US 7,018,443 B2Granted

Method and system for reducing body weight in an enclosed atmospheric environment

AssigneeColorado Altitude Training LLC

InventorsLawrence M. Kutt, Mark Jellison, Joseph Boatman

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A system and method for passive hypoxic training provides a person with a low oxygen (hypoxic) environment. Oxygen sensors automatically monitor and control oxygen levels to maintain the altitude desired. CO2 levels are monitored and CO2 is eliminated so that the air a person breathes is substantially clean and fresh. Exposure to a high altitude environment produces physiological changes in a person's body, which becomes more efficient at absorbing and transporting oxygen. Using the present method and system, athletes obtain the benefits of sleeping at a simulated altitude in the user's own home for six to twelve hours, rather than traditional altitude therapies in which athletes spend two to three weeks at high altitude before an athletic competition to obtain similar benefits. This system allows for “live high train low” altitude training that has been shown in controlled studies to provide superior benefits to “live high train high” training.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method for providing a desired enclosed atmospheric environment within an enclosure for reducing the body weight of a user periodically residing in the enclosed atmospheric environment and breathing the same, comprising:

first obtaining predictive data indicative of a future composition of constituent gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment, said predictive data being dependent upon each of (a) through (c) following:
(a) data indicative of an expected gas exchange rate between said enclosed atmospheric environment and an atmospheric environment external to said enclosure, wherein said enclosure is expected to have a first predetermined state related to a gas permeability therethrough;
(b) data indicative of an approximate volume of said enclosure;
and
(c) data indicative of an expected rate at which one or more devices, operably associated with said enclosure for changing said enclosed atmospheric environment, changes a relative amount of at least one of the gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment, said one or more devices including one or more of:
an oxygen concentrator, a CO2 scrubber and a nitrogen generator;
said predictive data selected from the group consisting of:
(a) data indicative of an oxygen volume in said enclosed environment;
(b) data indicative of an oxygen consumption by one or more users in said enclosed environment;
(c) data indicative of a rate of oxygen removal;
(d) data indicative of an amount of air exiting said enclosed environment through said enclosure;
(e) data indicative of an amount of air entering said enclosed environment through said enclosure;
(f) data indicative of a volume of CO2 in said enclosed environment;
(g) data indicative of a volume of CO2 being produced by one or more users;
(h) data indicative of a CO2 production from one or more users of said enclosed environment;
(i) data indicative of a CO2 portion of said air exchange rate exiting said enclosed environment;
(j) data indicative of a CO2 portion of said air exchange rate entering said enclosed environment;
(k) data indicative of an amount of CO2 removed from said enclosed environment by said CO2 scrubber;
(l) data indicative of a relative amount of oxygen in said enclosed environment;
(m) data indicative of a simulated altitude in said enclosed environment;
and
(n) data indicative of a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment;
using said predictive data to provide an interior of said enclosure with a desired simulated altitude;
providing control information for controlling a composition of constituent gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment for simulating said desired simulated altitude which is different from that of the atmospheric environment external to said enclosure;
wherein said control information is used for changing a composition of said constituent gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment.

22 more elements

first obtaining predictive data indicative of a future composition of constituent gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment, said predictive data being dependent upon each of (a) through (c) following:
(a) data indicative of an expected gas exchange rate between said enclosed atmospheric environment and an atmospheric environment external to said enclosure, wherein said enclosure is expected to have a first predetermined state related to a gas permeability therethrough;
(b) data indicative of an approximate volume of said enclosure;
and
(c) data indicative of an expected rate at which one or more devices, operably associated with said enclosure for changing said enclosed atmospheric environment, changes a relative amount of at least one of the gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment, said one or more devices including one or more of:
an oxygen concentrator, a CO2 scrubber and a nitrogen generator;
using said predictive data to provide an interior of said enclosure with a simulation of a desired altitude, said one or more components including said one or more devices for providing said future composition of constituent gases having a desired characteristic of said enclosed atmospheric environment indicative of the desired simulated altitude;
providing control information for controlling a composition of constituent gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment for simulating said desired simulated altitude which is different from that of the atmospheric environment external to said enclosure;
wherein said control information is used for changing a composition of said constituent gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment;
and
wherein an oxygen concentrator, providing oxygen depleted air to the interior of said enclosure, is outside of said enclosure, and is used to provide the interior of said enclosure with a simulation of a desired altitude.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/806,886Filed 22 Mar 2004 · continuation
Priority: 6 Sep 2000
Published: US 2004/0187680 A130 Sep 2004
Granted: 28 Mar 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification28 codes

A63B 23/18
Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body: for improving respiratory function
A61G 10/02
Treatment rooms or enclosures for medical purposes: with artificial climate; with means to maintain a desired pressure, e.g. for germ-free rooms
B01D 53/62
Removing components of defined structure: carbon oxides
F24F 11/30
Control or safety arrangements: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring

Family

Application60/230,946Us provisional application · filed 6 Sep 2000
Application09/948,410Parent of this continuation · filed 6 Sep 2001
Application10/423,692Parent of this continuation · filed 25 Apr 2003
US 2004/0187680 A1Pre-grant publication · published 30 Sep 2004
US 6,827,760 B2Parent of this continuation
US 6,565,624 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2002/0035927 A1Published application
US 2003/0209140 A1Published application
US 7,018,443 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.