the remainder of the predetermined period.

[0040] By way of example, the predetermined period (i.e., execution time) is approximately 10 minutes (e.g., in the range of 5 to 20 minutes). Respiration rate adaptation may occur over a 6-minute period (the first portion), with the final 4 minutes (the remainder) providing guided breathing at the end target respiration rate.

[0041] Alternatively, the target respiration rate is adapted for the entire predetermined period.

[0042] The measure of compliance is the mean absolute percentage difference between the user's breathing rate and the target breathing rate; average error, Root mean square error, standard deviation, mean absolute deviation, Manhattan Distance, Euclidean distance, correlation coefficient, or Cosine similarity It can have any one of the following:

[0043] One example is the mean absolute percent difference (MAPD), which is a unitless quantity that calculates relative differences by scaling with the denominator, and has the advantage that it nicely balances differences in breathing rate between faster and slower breaths.

[0044] The present invention provides a slow pace breathing system, the system comprising: an actuator for providing guidance to a user to follow a breathing pattern at the current target breathing rate; a respiration rate sensor; A system as defined above It has.

[0045] The present invention also provides a computer-implemented method for guiding a user's breathing, the method comprising: receiving a respiration rate of a user; setting a starting target respiration rate; adapting the target breathing rate over a plurality of time windows from a start target breathing rate to an end target breathing rate by setting the target breathing rate for the next time window based on a compliance measure of how well the user is complying with the target breathing rate in the current time window; It has.

[0046] The invention also provides a computer program having computer program code means adapted to perform the method defined above, when the computer program is run on a computer.

[0047] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0048] For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a slow pace breathing system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a first example of a method for controlling a target respiration rate in a time window. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows a constant paced breathing program with six time windows. [Figure 4] Figure 4 graphically illustrates a first example of how the control algorithm works. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 graphically illustrates a second example of how the control algorithm works. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a modification to the flowchart of FIG. 2 to illustrate a second example of a method for controlling a target respiration rate over a time window. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0049] The present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0050] While the detailed description and specific examples indicate exemplary embodiments of the devices, systems, and methods, it should be understood that they are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the devices, systems, and methods of the present invention will become better understood from the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are merely schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to indicate the same or similar parts.

[0051] The present invention provides a system and method for use in guiding a user's breathing over multiple time windows, where the target breathing rate is adapted over the multiple time windows from a starting target breathing rate to an ending target breathing rate by setting the target breathing rate for the next time window based (at least) on (i) a compliance measure of how well the user is following the target breathing rate in the current time window, and (ii) a variance value representing how stable the user's breathing rate is during the current time window.

[0052] 1 shows a slow-paced breathing system 10 having an actuator 12 for providing guidance to a user to follow a breathing pattern at a current target breathing rate pbr. A breathing rate sensor 14 provides user breathing rate information ubr. A controller 16 receives the user breathing rate information ubr and controls the actuator 12 to deliver stimuli to guide the user to breathe at the target breathing rate pbr.

[0053] The controller 16 executes an adaptive paced breathing control algorithm that processes the user's breathing rate ubr and calculates a target breathing rate pbr in real time so that a paced breathing pattern is generated by the actuator 12 and output to the user.

[0054] To determine the user's respiration rate, the system measures the user's respiration signal. This measurement can be performed using any sensor, such as a ballistocardiogram-based sensor, a piezoelectric pressure sensor integrated into a chest belt, or flow sensing. Any suitable sensor for measuring respiration can be used. The controller calculates the user's respiration rate from the raw sensor signal of the respiration sensor.

[0055] The actuator may, for example, comprise an airbag whose surface undulates (up and down) to simulate a breathing pattern, and the user can touch the surface to follow guidance. The amount the surface moves up and down is the amplitude of the actuator signal. Another example of an actuator is a light that slowly flickers from dim to bright according to the target breathing rate, where the light intensity is the amplitude of the actuator signal. Another example is a visible waveform shown on a display that shows the breathing pattern, and the user can observe and follow that guidance. The amplitude may be constant for different target breathing rates, or the amplitude may vary with the target breathing rate.

[0056] In one example, if the system's target respiration rate is low, the amplitude is relatively high and the frequency is low, and if the system's target respiration rate is high, the amplitude is relatively low and the frequency is high.

[0057] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method for controlling a target respiration rate over a time window.

