Claims
- 1. A device for acclimating an individual to high altitudes while sleeping, said device comprising:a mask for placement on the individual's face, said mask being arranged and configured to cover at least the individual's nose and mouth; said mask being soft and comfortable to avoid sleep interference; said mask having a securement means to maintain its position during sleeping; a gas exchange unit having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, said fluid outlet of said gas exchange unit being in bi-directional fluid communication with said mask; an element to retard the flow of replacement air into the gas exchange unit; a removable element of carbon dioxide absorbant; to reduce the level of oxygen contained within said gas exchange unit to simulate high altitude ambient air while the user is sleeping.
- 2. The device of claim 1 in which the element to absorb carbon dioxide contains lime.
- 3. The device of claim 1 in which the element to absorb carbon dioxide contains a metal hydroxide.
- 4. The device of claim 1 in which the element to absorb carbon dioxide contains a metal carbonate.
- 5. A device for physiologic adjustment while sleeping, said device comprising:a mask for placement on the individual's face, said mask being arranged and configured to cover at least the individual's nose and mouth; said mask being soft and comfortable to avoid sleep interference; said mask having a securement means to maintain its position during sleeping; a gas exchange unit having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, said fluid outlet of said gas exchange unit being in bi-directional fluid communication with said mask; an element to retard the flow of replacement air into the gas exchange unit; a removable element of carbon dioxide absorbent; to reduce the level of oxygen contained within said gas exchange unit to simulate high altitude ambient air while the user is sleeping.
- 6. The device of claim 1 in which the element to absorb carbon dioxide contains a metal hydroxide.
- 7. The device of claim 1 in which the element to absorb carbon dioxide contains a metal carbonate.
- 8. A method for simulating high altitudes while sleeping, said method including the steps of:placing a mask on an individual's face, said mask being arranged and configured to cover at least the individual's nose and mouth; connecting the mask to a gas exchange unit; sensing the oxygen level in the gas exchange unit; allowing room air into the gas exchange unit when the oxygen level is below a preset level; retarding the flow of room air into the gas exchange unit when the oxygen level is above a preset desired level; to reduce the level of oxygen contained within said gas exchange unit.
- 9. The method of claim 8 with the additional step of absorbing excess carbon dioxide in the gas exchange unit.
- 10. The method of claim 9 in which the step of absorbing excess carbon dioxide is performed at least in part with a metal hydroxide.
- 11. The method of claim 9 in which the step of absorbing excess carbon dioxide is performed at least in part with a metal carbonate.
- 12. The method of claim 8 with the additional step of converting a desired altitude setting into the desired preset oxygen level.
- 13. The method of claim 8 with the additional step of allowing the entrance of room air when a preset time has elapsed.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/447,323 filed Nov. 22, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,185 which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/927,242 filed Sep. 11, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,161 which is included, by reference, in its entirety.
US Referenced Citations (15)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
WO 9710020 |
Mar 1997 |
WO |
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/447323 |
Nov 1999 |
US |
Child |
10/435275 |
|
US |
Parent |
08/927242 |
Sep 1997 |
US |
Child |
09/447323 |
|
US |