This is the Setup screen.This section will briefly show the Setup screens and some examples of the User Working screen of Breathing Trainer v1.0
This is the Setup screen.
Along the left side are controls where you may input the working parameters of the breathing display.
These include:
Tidal (breath) Volume
Respiration Rate
Inspiration Time (%)
Expiration Time (%)
Inspiration Hold (%)
Expiration Hold (%)
On the right is a display of the breathing pattern resulting from the input settings. In this case the opening default settings are shown. Inspiration and expiration are equal in timing (i.e. 50/50) and no breath hold pauses are shown.
The User may input their name, and the date and time are automatically shown. A "User Info" button provides general instructions for using the system.
Here the Inspiration Time has been set to 35% (and therefore the Expiration time is automatically set to 65% of the breathing cycle).
Note how the breathing pattern changes.
When a satisfactory breathing pattern is established, pressing the "Start" button takes the user to the main working screen.
This is the main User Working Display.
The breathing pattern is the result of the first setup screen input settings, i.e. Inspiration and Expiration times are equal.
When the program is actually running, a yellow prompting cursor flashes along the Inspiration and Expiration breathing lines to indicate exactly where you should be breathing within the entire breathing cycle.
Note, the breathing program lines are linear, i.e. you should be breathing in a steady and constant manner in order to match this prompting signal.
If you are breathing in a steady manner, AND if you have timed your breathing correctly to the prompting cursor, you will achieve a close approximation of the Tidal (breath) Volume set in the program parameters.
This display comes from the second setup parameters, i.e. Expiration is longer than Inspiration (35/65% of the respiratory cycle).
Along the bottom of the display the input parameters are displayed. You may adjust the breathing parameters here, without returning to the Setup screen. This makes it easy to experiment and fine tune breathing patterns to your particular needs.
Also along the bottom, the four dark areas are control buttons that refresh the display, and therefore makes it easy for you to coordinate your breathing with the display.
The other buttons permit you to stop the display, and print it, and to exit from the program.
The capability to print your breathing pattern, and all of it's input parameters, is a convenient way to remember the patterns best suited for your needs. And the paper record of the breathing pattern is a convenient prompt to guide you when you are away from your computer.
To the last breathing pattern, an Inspiration Hold of 5% has been added.
Normally there is a slight pause at the end of inspiration, before the elastic structures of the chest and lungs actually begin to cause mechanical expiration.
Prolonged, or very prolonged Inspiration Pauses may be programmed, e.g. in some Yoga exercises, or in Hyperventilation Syndrome control.
To the last breathing pattern, an Expiration Hold of 10% has been added.
This is a normal component of breathing patterns.
The ability to define Expiration Times and Expiration Hold is important in corrective breathing patterns in COPD, Emphysema and Asthma, to correct the problem of dyspnea (breathing distress) secondary to lung overinflation due to Dynamic Hyperinflation.
Breathing Trainer v1.0 is capable of producing a wide variety of accurate breathing programs suitable for the needs of many different applications.
While the program cannot directly control the programmed breath volume (i.e. the Tidal Volume), with practice the user should be capable of closely approximating the desired breath volume.