[0058] The target respiration rate output to the user is controlled in a stepwise manner. Thus, the system and method are for guiding a user's breathing over multiple time windows, with each time window forming a step in the control method. Analysis of the respiration rate during one time window is used to determine the target respiration rate for the next time window. The time windows have a configurable duration, e.g., 60 seconds. The step-based mechanism can ensure that the respiration rate measurement, and the respiration rate analysis described below, are stable. Representative information is obtained using multiple measurements taken over the duration of the time window. The time windows allow the user sufficient time to adapt to the new target respiration rate for pace-guided breathing.

[0059] The control mechanism logic defines how to generate a target breathing rate in stages based on certain parameters.

[0060] The first measure used to influence how the target breathing rate is adapted is a "compliance" measure, which indicates how well the user is able to comply with the target breathing rate in the current time window.

[0061] The compliance measure specifically quantifies the degree of stability of the user in attempting to follow the target breathing rate, which is mathematically defined as the distance between the sequence of the user's breathing rate and the sequence of the paced breathing rate.

[0062] In principle, any function can be used to assess tracking, provided it can operate on two vectors (of the same length) and return a real number. Commonly used functions include calculating the mean absolute error, average error, root mean square error, standard deviation, mean absolute deviation, Manhattan distance, Euclidean distance, correlation coefficient, or cosine similarity.

[0063] One example is the mean absolute percentage difference (MAPD). More specifically, the MAPD is:

number

[0064] As mentioned above, pbr is the target respiration rate (i.e., the paced respiration rate) in the current window set by paced breathing, while ubr is the measured current user respiration rate. n is the number of user respiration rates calculated within the current time window. For example, if the time window is 60 seconds and the user's respiration rate is calculated every 10 seconds, n is 6.

[0065] MAPD is a unitless quantity that calculates the relative difference by scaling with the denominator, which has the advantage that the difference in breathing rate between faster and slower breaths is well balanced.

[0066] While MAPD only considers the difference between the target respiration rate and the user's respiration rate over the current time window, other embodiments of the compliance measure may consider how stable the user's respiration rate is during the current time window and the difference from the target respiration rate over the current time window, in this example the respiration rate difference is summed and averaged over the time window.

[0067] The trackability measure can be updated each time a new measured respiration rate becomes available or on a batch basis when several new values ​​are collected. As an example, the trackability measure can be updated at the last timestamp of each time window.

[0068] To determine the measure of followability, all respiratory rates within a time window are acquired. If the followability <th0, the user can be defined as being able to follow the paced breathing, where th0 is a threshold with a specific value and can be defined in advance. As an example, when using MAPD as defined above, th0 with a value of 0.2 can be selected.

[0069] Therefore, this definition has a low value for being able to follow the target respiratory rate well and a high value for not being able to follow the target respiratory rate well. Therefore, this is a measure of the deviation from the target respiratory rate. Of course, the measure of followability can be defined conversely and can have a measure of correlation with the target respiratory rate.

[0070] (Derive the difference abs(pbr - ubr) compared to the target respiratory rate) The user's current respiratory rate ubr is defined as, for example, the respiratory rate measured at the end of the current time window, even if other measures such as an average could be used. Using an average reduces the sensitivity to possible high-frequency fluctuations in ubr. In another example, the current respiratory rate ubr is the average of the respiratory rates only in the last segment of the current time window, for example, the average over the last 10 seconds of a 60-second time window.

[0071] In addition to the overall measure of followability, there is a separate determination of a variability value (e.g., standard deviation std(ubr)) representing how stable the user's respiratory rate is during the current time window, and a determination of a difference value (abs(pbr - ubr)) representing how close the target respiratory rate and the user's respiratory rate are over the current time window. In addition, the difference value can also represent whether either the target respiratory rate or the user's respiratory rate is larger or smaller.

[0072] The variability value is based on a plurality of respiratory rates of the user measured during the current time window.

[0073] A first threshold th1 is used to compare with the difference value, and a second threshold th2 is used to compare with the variation value. As an example, th1 can be selected as 1.5 and th2 can be selected as 1.0.

[0074] The method starts at step 20. The method is executed at the end of each time window, i.e., each step of the stepwise process, at which time the algorithm checks in step 22 whether the tracking measure is less than a tracking threshold th0.

[0075] If it is smaller, therefore the user can adhere to the target breathing rate in the current time window, then in step 23 the paced breathing rate for the next time window is reduced by pbr_step. If it is not smaller, therefore the user cannot adhere to the target breathing rate in the current time window, then the adaptation of the target breathing rate depends on the target breathing rate pbr and the user's breathing rate ubr, in particular the std(ubr) and difference value abs(pbr-ubr), making use of the thresholds explained above.

