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

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. CO 2 levels are monitored and CO 2 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.

1 . A method for providing a desired enclosed atmospheric environment within an enclosure for changing a physical characteristic of a user who periodically resides in the enclosed atmospheric environment and breathes 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 at least two 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 CO 2  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 CO 2  in said enclosed environment;  
 (g) data indicative of a volume of CO 2  being produced by one or more users;  
 (h) data indicative of a CO 2  production from one or more users of said enclosed environment;  
 (i) data indicative of a CO 2  portion of said air exchange rate exiting said enclosed environment;  
 (j) data indicative of a CO 2  portion of said air exchange rate entering said enclosed environment;  
 (k) data indicative of an amount of CO 2  removed from said enclosed environment by said CO 2  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 CO 2  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.