SMOKING CESSATION DEVICE FOR ACTIVELY SHORTENING AND REDUCING SMOKING IN THE DAILY ROUTINE OF THE SMOKER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present invention relates in general to smoking, in particular, to devices and methods for motivating a smoker to stop smoking.

BACKGROUND

[002] Smoking is the most significant preventable risk factor for morbidity and mortality, and is associated with numerous diseases, such as lung disease, heart disease and cancer. Approximately one-third of all cancer related deaths are attributable to smoking. Almost 90% of lung and oral cancer deaths and more than half of all neck cancer deaths are the direct result of tobacco use. Smoking is also associated with depression, anxiety, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, and a variety of other psychiatric conditions. Smoking is not only a danger to the active smoker, but it also affects others who are exposed to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS), such as the smokers’ children. Exposure to ETS in children interferes almost immediately with both the growth and functioning of the lungs.

[003] Smoking and exposure to ETS in pregnant women correlates with low birth weight, long-term cognitive and behavior problems, and sudden infant death syndrome. Smoking and exposure to ETS also reduces milk production in mothers who nurse, decreases the milk's vitamin C content, and increases colicky pain and diarrhea in breast fed infants.

[004] Research studies and surveys have shown that about 75% of smokers would like to quit smoking, but only about 5% accomplish smoking cessation on their own. A variety of therapies have been developed to assist smokers in quitting, notably the Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRTs) (such as nicotine gum and patches) and the antidepressant medication Bupropion (i.e., Zyban and Wellbutrin). However, these products do not show improved quit rates. Additionally, significant side effects can result from the use of such products, including seizures and death, and relapse rates are generally very high: about 80% of the smoking quitters return smoking within one year. Some attribute this remission to the fact that these therapies lack the “rush” experienced by the patient when smoking a cigarette. [005] NRT and medical approaches to smoking cessation assert that in order to increase the likelihood of quitting smoking, the selected therapy should be used in conjunction with a program including counseling or behavioral support.

[006] Two examples of such counseling or behavioral support are based on response prevention, and operant conditioning using reward and punishment. Response prevention techniques to aid smokers in quitting are provided, e.g., in US 5,590,421 that provides a glove with digits attached (i.e., sewn together) that would make it difficult to pick up, hold, or manipulate a cigarette; and US 6,458,149 and US 4,951,691 that provide adult pacifiers, which are to be inserted into the smoker’s mouth and sucked until the urge to smoke passes.

[007] Approaches based on operant conditioning, punishment, and aversion were described, e.g., in US 4,068,672 that provides a cylindrical apparatus or cigarette holder that delivers an electric shock when placed to the smoker's lips; US 4,269,203 that describes an apparatus that holds the cigarettes pack and inject a foul smelling substance into each cigarette before it is smoked; and US 5,308,245 that provides a resilient, manually graspable tactile device about the size of a pack of cigarettes, that was intended to be grasped and tightly held by the smoker until a painfull burning developed in smoker's forearm. The device was then to be transferred to the other hand, and the operation repeated.

[008] What all of these approaches has in common is that, for one reason or another, they do not lead to smoking cessation. They are ineffective probably since smokers are unlikely to inflict pain upon themselves in the form of electric shocks or surgical implants, and still others because they lack face validity and appear silly (sucking a pacifier in public or wearing gloves with the digits sewn together).

[009] KR 101477644 describes an apparatus for smoking cessation designed to be mounted onto the tip of a smoking means such that it is placed inside the user’s mouth, wherein the apparatus is designed to collect and analyze data about inhaled nicotine, tar and other contaminants, for analysis.

[010] Thus, a need exists for a smoking cessation alternative that will obviate the smoker’s desire to keep on smoking in a way that reduces the chances of the smoker to return smoking. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[Oil] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus 100 for smoking cessation, the apparatus 100 comprising: (a) an attachment means 200 for mounting said apparatus 100 onto a smoking means 300; (b) at least one light indicator; and (c) a proximity sensor 102, wherein: said at least one light indicator is automatically turned on and off according to placement of the apparatus in between the user’s lips.

