Breathing mask

Abstract

One variation of a method—for controlling a breathing mask comprising a flow control module configured to mate to nostrils of a user and comprising an actuator configured to adjust obstruction to airflow out of the flow control module—includes: accessing a wake alarm time; accessing a sleep delay duration; at a first time, receiving an indicator that the user is preparing for sleep; in response to receiving the indicator, triggering the actuator to transition from a minimum-restriction position toward a maximum-restriction position at a second time succeeding the first time by the sleep delay duration, the actuator minimally obstructing airflow out of outlet port in the minimum-restriction position and maximally obstructing airflow out of outlet port in the maximally—restriction position; and, prior to the wake alarm time, triggering the actuator to transition back to the minimum-restriction position.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A breathing mask comprises:
 an eye covering comprising an opaque material, defining an eye region configured to extend over both eyes of a user wearing the eye covering, and defining a nose region configured to extend over a nose of the user;   a strap configured to retain the eye covering on a head of the user with the eye region over both eyes of the user and with the nose region aligned to the nose of the user;   a flow control module coupled to the nose region of the eye covering, defining a manifold, comprising a nostril junction fluidly coupled to the manifold and configured to mate with nostrils of the nose of the user, and comprising an outlet port fluidly coupled to the manifold;   an inlet check valve fluidly coupled to the manifold and configured to open in response to a decrease in air pressure inside the manifold;   an actuator operable over a range of positions between a minimum-restriction position and a maximum-restriction position, the actuator minimally restricting airflow out of the outlet port in the minimum-restriction position and maximally restricting airflow out of the outlet port in the maximum-restriction position; and a   a controller configured to trigger the actuator to transition from the minimum-restriction position toward the maximum-restriction position in response to transition of the user from a wakeful state to a sleep state.   
     
     
         2 . The breathing mask of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 store a preset sleep delay duration approximating a common duration of transition of from a wakeful state to a sleep state for users;   initiate a timer for the sleep delay duration in response to activation of the breathing mask; and   trigger the actuator to transition from the minimum-restriction position to an initial restriction position between the minimum-restriction position and the maximum-restriction position in response to conclusion of the timer.   
     
     
         3 . The breathing mask of  claim 2 , further comprising a wireless communication module configured to receive, from an external computing device associated with the user, the sleep delay duration customized by the user at the external computing device and the initial restriction position. 
     
     
         4 . The breathing mask of  claim 2 :
 wherein a wireless communication module further receives from the external computing device an indicator of upcoming activation of a wake alarm, set by the user, at the external computing device; and   wherein the controller is further configured to trigger the actuator to transition back to the minimum-restriction position at a time preceding upcoming activation of the wake alarm by a preset duration.   
     
     
         5 . The breathing mask of  claim 2 :
 further comprising a motion sensor electrically coupled to the controller; and   wherein the controller is configured to initiate the timer for the sleep delay duration in response to an output of the motion sensor indicating manipulation of the breathing mask in preparation for use by the user.   
     
     
         6 . The breathing mask of  claim 1 :
 further comprising a biometric sensor arranged on the eye covering and electrically coupled to the controller;   wherein the controller is further configured to:
 read outputs of the biometric sensor; 
 interpret a first change in an output of the biometric sensor over a first period of time as transition of the user from the wakeful state to the sleep state over the first period of time; 
 trigger the actuator to transition from the minimum-restriction position toward the maximum-restriction position over a first transition period succeeding the first period of time in response to detecting transition of the user from the wakeful state to the sleep state; 
 interpret a second change in the output of the biometric sensor over a second time succeeding the first period of time as transition of the user from the sleep state to the wakeful state over the second period of time; and 
 trigger the actuator to transition back to the minimum-restriction position over a second transition period in response to detecting transition of the user from the sleep state to the wakeful state. 
   
     
     
         7 . The breathing mask of  claim 1 :
 further comprising a shroud adjacent the outlet port; and   wherein the actuator is coupled to the shroud and configured to:
 retract the shroud from the outlet port into the minimum-restriction position; and 
 advance the shroud across the outlet port into the maximum-restriction position. 
   
     
     
         8 . The breathing mask of  claim 1 :
 wherein the outlet port comprises a tube of an elastic material extending downward from the manifold;   wherein the actuator comprises:
 a drawbar defining a hook looped around the tube of the outlet port; and 
 an electromechanical actuator coupled to the drawbar opposite the hook and configured to:
 retract the drawbar to crush the tube of the outlet port to restrict airflow through the outlet port in the maximum-restriction position; and 
 advance the drawbar to release the tube of the outlet port to permit airflow through the outlet port in the minimum-restriction position. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The breathing mask of  claim 1 :
 further comprising a pressure relief valve arranged across the outlet port and configured to open in response to an air pressure inside the manifold exceeding a trigger pressure; and   wherein the actuator is coupled to the pressure relief valve and is configured to:
 set the trigger pressure of the pressure relief valve at a minimum pressure in the minimum-restriction position; and 
 set the trigger pressure of the pressure relief valve at a maximum pressure in the maximum-restriction position. 
   
     
     
         10 . The breathing mask of  claim 1 :
 wherein the eye covering defines a sleep mask and comprises an opaque flexible member defining a convex section, extending across the eye region and the nose region, and configured to deform about a medial axis of the head of the user to conform around the face of the user; and   wherein the flow control module comprises an elastic material configured to deform around the bottom of the nose of the user to mate the nostril junction around perimeter of the external nares of the user.   
     
