Breathing Tube Device for Guiding Exhalation Rhythm

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Solution Overview

Problem

Individuals struggle to manage stress and anxiety due to shallow breathing patterns, which are exacerbated by digital technology, and lack a tangible tool to guide deep breathing practices effectively.

Innovation Solution

A breathing tube device designed to elongate exhalations, worn as jewelry or carried as a reminder, helps slow breathing rhythms, providing a physical tool for meditation and yoga practices to promote calmness and mindfulness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional meditation and yoga practices are used to guide breathing, then mental awareness and calmness can be achieved, but the learning process becomes difficult and abstract without physical tools

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of breathing guidanceVSAvoiddifficulty of learning breathing control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a physical breathing tube as an intermediary tool between the user and the breathing process. This tangible object serves as a mediator that makes abstract breathing concepts concrete and learnable, allowing users to physically interact with and understand breathing patterns through a visible, touchable device rather than relying solely on abstract verbal instructions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If deep breathing practices are taught without specific duration guidance, then users can attempt to breathe deeply, but they lack knowledge of how long to inhale or exhale to reap real benefits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of deep breathingVSAvoidlack of breathing duration knowledge

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The breathing tube provides visual and temporal feedback to users about their breathing duration and rhythm. By observing the tube's behavior during inhalation and exhalation, users receive immediate feedback on whether they are maintaining appropriate breathing durations, allowing them to self-correct and learn optimal breathing patterns without needing external instruction on timing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Use of energy by moving object

If longer inhalations are used to take deep breaths, then more oxygen can be absorbed, but higher tension and stress are activated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxygen absorptionVSAvoidincreased tension and stress

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach to deep breathing by emphasizing that controlled exhalation through the tube, rather than prolonged inhalation, is the key to achieving relaxation benefits. The tube is designed to facilitate and extend the exhalation phase, reversing the typical focus on inhalation depth and demonstrating that controlled outbreath is what activates the parasympathetic nervous system and reduces stress

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11433195B2Breathing device and method of controlling breathing using the device

Publication Date: 2022.09.06 STEINBERG TODD JOSEPH

AI summary

A breathing device having an elongated body which may be cylindrical in shape. The body can be hollow so as to form the general shape of a tube. The tube has an opening and an exit. The user may interact with the device by placing their mouth in communication with the opening so that the user may exhale through their mouth into and through the hollow body of the device. The exit can comprise a connective part which may be configured to be coupled to one or more objects such as clothing, strings, necklaces and chains, bracelets, headbands and hair accessories, and the like.