[012] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for smoking cessation, the method comprising mounting/attaching an apparatus 100 according to any one of the embodiments above onto a smoking means 300, wherein: (a) one light indicator is turned on automatically when the apparatus 100 identifies that the smoking means 300 is not in between the user’s lips; and (b) another light indicator is turned on automatically when the apparatus 100 identifies that the smoking means 300 is placed in between the user’s lips.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[013] Fig. 1 is an illustration of an apparatus of the invention.

[014] Figs. 2A-2C are illustration of one embodiment of an apparatus of the invention in three different viewing angles.

[015] Figs. 3A-3D are illustration of four configurations of an apparatus of the invention.

[016] Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the mechanism of action of the apparatus of the invention.

[017] Fig. 5 illustrates an exemplary electric circuit of an apparatus of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[018] The present invention is developed in view of the findings that current techniques for smoking cessation have been proved to be ineffective. The method and device of the invention are based on the principle of a self-help smoking cessation and are based on conditioned response and motivation, while allowing the smoker to keep-on smoking to alleviate withdrawal symptoms.

[019] Although smokers tend to develop nicotine addiction, smoking is essentially based on habit rather than addiction. Therefore, the present invention targets the habit behavior rather than the nicotine addiction. This is the reason that NRTs and medications are not so effective. [020] Although many smokers declare that they want to quit smoking, they are not motivated to quit. Thus, the present invention aims to increase the smokers’ motivation to quit. Notably, each smoker's reasons for quitting are personal and unique, and as such each smoker's motives for quitting should be identified and used on an individual bases. [021] The ability to smoke from time to time must be included in any successful smoking cessation program. This prevents smokers from ruminating excessively about smoking, and lapses are not considered as a failure. Instead, the occasional smoking is a central to success, and allows for a natural titrating of nicotine in the smoker's system. This minimizes discomfort from nicotine withdrawal symptoms, and eliminates the need for substances (e.g. NRTs) to reduce such discomfort.

[022] When a smoker goes “Cold Turkey” and stops smoking at all, he/she constantly crave and ruminate about smoking, and smokers will eventually lapse and succumb to smoking. This is considered by the smoker as failure and leads to relapse. Therefore, smoking, or having an occasional cigarette in the course of attempting to quit must be integrated into any plan to quit. Accordingly, the present invention is based on continuous smoking until the smoker decides to stops.

[023] Some previous attempts to cease smoking are based on the assumption that a person smokes because doing so is pleasurable, and thus punishing the response of smoking should lead to its elimination. This is incorrect, and the present invention approaches smoking cessation from the standpoint of positive feedback accompanied by verbal and visual discouraging notifications during actual smoking.

[024] In the present invention, a smoker may smoke a cigarette at any time, but must do so using the device of the invention. When the smoker does so, he/she gets one step closer to quitting and becoming an ex-smoker.

[025] Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus 100 for smoking cessation, the apparatus 100 comprising: (a) an attachment means 200 for mounting/attaching the apparatus 100 onto a smoking means 300, such as a cigar, a cigarette and a pipe; (b) at least one light indicator; and (c) a contact/proximity sensor 102 designed to identify that the smoking means 300 has been inserted-into or removed- from the smoker’s lips/mouth, wherein: the light indicator(s) is automatically turned on and off according to proximity to the user’s lips: for instance, a green light is turned on and a red light is turned off when the smoking means 300 is placed in between the user’s lips; and a red light is turned on and a green light is turned off when the smoking means 300 is placed in between the user’s lips. Notably, the turning of the indicator lights on and off is automatic. Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of such an apparatus 100.

