Device and method of using volatile organic compounds that affect mood, emotion or a physiological state

Abstract

The present invention includes an apparatus and method for aiding mood, emotion, or physiological state comprising: a substrate that is capable of capturing or absorbing one or more organic compounds from a subject having a first physiologic or emotional state at a first time; and an element that is capable of controlling the capture of the one or more organic compounds at a first time, or the release of the one or more organic compounds from the substrate at a second time, wherein exposure to an effective amount of the organic compounds changes the mood, emotion, or physiological state of the subject.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for aiding mood, emotion, or physiological state comprising:
 a substrate that is capable of capturing or absorbing one or more organic compounds from a subject having a first physiologic or emotional state at a first time; and   an element that is capable of controlling the capture of the one or more organic compounds at a first time, or the release of the one or more organic compounds from the substrate at a second time, wherein exposure to an effective amount of the organic compounds changes the mood, emotion, or physiological state of the subject.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more organic compounds from the subject having a first physiologic or emotional state are released from the subject at or about body temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the physiologic or emotional state to capture the organic compounds is selected from at least one of ovulation, lactation, working out, sports activity, sexual activity, a wedding, a christening, a party, a business trip, a vacation, rock climbing, sky diving, roller coasters, bungee or cliff jumping. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more organic compounds are volatile organic compounds. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more organic compounds are selected from at least one or more sex pheromones, alarm pheromones, modulator pheromones, trail pheromones or signature odors. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate can be reused. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is positioned on or about the skin at the first time for sufficient time to capture the one or more organic compounds in an amount sufficient to be noticeable in the immediate surrounding of the subject upon release from the substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is selected from a carbon strip, a natural fiber, a synthetic fiber, a cellulose, a polymer, a carbon impregnated fiber, a mesh, a filter, a solid-phase microextraction fiber, a dried leaf or lichen, or a cotton gauze. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a housing comprising a storage area for the substrate, a power source, a heating or cooling element controller, a sprayer, an atomizer, a perfume or cologne, one or more fragrances, oils, or solvents, a propellant, a vaporizer, or a fan. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the element for the capture or the release of the one or more organic compounds is exposed to a heater, cooler, fragrance, oil, cream, or solvent to release the one or more organic compounds from the substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more organic compounds are released by or with a fragrance, oil, cream, lotion, shampoo, or solvent from the substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein two or more substrates comprising organic compounds obtained from different moods, emotions, or physiologic states are combined prior to release. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein two or more substrates comprising organic compounds obtained from the same mood, emotion, or physiologic state are combined prior to release. 
     
     
         15 . A method of determining the performance of one or more organic compounds that aid in a mood, an emotion, or a physiological state, the method comprising:
 a) measuring the levels of partial or total organic compounds from a subject under normal physiological conditions at a first time;   b) capturing partial or total organic compounds on a substrate from the subject under different physiological conditions at a second time;   c) exposing a first subset of subjects to the partial or total organic compounds from a subject under normal physiological conditions at a first time, and a second subset of the subjects to the partial or total organic compounds on a substrate from the subject under different physiological conditions at a second time; and   d) determining if the partial or total organic compounds on a substrate from the subject under different physiological conditions at a second time shows a change in mood, emotion or physiological state that is statistically significant as compared to that of the subject exposed to the partial or total organic compounds from a subject under normal physiological conditions at a first time.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of capturing the partial or total organic compounds on a substrate from the subject under different physiological conditions at a second time is conducted during a specific physiologic or emotional state, wherein the physiologic or emotional state is selected from at least one of ovulation, lactation, working out, sports activity, sexual activity, a wedding, a christening, a party, a business trip, a vacation, rock climbing, sky diving, roller coasters, bungee or cliff jumping. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more organic compounds are volatile organic compounds. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more organic compounds are selected from at least one or more sex pheromones, alarm pheromones, modulator pheromones, trail pheromones or signature odors. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the substrate is positioned on or about the skin at the first time for sufficient time to capture the one or more organic compounds in an amount sufficient to be noticeable in the immediate surrounding of the subject upon release from the substrate. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the substrate is selected from a carbon strip, a natural fiber, a synthetic fiber, a cellulose, a polymer, a carbon impregnated fiber, a mesh, a filter, a solid-phase microextraction fiber, a dried leaf or lichen, or a cotton gauze. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein an apparatus for use in the method is defined further as comprising a housing comprising a storage area for the substrate, a power source, a heating or cooling element controller, a sprayer, an atomizer, a perfume or cologne, one or more fragrances, oils, or solvents, a propellant, a vaporizer, or a fan. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more organic compounds are released by or with a fragrance, oil, cream, or solvent. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more organic compounds from two or more subjects are captured concurrently. 
     
     
         25 . A substrate that is adapted to capture or absorb one or more organic compounds from a subject at or about body temperature, the subject having a first physiologic or emotional state at a first time, wherein the substrate is selected from a carbon strip, a natural fiber, a synthetic fiber, a cellulose, a polymer, a carbon impregnated fiber, a mesh, a filter, a solid-phase microextraction fiber, a dried leaf or lichen, or a cotton gauze, and the one or more organic compounds are selected from at least one or more sex pheromones, alarm pheromones, modulator pheromones, trail pheromones or signature odors. 
     
     
         26 . The substrate of  claim 25 , wherein the substrate is reusable. 
     
     
         27 . The substrate of  claim 25 , wherein the one or more organic compounds are released from the substrate by a fragrance, oil, cream, or solvent.