METHOD AND DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF A SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAM

Abstract

A method and device for a smoking cessation program are disclosed. The method includes: defining a buffer value for virtual smoke products for a withdrawal day, defining a stock value for virtual smoke products for the withdrawal day, defining a buffer fill time for transferring the virtual smoke products from the stock value to the buffer value for the withdrawal day, and allowing one of the smoke products to be withdrawn from the housing as long as the number of virtual smoke products in the buffer value is greater than zero.

The method and the device enable the person willing to cease smoking to use the permanently reduced amount of smoke products during the withdrawal period (physical withdrawal) for the individual critical smoke situations in order to teach the corresponding brain area to master these critical smoke situations without smoke products (mental withdrawal).

Claims

1. A method of supplying at least one smoking product from a housing comprising: a) establishing a buffer value for virtual smoke products for a withdrawal day; b) establishing a stock value for virtual smoke products for the withdrawal day; c) establishing a buffer fill time for transferring the virtual smoke products from the stock value to the withdrawal day buffer value; d) allowing one of the smoke products to be removed from the housing as long as the number of virtual smoke products in the buffer value is greater than zero.

2. The method according to claim 1, according to which the transfer of one of the virtual smoke products from the stock value into the buffer value is effected until the stock value has reached zero.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a) the buffer value is reduced during the withdrawal program; b) the stock value is reduced in the course of the withdrawal program; and/or c) the buffer filling time is increased during the withdrawal program.

4. The method according to claim 1, whereby the removal of a smoke product from the housing is delayed.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the time delay is extended in the course of the withdrawal program.

6. Use of the method of claim 1 in a smoking cessation program.

7. A device for withdrawing smoking products comprising: a) an interior for storing the smoking products; b) a closure for preventing the opening of the device; c) a sensor for detecting the opening of the device (20); and d) a value memory providing data for a withdrawal program; wherein the value memory stores a buffer value and a storage value and the closure enables the opening of the device at a buffer value greater than zero; and wherein after removal of the smoke products the buffer value is reduced by a virtual smoke product and after a buffer filling time the buffer value is increased by a virtual smoke product, with simultaneous reduction of the storage value by a virtual smoke product.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the buffer value, the stock value and buffer filling time are determined at the beginning of the day by the withdrawal programme.

9. The device according to claim 7, further comprising a processor controlling the functions necessary for smoking withdrawal.

10. The device according to claim 7, further comprising an embossment in the interior for fixing packages.

11. The device according to claim 7, further comprising interfaces for receiving and sending data to other terminals.

12. The device according to claim 7, wherein the closure can only be opened after an access delay.

Description

[0036] The invention is now explained in more detail by means of the following drawings. These show:

[0037] FIG. 1 a front view of a device for a package for smoking products in an open state;

[0038] FIG. 2 a front view of the device in a closed state;

[0039] FIG. 3 a side view of the device with the package in an open state;

[0040] FIG. 4 a front view of the device with a package in a closed state;

[0041] FIG. 5 a front view of the device with a package in an open state;

[0042] FIG. 6 the sequence of a smoking cessation program;

[0043] FIG. 7 a graphical representation of the course of a smoking cessation program on a withdrawal day.

[0044] FIGS. 1 to 5 show a device with a housing 20 for a package 15 of smoking products 10, such as cigarettes or cigarillos. The housing 20 consists of an inner chamber 30 for holding the package 15. The package 15 is a standard commercial package containing a plurality of smoking products 10. The housing 20 has a hinged lid 24 which can be opened by means of a hinge 26. The housing 20 has a closure 40, which is arranged in such a way that the hinged lid 24 can only be opened when the closure 40 is properly unlocked. A sensor 28 detects the position (open as in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 or closed as in FIGS. 2 and 4) of the hinged cover 24.

[0045] The housing 20 has a display 42, which can show a plurality of information about the withdrawal programme, e.g. the current buffer value, the current stock value, the buffer filling time or the access delay.

[0046] The housing 20 also has an open button 54, which when pressed releases a release mechanism in the closure 40 to open the lid 24. The real, smokable smoke products 10 in the package 15 can only be removed when the lid 24 is open.

[0047] The housing 20 also has a morning button 50, which when pressed starts the withdrawal programme for the withdrawal day.

[0048] The housing 20 also has an info button 52, which when pressed shows all essential information on the withdrawal day (especially buffer value, storage value and buffer filling time) for the person willing to quit smoking on display 42.

[0049] The housing 20 also has a light source 56, which indicates to the person willing to quit smoking whether the lid 24 can be opened or not.

[0050] In the housing 20 a processor 46 with a corresponding value memory 48 is installed. The value memory 48 stores the parameters about the withdrawal programme, e.g. the buffer value, the storage value, the buffer filling time and the access delay and allows the parameters to be shown on the display 42 after pressing one of the keys. The processor 46 and the value memory 48 can be implemented either as separate components or as embedded software in an electronic component.

[0051] In another aspect, the housing 20 has a radio transmitter built into it, which enables a connection (e.g. via Bluetooth) to a smartphone or computer.