[026] The apparatus 100 of the invention is designed to be mounted by the user onto a smoking means 300, such as a cigarette, and attach thereto. The mounting of the apparatus 100 can be by sliding the smoking means 300 in a tubular tube of the apparatus 100 (e.g. 200 in Fig. 2), and then securing it in place, e.g., by using a fixator 110 capable of retracting onto the smoking means 300 for affixing the apparatus 100 thereto. In specific embodiments, the apparatus 100 is further equipped with a cutter 105 located at one of the apparatuses’ edges, wherein the user can use this cutter 105 to shorten the smoking means 300 by cutting it at a desired point, thereby reducing the overall available smoking length of the smoking means 300.

[027] Figs. 2A-2C provide further illustration of an apparatus 100 according to some embodiments of the invention. The size of the apparatus 100 can vary according to need, and can be up to 10 cm long, e.g. less than 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.5 cm. The length of the apparatus 100 can be determined, e.g. according to the length of the smoking means 300. In certain embodiments, the user can place the apparatus 100 at any point on the smoking means 300 according to desire and comfort. This can also be used for determining the length of the smoking means 300 to be smoked. In specific embodiments, the apparatus 100 is implemented within the smoking means, e.g. a cigar, cigarette or pipe, during their manufacture, e.g. as part of a smoking cessation program (not illustrated in the figures).

[028] In specific embodiments, the apparatus 100 according to the invention is an immediate-feedback apparatus, designed to provide the user with immediate feedback during the actual smoking session.

[029] In specific embodiments of the apparatus 100, the light indicators are light emitting diodes (LED). In certain embodiments, the at least one light indicator refers to two different lights, such as red and green. In alternative embodiments, the at least one light indicator refers to the same light color having two different emitting patterns, such as constant light and blinking or various blinking patterns.

[030] In certain embodiments, the attachment means 200 is a hollow cylinder into which a smoking means 300, such as a cigar or a cigarette, is inserted, so that the two edges of the smoking means 300 exit from the proximal and distal sides of the apparatus (see illustrated in Figs. 1, 2A and 3B). This configuration enables the smoker to place the smoking means into his/her mouth from one side (proximal), and lit the smoking means 300 on the other side (distal). Figs. 1, 2 and 3 A illustrate such a cylindered apparatus 100. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate such an apparatus 100 with a cylindered attachment means 200 associated with a box-configuration 101 holding the indication lights. Fig. 3A illustrates a cylindered apparatus 100 without such a boxed-configuration, in which case the indication lights are integrated into the cylindered -shaped attachment means 200, which constitutes the entire apparatus 100. In certain embodiments, the apparatus 100 further comprises a cutter 105 located at one of the apparatuses’ edges, e.g. near the contact/proximity sensor 102, wherein the user can use this cutter 105 to shorten the smoking means 300 by cutting it at a desired point, thereby reducing the available smoking length of the smoking means 300.

[031] In alternative embodiments, the attachment means 200 is an adhesive, such as reusable glue, that is located at the lower section of the apparatus 100 and enables its attachment to the (upper surface of the) smoking means. Fig. 3B illustrate such an apparatus 100, having an arched lower section designed to fit onto a cigarette. In further specific embodiments, and as illustrated in Fig. 3C, the attachment means 200 is one, two, three or more elastic bands 200 connected to the apparatus 100, and designed to be placed over a smoking means 300, such as a cigarette, to thereby attach the apparatus 100 to the smoking means 300. In specific embodiments thereto, the apparatus 100 further comprises an arched lower section designed to fit onto such a cigarette. In specific embodiments, and as illustrated in Fig. 3D, the contact/proximity sensor 102 is associated with the elastic band 200 located near the smoker's mouth, such that placing the smoking means in the mouth activates the sensor.

[032] Accordingly, in certain embodiments of the apparatus 100 of any of the embodiments above, the attachment means 200 is selected from: (i) a hollow tube construction into which the smoking means 300 is to be inserted; (ii) an adhesive located at the lower section of the apparatus 100; and (iii) one, two, three or more elastic bands, enabling the attachment of the smoking means 300 to the apparatus 100, optionally to its lower section, or any combination thereof.