[0076] If the user is unable to comply with the determined current target respiration rate in step 22, it is determined whether the target respiration rate is below the user's respiration rate in step 24. If so, the target respiration rate has not yet been reached and the method proceeds to step 26.

[0077] In step 26, it is determined whether the difference value abs(pbr-ubr) exceeds a first threshold th1. In this embodiment, the absolute value of the difference between the target respiration rate and the user's respiration rate is used. Furthermore, the target respiration rate and the user's respiration rate are collected at the end of each time window. If the difference value abs(pbr-ubr) exceeds the first threshold th1, the user is far from being able to comply with the target respiration rate, so in step 28, the target respiration rate for the next time window is increased (to make compliance easier). In step 28, the target respiration rate for the next window is increased by pbr_step.

[0078] The method then ends for that time window.

[0079] If it is determined in step 26 that the difference value abs(pbr-ubr) does not exceed the first threshold th1, then the user is close to the target breathing rate. It is then determined in step 30 whether the variance value std(ubr) is below a second threshold th2.

[0080] If the variation value is not below the second threshold th2, it means that the user's breathing rate is not stable, so in step 28 the target breathing rate is increased.

[0081] If it is determined in step 30 that the variation value is below the second threshold th2, it means that the user's breathing rate is stable.

[0082] 2, when the user is unable to follow the paced breathing rate in the current time window, the difference value abs(pbr-ubr) is less than the first threshold th1 (steps 26 and 40), and the variation value std(ubr) is less than the second threshold th2 (steps 30 and 43), an additional variable "extra_mark" is used to determine whether the current paced breathing rate should be continued for an additional step. This means that the user is unable to follow the target, but is quite close to being able to do so. The method then provides the user with another time window to follow the same target breathing rate.

[0083] To implement this feature, when the system is first turned on, the value of extra_mark is 1. As will be seen below, at some steps in the method, the value may be reset to 1.

[0084] In step 32, it is checked whether the marker is set to 1. If it is set to 1, then in step 34 the marker is reset to 0, and then in step 36 the target respiration rate for the next time window is kept the same as in the current time window. If the process reaches step 32 again in the next time window by resetting the parameter extra_mark to 0 (and therefore the user still cannot follow the target respiration rate under the same scenario as in the current time window), then in step 38 the method increases the target respiration rate pbr for the next time window by pbr_step to make it easier to follow the target respiration rate. Then in step 38, extra_mark is reset to 1.

[0085] In all other circumstances, the value of extra_mark is reset to 1 (at steps 23, 28, and 42). Thus, if the method does not reach step 32 and determine that the target respiratory rate for the current time window remains unchanged compared to the target respiratory rate in the previous time window, the user is given a second opportunity to achieve a measure of compliance with the target respiratory rate in the current time window each time the method reaches step 32 in the current time window (where the user is unable to comply with the target respiratory rate but is reasonably close to being able to comply in terms of both the difference value and the variability value). Otherwise, if the method reaches step 32 and determines that the target respiratory rate for the current time window has not changed compared to the target respiratory rate in the previous time window, the user is not given a further opportunity to achieve a measure of compliance with the target respiratory rate in the current time window each time the method reaches step 32 in the current time window (where the user is unable to comply with the target respiratory rate but is reasonably close to being able to comply in terms of both the difference value and the variability value). Instead, the target respiration rate pbr for the next time window is increased by pbr_step to make it easier for the user to comply with the target.

[0086] If the user satisfies the compliance measure after the first iteration of pbr (at step 36), then in the next step the method follows the path to step 23 and resets the parameter extra_mark to the value one.

[0087] The user's breathing rate may already be lower than the target. If, at step 24, the target breathing rate is not lower than the user's breathing rate, the method proceeds to step 40.

[0088] In step 40, the difference value is compared with a first threshold value th1. If this difference value is greater than the first threshold value th1, this means that the user is unable to comply with the target breathing rate and, furthermore, the user's breathing rate is significantly lower than the target breathing rate. In this case, in step 42, the target breathing rate for the next time window is set equal to the actual user breathing rate. For example, the final value of the user's breathing rate in the current time window is selected to represent the above-mentioned actual user breathing rate in the current window.

[0089] If the user's breathing rate is too low (as determined in step 24 ) but by a small amount (as determined in step 40 ), then in step 43 the variability is analyzed.

