Device and method for preventing upper respiratory diseases and for modifying certain OCD behaviors

A sensor assembly for monitoring movement of an object near a head-neck region of an animal, the sensor assembly comprising:

• a sensor that emits a beam and that detects when the beam is interrupted by the movement of the object near the head-neck region of the animal;
• and
• a counter that monitors the number of times that the sensor detects that the beam is interrupted.

A sensor assembly for monitoring movement of an object near a head-neck region of a person, the sensor assembly comprising:

• a sensor that emits a plurality of beams positioned in a first pattern which is a specified distance away from the head-neck region of the person and the sensor detects when one or more of the beams is interrupted by the object, the sensor being secured to the person;
• and
• a signaling unit that generates a sensory signal that is received by the person when the sensor detects that one or more of the beams is interrupted.

A method for monitoring movement of a hand or an arm of a person near a head-neck region of the person, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a sensor that detects movement of the hand near the head-neck region, the sensor emitting a beam and detecting when the beam is interrupted by the movement of at least one of the hand and the arm near the head-neck region of the person;
• and
• generating a sensory signal that is received by the person when the sensor detects that the beam is interrupted.

A method for monitoring movement of an object near a first body region of an animal, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a sensor that detects movement of the object near the first body region, the sensor emitting a beam and detecting when the beam is interrupted by the movement of the object near the head-neck region of the animal;
• and
• counting the number of times that the sensor detects that the beam is interrupted with a counter.

A method for monitoring movement of an object near a head-neck region of a person, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a sensor that detects movement of the object near the head-neck region, the sensor emitting a plurality of beams positioned in a first pattern which is a specified distance away from the head-neck region of the person and the sensor detects when one or more of the beams is interrupted by the object, the sensor be secured to the person;
• and
• generating a sensory signal that is received by the person when the sensor detects that the one or more of the beams is interrupted.