[0052] FIG. 3 shows an embossment 29 in the interior 30 of housing 20. This embossment 29 compensates for the different sizes of the packages 15. This prevents the packaging 15 from moving when the device is of different sizes.

[0053] The basics of the method for the smoking cessation program are now explained: As stated in the introduction, the person willing to cease smoking must learn not to access the real, smokable cigarette 10 or any other smoking product in the package 15 in critical smoking situations. This learning process (=learning process of the habit) in the corresponding brain area is ideally generated when the person willing to quit smoking in his individual critical smoke situation is denied access to the real, smokable cigarette 10 for a certain period of time. At the beginning of the smoking cessation program, for example, this period is 20 seconds. Ideally, this access delay can be slowly but continuously increased during a smoking cessation program from e.g. 180 days to e.g. 5 minutes. It is important to ensure that the access delay is not too long, e.g. 30 minutes, as otherwise the quitting feeling predominates and no positive learning effect is achieved. Especially the awareness to be allowed to smoke one of the real, smokable cigarettes 10 immediately (even if with a time delay), but to master the critical smoke situation over a certain period of time without the real, smokable cigarette 10, will teach the corresponding brain area to forget the habit of smoking step by step.

[0054] However, this relatively short access delay can be extended in the morning before smoking the first real, smokable cigarette 10, e.g. to up to 60 minutes. Overnight, the nicotine level of the person willing to cease smoking drops. Most smokers have to compensate for the drop in nicotine level by having their first cigarette in the morning immediately after waking up. This morning cigarette therefore focuses on physical withdrawal rather than mental withdrawal.

[0055] The gradual withdrawal of the body of the person willing to quitting smoker from nicotine in the real, smokable cigarettes 10 described in this disclosure has an additional positive effect on a successful smoking stop, since physical withdrawal symptoms do not or only slightly occur. In the case of an immediate smoking stop, withdrawal symptoms are known to be noticeable from day one in the form of aggressive behavior, nervousness and sleep and concentration disorders. A gradual withdrawal is therefore generally advisable. However, step-by-step withdrawal often fails in practice with quitting smokers because the person willing to cease smoking has no means of controlling his or her smoking behaviour and, especially in his or her individual critical smoking situations, rejects this reduction method and falls back into the old smoking pattern. It is precisely here that the device helps to control and maintain the gradual withdrawal.

[0056] Certain motivational aids have a supporting effect on a successful smoking stop. For example, an app can be programmed on a smartphone which displays motivational messages, e.g: How much money have I already saved or Am I better than the targets in the quit plan? This app receives the data from the housing 20, e.g. via the radio transmitter.

[0057] The duration of the withdrawal programme is determined by the input of the person willing to quit smoking at the beginning of the withdrawal programme. The number of currently smoked cigarettes 10 and the number of smoking years determine the duration of the withdrawal program. The withdrawal programme preferably lasts 180, 150 or 120 days, but this number of days is not limiting of the invention. For example, the starting value of the maximum number of real, smokable cigarettes 10 provided on the first withdrawal day of the withdrawal programme corresponds to the number of cigarettes currently smoked. This starting value for the withdrawal day is gradually reduced to zero during the withdrawal program (see FIG. 6).

[0058] The withdrawal programme divides the maximum number (Maximum Number) of real, smokable cigarettes 10 (or other smoking products) specified for the respective withdrawal day into two virtual groups. The first virtual group is the buffer value, which is e.g. 25% of the maximum number. The second virtual group is the stock value, which includes the remaining cigarettes, e.g. 75% of the maximum number. These values are stored in the value memory 48. Assuming that the withdrawal program provides a total of 20 real, smokable cigarettes 10 on a withdrawal day (day 180 to 177, see FIG. 6), there are therefore 5 virtual cigarettes in the buffer and 15 virtual cigarettes in the warehouse. In addition, the withdrawal programme determines the buffer filling time, which indicates the time interval in which a virtual cigarette is gradually transferred from the storage to the buffer, for example every 40 minutes (2400 seconds, see FIG. 6). The information about the number of virtual cigarettes in the buffer and in the storage as well as the buffer filling time are only exemplary data and do not limit the invention.

[0059] If the person willing to cease smoking presses the morning button 50 on the housing 20 at 9:00 a.m., for example, he will see in the above example for the first withdrawal day via the display 42: 5 virtual cigarettes in the buffer, 15 virtual cigarettes in the warehouse and a buffer filling time of 40 minutes. This means that in this example all 15 virtual cigarettes were transferred from the warehouse to the buffer by 19:00 hrs. The current status of the values on the respective withdrawal day can be called up at any time by pressing the info key 52.

[0060] The person willing to cease smoking has direct, but delayed access to the virtual cigarettes in the buffer. If the person willing to quit smoking presses the Open button 54, the lid 24 of the housing 20 cannot be opened immediately. Only after the access delay has elapsed, e.g. 20 seconds, the closure 40 is unlocked and the person willing to quit smoking can open the lid 24 and remove a real, smokable cigarette 10 from the packaging 15. This access delay is shown in display 42 as countdown. After closing the lid 24, a virtual cigarette is subtracted from the buffer value. If the lid 24 was not opened, the buffer value remains because no real, smokable cigarette 10 was removed. The opening and closing of the lid 24 is detected by sensor 28.

