Bi-Level PAP Breathing Rate Control via Pneumatic Cues
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for reducing hypertension and promoting relaxation, such as RESPeRATE, rely on audiovisual cues and lack effective approaches to control breathing rate using air pressure cues to induce therapeutic benefits like lower blood pressure and relaxation.
Innovation Solution
The paced breathing method employs a Bi-Level PAP device to provide positive pressure cues, adjusting inspiration and expiration times to coach patients into a slower breathing rate, monitored and controlled through a Top Level Driving System and Low Level Control System to achieve a target breath rate of less than 10 BPM, potentially reducing blood pressure and stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If audiovisual cues are used to guide breathing rate (e.g., RESPeRATE device), then users can be coached to breathe slower, but the approach lacks effectiveness in controlling breathing rate through air pressure cues and requires complex audio-visual systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the audio-visual cue system with a pneumatic system that uses air pressure variations delivered through a mask during inspiration and expiration phases. The controller adjusts inspiratory and expiratory pressure levels and durations to directly influence breathing mechanics, substituting mechanical/pneumatic cues for sensory-based audio-visual guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes a bi-level positive air pressure system that delivers differentiated pressure levels during inspiration (IPAP) and expiration (EPAP) phases. The controller dynamically adjusts these pressure parameters and their temporal durations to coach the patient toward target breathing rates, leveraging pneumatic forces to directly shape respiratory patterns.
2Reliability
If air pressure cues are used to control breathing rate, then a more natural proprioceptive signal is provided, but the system requires sophisticated control of inspiration and expiration timing
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the controller monitors the patient's respiratory phase and timing, then dynamically adjusts inspiratory and expiratory pressure durations to guide breathing rate toward the target. This closed-loop control ensures reliable breathing rate modulation while adapting to patient response in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller dynamically adjusts the duration and magnitude of inspiratory and expiratory pressure cues based on the patient's current breathing pattern and progression toward the target rate. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to provide appropriately timed pressure cues that evolve as the patient's breathing improves.
3Reliability
If slower breathing is induced to reduce blood pressure, then therapeutic benefits are achieved, but the process requires sustained control over breathing frequency and duration
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies periodic cycles of bi-level positive air pressure with alternating inspiration and expiration phases. Each cycle is carefully timed to promote slower breathing frequency, and these periodic cycles are sustained over extended therapy sessions to achieve cumulative therapeutic effects on blood pressure and autonomic nervous system regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The therapy delivers continuous air pressure cues throughout the entire breathing cycle, maintaining control over both inspiration and expiration phases. This continuous pneumatic guidance ensures sustained influence on breathing patterns throughout the therapy session, promoting consistent slower breathing to achieve blood pressure reduction goals.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and corresponding system for providing breathing cues includes monitoring respiration of a user and determining a user breathing frequency including an inspiration portion and an expiration portion of the breathing, supplying a high positive air pressure to the user during the inspiration portion and a low positive air pressure during the expiration portion in substantial synchronicity with the user's respiration, comparing the user breathing frequency with a target breathing frequency, and when the user breathing frequency is greater than the target breathing frequency, increasing, in a predetermined manner, a time over which the high positive air pressure is supplied to the user, and adjusting a time over which the low positive pressure air pressure is supplied to the user.