[0090] If the variability is high (not below the second threshold th2) in step 43, this means that the user is not adhering to the target breathing rate and is breathing unstably. In such a case, in step 44, the target breathing rate is increased.

[0091] In steps 42 and 44, the parameter "extra_mark" is reset to one.

[0092] In step 43, if the variability is low (below the second threshold th2), this means that the user is unable to comply with the target respiration rate but is breathing steadily at a respiration rate just below the target respiration rate. In such a case, the method proceeds to step 32. If the method does not reach step 32 and it is not determined that the target respiration rate remains unchanged between the current and previous time windows (the user is unable to comply with the target respiration rate but is breathing steadily at a respiration rate just below the target respiration rate), in step 36 the target respiration rate for the next time window is kept constant. Otherwise, in step 38 the target respiration rate for the next time window is increased by pbr_step.

[0093] The above explanations regarding steps 26, 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 then apply.

[0094] The main approach of this method is to help the user control their breathing to follow a higher to a lower breathing rate. To improve the user experience, if the user is unable to follow the target breathing rate (according to the compliance measure), the target breathing rate is increased.

[0095] In the above-mentioned scenario where the user's breathing rate is lower than the target breathing rate, the difference value is smaller than the threshold, but if the user does not comply with the breathing rate, the user's breathing rate may fluctuate around the target rate. The method first increases the target breathing rate to ensure that the user can comply, and then decreases the target breathing rate. If the difference between these two rates is greater than the threshold, this fairly low user breathing rate indicates that the user can breathe at this rate with a high probability, so the solution is to set the target breathing rate as the user's breathing rate.

[0096] Another option is to set the target breathing rate for the next time window equal to the user's breathing rate if the user's breathing rate is lower than the target breathing rate and the user is unable to comply with the target breathing rate in the current time window, as shown in FIG.

[0097] For the first time window (after the system is turned on), the system may, in one example, apply a standard starting target respiration rate. More preferably, however, the user's respiration rate is continuously measured to determine whether it is stable. This may be determined using a variance value over the first time period. If the variance value (e.g., variance or standard deviation) calculated over this time period is less than a predetermined threshold value (e.g., a third threshold value th3, which may be the same as th2 or different), the respiration rate is stored as the starting value for paced breathing.

[0098] The initial time period (for assessing the initial respiration rate) may be the same as or different from the duration of the time window. Multiple time periods may be analyzed until a stable value is obtained.

[0099] The starting target value may be calculated as the average value of the user's breathing rate during a stable time period, or as the final value of the stable time period.

[0100] The system then begins outputting a paced breathing pattern at a starting target breathing rate in a first step. The method then follows the method described above.

[0101] Upper and lower limits for the paced breathing rate are set and checked before making an output for the next time window. For example, the lower limit may be 5 bpm, and the logic will output 5 bpm even if the calculated new target breathing rate is lower than 5 bpm.

[0102] The system may have a user interface to allow setting of parameters for the control logic, which may include all parameters used in the methods described above, or only a subset may be configurable, depending on the requirements of a particular implementation.

[0103] Adaptive control of breathing rate is a feature that can be enabled or disabled by the user. For example, the user can set the parameter "adaptive." When set to True, the adaptive control logic is enabled. When set to False, the algorithm outputs a conventional paced breathing program step-by-step from the starting breathing rate to the ending breathing rate.

[0104] Other parameters that may be set by the user are Run Time: Duration of the paced breathing program The system stops adapting or processing the target respiration rate when the run time reaches this value. In one embodiment, the target respiration rate is adapted during the first portion of the run time and remains constant at the ending target respiration rate for the remainder of the run time. Alternatively, the target respiration rate is adapted during the entire run time. Time window, or step time: the time of each step with a particular respiration rate Number of Steps: The number of steps from the start target respiration rate to the end target respiration rate (i.e., the time window) is.

[0105] Individualized setting of the starting target respiration rate may be enabled or disabled. For example, the user can set the parameter "Start follow". If set to True, the user's respiration rate is measured before starting the program and automatically set as the starting target respiration rate. If set to False, the starting respiration rate will be equal to the default starting value.

[0106] This default starting value may be set by the user.

[0107] The end target breathing rate may be set by the user according to the user's health status and specific needs, or the end target breathing rate may be set to an ideal comfortable breathing rate based on a population survey.

[0108] The user can also set the parameter "Finish follow". If set to True, the finishing target respiration rate will be equal to the starting target respiration rate multiplied by the finishing percentage value. If set to False, the finishing respiration rate will be equal to the default finishing value.