[0061] The access delay is increased to e.g. 5 minutes during the withdrawal programme. During this processas described abovethe corresponding brain area learns that it can master critical smoking situations without a cigarette.

[0062] If the buffer value has reached zero, the person willing to cease smoking must wait until the next virtual cigarette has been transferred from the storage into the buffer, in this example up to 40 minutes. If the buffer value and the stock value have the value zero, the housing 20 remains closed for the rest of this withdrawal day.

[0063] At the beginning of the withdrawal, the person willing to cease smoking has in principle enough real, smokable cigarettes 10 at his disposal to maintain his smoking pattern. However, in the course of the withdrawal program, the real, smokable cigarettes 10 are reduced (see FIG. 6). It is now up to the person willing to cease smoking to use the remaining real, smokable cigarettes 10 for exactly his individual critical smoke situations. Because the person willing to cease smoking should learn to master exactly these situations without real, smokable cigarettes 10 via the access delay to the corresponding brain area.

[0064] Via the function buffer, storage and buffer filling time, the person willing to quit smoking is induced to focus cigarette consumption on his or her individual critical smoke situations with less and less real, smokable cigarettes 10 available. If the person willing to quit smoking knows, for example, that a pub crawl is planned for the evening, the quitting smoker can smoke less during the day in order to have a filled buffer in the evening.

[0065] FIG. 6 shows a typical smoking cessation program for cigarettes. At the beginning of the withdrawal program (day 180), the maximum number of cigarettes 10 is set for the first withdrawal day and the duration of the withdrawal program. Let us assume that the person willing to cease smoking is currently typically smoking a pack of cigarettes (20) and has been smoking for 30 years. This would result in a withdrawal programme duration of 180 days, for example. The value memory 48 now determines all necessary data for the individual withdrawal days (see FIG. 6).

[0066] FIG. 7 shows the course of the smoking cessation program over one day: In step 700 (pressing the morning button 50) at the beginning of the withdrawal day, the number of real, smokable cigarettes 10 is determined, which the user may smoke from the housing 20 during the course of the day. This maximum daily number is taken from the value memory 48 and divided into a buffer value 72 and a storage value 74 as described above. The maximum daily number changes according to the individual smoking cessation program (see FIG. 6). In addition, the display 42 shows the day of withdrawal 70, the buffer filling time 76 (hours/minutes) and the countdown of the access delay 78 until the morning cigarette (hours/minutes/seconds).

[0067] In the next step 710, the access delay time 80 (hours/minutes/seconds) between pressing the Open Button 54 and unlocking the lid 24 of the housing 20 is taken from value memory 48. The access delay time interval (80) increases over the duration of the smoking cessation program (see FIG. 6).

[0068] Let us assume that the person willing to cease smoking wants to smoke a cigarette or other smoke products 10. In step 720, the person willing to quit smoking presses the Open button 54 to indicate his or her desire to smoke a real, smokable cigarette 10. However, pressing the Open button 54 does not cause the lid 24 of the housing 20 to open so that the user can remove a real, smokable cigarette 10. In advance, the person willing to cease smoking is shown the current buffer value 72 and the access delay 80 from step 710. Pressing the Open key 54 in step 720 triggers a countdown in housing 20. After the countdown (access delay 80, defined in step 710), the housing 20 can be opened. The person willing to cease smoking can remove a real, smokable cigarette 10 and close the housing 20 again. The sensor 28 measures the opening of the cover 24 and the buffer value 72 is reduced by one virtual cigarette. If the person willing to cease smoking does not open the lid 24 despite the possibility of removal, the buffer value 72 is not reduced by one virtual cigarette. The quitting smoker willing to cease smoking can carry out step 720 until the buffer value zero is reached.

[0069] Assuming that the buffer value 72 has reached the value zero (step 730), the person willing to quit smoking will see the remaining buffer filling time 76 (hours/minutes) after pressing the Open button 54 until a virtual cigarette is transferred from the storage into the buffer.

[0070] Assuming that the buffer value 72 and the storage value 74 have both reached zero (step 740), the person willing to quit smoking cannot take out a real, smokable cigarette 10 for this withdrawal day.

[0071] Using the Info key 52 (step 750), the person willing to quit smoking can call up the current status of the buffer value 72, the stock value 74 and the buffer filling time 76 (hours/minutes) at any time during the withdrawal day.

[0072] During each withdrawal day, the person willing to quit smoking can thus control his or her smoking behavior via steps 700 to 750 in such a way that despite a reduced number of real, smokable cigarettes 10 (physical withdrawal), the ever decreasing number of real, smokable cigarettes 10 are used precisely for his or her critical smoking situations and thus for the unlearning process (mental withdrawal).

[0073] It should be noted that the actual number of real, smokable cigarettes 10 in the housing 20 does not have to correspond to the number of virtual cigarettes of the buffer value and the stock value. If there are less real, smokable cigarettes 10 in the package 15 than indicated in the buffer and stock value, the empty package 15 will be replaced with a full package 15 when the housing 20 is open.