Patent ID: 7894879

Claim:
Self-monitoring device enabling an individual to self-monitor his breathing in order to assist in the control of a radiotherapy or imaging unit comprising: means for acquiring at least one current metabolic volume signal, which is representative of the variation in the volume of air contained in the lungs of an individual during his breathing cycles; a signal-processing unit connected to said means for acquiring, said processing unit comprising means for accessing at least one rest value, which is representative of a metabolic volume for an individual of a breathing cycle during rest, and at least one setpoint value, which is representative of a metabolic volume for an individual of a predetermined target inhalation and/or exhalation; and at least one interface for communication with an individual, said communication interface being connected to said signal-processing unit and comprising communication means capable of communicating a signal to the individual, wherein the signal-processing unit comprises means for detecting regular breathing during rest by comparing the current metabolic volume signal with said rest value(s) and is capable of controlling said communication means in order that said means transmit a signal that is representative of said setpoint value(s) if said signal-processing unit detects regular breathing during rest, wherein the signal-processing unit further comprises means for detecting non-regular breathing and means for detecting inhalation and/or exhalation reaching the setpoint value(s), by comparing the current metabolic volume signal with said rest value(s) and with said setpoint values(s) respectively, and is capable of controlling said communication means in order that said means do not transmit a signal that is representative of said setpoint value(s) if said processing unit detects non-regular breathing and if no inhalation and/or exhalation reaching the setpoint value(s) is/are detected.