     
         11 . The breathing mask of  claim 10 :
 further comprising a set of textile cushions arranged about a perimeter of the eye covering, configured to offset the opaque flexible member from the face of the user, and configured to ventrally align the nostril junction to nostrils of the user; and   wherein the actuator and the flow control module are fully contained within the perimeter of the eye covering.   
     
     
         12 . The breathing mask of  claim 10 :
 further comprising a battery arranged in a first rigid housing located on a first lateral side of the flow control module;   wherein the actuator is arranged in a second rigid housing located on a second lateral side of the flow control module; and   further comprising a beam mounted to the eye covering, extending across the flow control module, coupling the first rigid housing to the second rigid housing, and configured to preferentially deflect with the eye covering about the medial axis of the head of the user.   
     
     
         13 . The breathing mask of  claim 12 :
 wherein the eye covering comprises molded foam;   wherein the beam comprises a rigid polymer;   wherein the flow control module comprises an elastic silicone body;   wherein the outlet port comprises an elastic silicone tube physically coextensive with the elastic silicone body; and   wherein the beam defines a bore configured to accept and retain the elastic silicone tube to flexibly couple the elastic silicone body to the eye covering.   
     
     
         14 . The breathing mask of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 read a first output of a microphone at a first time;   trigger the actuator to move from its current position to a first position in response to characterizing the first output of the microphone as snoring by the user, the first position defined between the current position and the maximum-restriction position and associated with a first degree of obstruction to airflow through the outlet port;   read a second output of the microphone at a second time succeeding the first time by a preset buffer time; and   trigger the actuator to move from the first position to a second position in response to characterizing the second output of the microphone as snoring by the user, the second position defined between the first position and the maximum-restriction position and associated with a second degree of obstruction to airflow through the outlet port greater than the first degree of obstruction.   
     
     
         15 . The breathing mask of  claim 14 :
 further comprising a wireless communication module coupled to the eye covering and electrically coupled to the actuator;   wherein the controller comprises a software program executing on an external computing device and configured to communicate with the actuator via the wireless communication module.   
     
     
         16 . The breathing mask of  claim 14 :
 further comprising:
 a buzzer coupled to the eye covering; and 
 a position sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to an orientation of the eye covering; 
   wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to an output of the position sensor indicating an orientation of the eye covering that is associated with snoring:
 trigger the actuator to move to the minimum-restriction position; and 
 actuate the buzzer to wake the user. 
   
     
     
         17 . The breathing mask of  claim 1 :
 wherein the flow control module defines a first internal volume;   further comprising a second flow control module defining a second manifold, comprising a second nostril junction fluidly coupled to the second manifold and configured to mate with nostrils of the nose of the user, comprising a second outlet port fluidly coupled to the second manifold, and defining a second internal volume greater than the first internal volume; and   wherein the flow control module and the second flow control module are interchangeable over the nose region of the eye covering.   
     
     
         18 . A method for controlling a breathing mask comprising a flow control module configured to mate to nostrils of a user and comprising an actuator configured to adjust obstruction to airflow out of the flow control module, the method comprising:
 accessing a wake alarm time;   accessing a sleep delay duration;   at a first time, receiving an indicator that the user is preparing for sleep;   in response to receiving the indicator, triggering the actuator to transition from a minimum-restriction position toward a maximum-restriction position at a second time succeeding the first time by the sleep delay duration, the actuator minimally obstructing airflow out of the outlet port in the minimum-restriction position and maximally obstructing airflow out of the outlet port in the maximally -restriction position; and   prior to the wake alarm time, triggering the actuator to transition back to the minimum-restriction position.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 ,
 wherein triggering the actuator to transition from the minimum-restriction position toward the maximum-restriction position at the second time comprises triggering the actuator to transition to a second position between the minimum-restriction position and the maximum-restriction position and associated with a second degree of obstruction to airflow through the outlet port greater than a minimal obstruction at the minimum-restriction position; and   further comprising:
 reading a third output of a microphone, proximal the user, at a third time succeeding the second time; 
 triggering the actuator to move from the second position to a third position in response to characterizing the first output of the microphone as snoring by the user, the third position defined between the second position and the maximum-restriction position and associated with a third degree of obstruction to airflow through the outlet port greater than the second degree of obstruction; 
 reading a fourth output of the microphone at a fourth time succeeding the third time by a preset buffer time; and 
 triggering the actuator to move from the third position to a fourth position in response to characterizing the fourth output of the microphone as snoring by the user, the fourth position defined between the third position and the maximum-restriction position and associated with a fourth degree of obstruction to airflow through the outlet port greater than the third degree of obstruction. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 reading an output of a position sensor arranged in the breathing mask at a third time succeeding the second time; and   in response to the output of the position indicating an orientation of the eye covering that is associated with snoring:
 triggering the actuator to move to the minimum-restriction position at a fourth time succeeding the third time; 
 actuating a buzzer to wake the user at a fifth time succeeding the fourth time; and 
 triggering the actuator to transition from the minimum-restriction position toward the maximum-restriction position at a sixth time succeeding the fifth time by a shortened sleep delay duration.