[0109] This termination percentage and default termination value may be set by the user.

[0110] Step size: Adjusts the amplitude of the breathing rate in each time window Step size = (starting target respiration rate - ending target respiration rate) / number of steps

[0111] Pbr_step is the increase / decrease in the target respiration rate in the time window of Figure 2. This can be set as the step size.

[0112] Other configurable parameters are: Expiration / inspiration ratio: the ratio of the duration of the exhalation phase to the duration of the inhalation phase Start Amplitude: The amplitude of the generated respiratory cycle at the starting target respiratory rate. End Amplitude: The amplitude of the respiratory cycle generated at the end target respiratory rate. Inhalation hold: Holding time after inhalation Exhalation hold: time spent holding an exhale Th1 value: Threshold value of difference value Th2 value: Threshold value for fluctuation value It can be said that:

[0113] Next, the difference between the control strategy of the present invention and a standard paced breathing strategy (with a constant starting target breathing rate and no compliance measure) is shown.

[0114] FIG. 3 shows a constant paced breathing program with six time windows using a starting target breathing rate of 12 bpm and an ending target breathing rate of 6 bpm. The amplitude increases from 0.6 at 12 bpm to 1 at 6 bpm. 12 bpm is a typical user breathing rate in normal life. 6 bpm is a breathing rate at which the user feels very relaxed. In the figure, an amplitude of 0.6 means that 60% of the maximum amplitude is used, for example, 1 means that 100% of the maximum amplitude is used. The top image shows the actuator signal over time (as amplitude versus time), and the bottom graph shows the target breathing rate encoded by this actuator signal over time.

[0115] Using a user simulation model, measures of compliance, different breathing rates were simulated.

[0116] Figure 4 shows the target breathing rate pbr (solid line) and the user's breathing rate ubr (dashed line). The arrows pointing from right to left indicate (i) Target breathing rate increased (user was unable to comply) (ii) An additional step with the same target respiration rate is applied (the user was unable to follow, but was close in terms of variance and variability), and the algorithm gives the user another minute of the same target respiration rate as the previous step to keep them following along. (iii) The target breathing rate is set to the user's breathing rate (because the user is breathing at a rate lower than the target). The algorithm uses the user's breathing rate to facilitate paced breathing, improving the user experience while accelerating the rate to reach the end breathing rate.

[0117] These validation cases demonstrate the accuracy of the control algorithm implementation, which helps users become more comfortable with changing the target breathing rate.

[0118] 5 shows another example of how the control algorithm works, based on a real-world test case showing a user's breathing rate ubr and target breathing rate pbr during a paced breathing program. The target breathing rate increases or decreases according to the adaptive logic.

[0119] The user is initially able to follow the breathing rate and pattern generated by the control algorithm, so the output breathing rate gradually slows down. At the fifth step, indicated by the arrow, the user can no longer follow, so for the next step the control algorithm increases the breathing rate of the generated breathing pattern.

[0120] The time windows in Figures 3-5 have a duration of 60 seconds, but this is merely an example.

[0121] Figure 6 shows an alternative to the method of Figure 2. The steps followed when the user's respiration rate is already lower than the target respiration rate are simplified. In particular, steps 40, 42, 43, and 44 of Figure 2 are replaced by a single step 60, whereby the target respiration rate is set equal to the user's respiration rate if the user's respiration rate is already equal to or lower than the target respiration rate. For example, the end value of the user's respiration rate in the current time window is selected to represent the user's respiration rate as described above. The other steps are the same as those of Figure 2.

[0122] The present invention enables a paced breathing system to output guided breathing patterns that are adapted to the user's breathing pattern, which improves the user experience and compliance with the paced breathing exercise, and consequently improves sleep onset effectiveness.

[0123] The technique is individualized. For example, before starting a paced breathing program, the user's breathing rate is optionally measured and used to set a starting target breathing rate as described above. This allows the user to smoothly enter the paced breathing program without jumping to a breathing rate that is too fast or too slow for the user.

[0124] This approach is also adaptive in that the algorithm measures the user's breathing rate and calculates a compliance measure to determine whether the user can comply with the current output breathing rate generated by the paced breathing program. This adaptive method avoids forcing the user to comply with a particular breathing rate that the user cannot comply with, improving the user experience.

[0125] In some embodiments, a breathing pattern with the same breathing rate is held for a period of time, e.g., 60 seconds, to allow the user time to adapt to the new breathing rate, to acquire the user's breathing rate, and to calculate a compliance measure.

[0126] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, nor does it exclude a plurality of elements or steps if a plurality is not stated.

[0127] The functions performed by a processor may be performed by a single processor or by multiple separate processing units, which may be considered to constitute a "processor". Such processing units may, in some cases, be remote from each other and may communicate with each other via wired or wireless means.

[0128] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0129] The computer program may be stored / distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium, supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunications systems.

[0130] When the term "adapted for" is used in the claims or description, it is meant to be equivalent to the term "configured to." When the term "apparatus" is used in the claims or description, the term "apparatus" is intended to be equivalent to the term "system," and vice versa.

[0131] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. A system for guiding a user's breathing across multiple time windows, The system has a controller for controlling an actuator that provides guidance to the user to follow a target respiratory rate, and the controller is The user's breathing rate is received, Set the starting target respiratory rate, and A system configured to adapt the target breathing rate across multiple time windows, from the starting target breathing rate to the ending target breathing rate, by setting the target breathing rate for the next time window based on a measure of responsiveness indicating how well the user is following the target breathing rate in the current time window and a variability value indicating how stable the user's breathing rate is during the current time window.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to set the target respiratory rate for the next time window lower when the responsiveness measure, which indicates that the controller can adhere to the target respiratory rate, falls below a responsiveness threshold.

3. The controller, when the measure of responsiveness exceeds the responsiveness threshold, indicates that it cannot follow the target respiratory rate. The aforementioned fluctuation value, and / or The difference value representing how close the target breathing rate and the user's breathing rate are over the current time window. The system according to claim 1 or 2, configured to set a target respiratory rate for the next time window based on the following.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to set the target respiratory rate for the next time window to be the same as the target respiratory rate for the current time window if the difference value does not exceed a first threshold and the fluctuation value does not exceed a second threshold.

5. If the difference value does not exceed the first threshold and the fluctuation value does not exceed the second threshold, the controller will If the target respiratory rate for the current time window is not the same as the target respiratory rate for the previous time window, the target respiratory rate for the next time window is set to be the same as the target respiratory rate for the current time window, and The system according to claim 4, wherein when the target respiratory rate for the current time window is the same as the target respiratory rate for the previous time window, the system is configured to set the target respiratory rate for the next time window higher.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to set a higher target respiratory rate for the next time window if the difference value does not exceed a first threshold and the fluctuation value exceeds a second threshold.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to set the user's breathing rate in the current time window as the target breathing rate for the next time window when the responsiveness measure exceeds a responsiveness threshold and the user's breathing rate falls below the target breathing rate in the current time window.

8. The system according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to set the target breathing rate for the next time window higher if the difference value exceeds a first threshold and the user's breathing rate is higher than the target breathing rate for the current time window.

9. The system according to claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to set the user's breathing rate in the current time window as the target breathing rate for the next time window if the difference value exceeds a first threshold and the user's breathing rate is lower than the target breathing rate in the current time window.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to set the target starting breathing rate based on at least one initial breathing rate of the user in a time period prior to the first time window of the plurality of time windows.

11. The aforementioned target starting respiratory rate is If the variation of the at least one initial respiratory rate during the aforementioned time period falls below a third threshold, the average of the at least one initial respiratory rate during the aforementioned time period is set as the target starting respiratory rate, or If the variation of at least one initial respiratory rate during the aforementioned time period falls below a third threshold, the last initial respiratory rate during the aforementioned time period is set as the target starting respiratory rate. The system according to claim 10, which is set by the means described above.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adapt the target respiratory rate over a plurality of time windows from the initial target respiratory rate to the final target respiratory rate within a predetermined period, the target respiratory rate adapts to the final target respiratory rate during the first part of the predetermined period, and remains constant at the final target respiratory rate for the remainder of the predetermined period.

13. An actuator that provides guidance to the user to follow a breathing pattern at the current target breathing rate, A respiratory rate sensor, The system described in claim 1 and A slow-paced breathing system.

14. A computer program, which, when executed on a computer, is adapted to implement a computer implementation method for guiding a user's breathing, the method is: The steps include receiving the user's breathing rate, The steps include setting the starting target respiratory rate, A step of adapting the target breathing rate across multiple time windows, from the initial target breathing rate to the final target breathing rate, by setting the target breathing rate for the next time window based on a measure of responsiveness indicating how well the user is following the target breathing rate in the current time window and a fluctuation value indicating how stable the user's breathing rate is during the current time window. A computer program that has [a certain characteristic].

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