[033] In certain embodiments of the apparatus 100 according to any of the embodiments above, the attachment means 200 is designed to enable the user to mount the apparatus 100 onto a smoking means 300 while leaving both ends of said smoking means 300 outside the proximal and distal ends of the apparatus 100 thus allowing placing one end of the smoking means 300 in the user’s mouth.

[034] In certain embodiments of the apparatus 100 according to any of the embodiments above, the attachment means 200 is designed to enable the user to move the apparatus 100 forward and backward along the smoking means 300 according to desire, thereby placing the apparatus 100 at any desired location on the attachment means 200. This improves the comfort and flexibility of use, and can assist the user in determining the amount of smoking of a specific smoking means 300 by merely moving and placing the apparatus 100 at a specific location on the smoking means 300. For instance, when placing the apparatus 100 closer to the edge of the smoking means 300 designed to be placed in between the user’s lips, there is more smoking. Alternatively, when placing the apparatus 100 closer to the fire-burning edge of the smoking means 300, there is less smoking before the fire reaches the apparatus 100 and prevents additional smoking.

[035] In certain embodiments of the apparatus 100 according to any of the embodiments above, the attachment means 200 further comprises a fixator 110 capable of extracting and retracting to thereby enable affixing the apparatus 100 to the smoking means 300 at any desired point. In specific embodiments, the fixator 110 is a rotational-axial movement fixator designed to rotate axially to tighten and loosen around the smoking means 300. This extraction and retraction feature of the fixator 110 enables adjusting the size of the attachment means 200 according to the width of the smoking means 300, and thus enables the placing of the apparatus 100 onto any smoking means 300 with any width and length.

[036] In certain embodiments, the apparatus 100 according to any of the embodiments above further comprises a cutter 105 designed for cutting the smoking means 300 at a desired point. This further assists the user in determining the amount of smoking of a specific smoking means 300 by merely moving the apparatus 100 along the smoking means 300 to a specific location and then cutting same to a desired length- thus, the more is cut, the less is smoked.

[037] The presence and use of a cutter 105, with or without the ability to move the apparatus 100 along the smoking means 300 and fixating thereof at any desired location thereon further assists in the smoking cessation process, in that they enable the user to determine how much to smoke each smoking means 300. In addition, these features further enable the present apparatus 100 to be an immediate-feedback apparatus, by providing the user with immediate feedback regarding the amount of selected smoking, i.e. by seeing what is cut-off and/or seeing the length of the smoking means that is outside the apparatus 100 and that can be smoked.

[038] In specific embodiments of the apparatus according to any of the embodiments above, the apparatus and/or the attachment means are made-of or coated-with heat resistance material and/or fire-proof material to thereby withstand the heat and fire during smoking.

[039] In certain embodiments of the apparatus 100 of the invention, a red light is automatically turned on upon placing the smoking means 300 between the user’s lips, and is turned off when the smoking means is removed therefrom, while turning a green light on. The red light indicator is designed to provide a visual negative indication that the smoker inflicts damage to himself by consuming hazardous materials (i.e. smoking), whereas the green light indicator provides a visual positive indication that the smoker is doing something right, i.e. does not smoke. As noted above, the “red” and “green lights are examples and can be replaced with other colors and/or lightning patterns. In specific embodiments, the emitted light pattern when the smoking means 300 is placed in between the user’s lips is unpleasant, e.g. rapid flashing bright light, and discourages the smoker from placing the smoking means 300 in his/her mouth, whereas the light or light pattern emitted when the smoking means is not in the smoker’s mouth is easy on the eye.

[040] Visual indications are not always sufficient, e.g. for blind smokers or color-blind smokers. Thus, a touch sensation may be combined with the apparatus 100, either alone or in combination with the indication lights. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, the apparatus 100 according to any of the embodiments above further comprises a vibrator designed to vibrate, e.g. when the smoking means is placed in between the user’s lips together with the turning on of (e.g. red) light; and/or when held by the user’s fingers, thereby passing a vibration sensation to the user’s lips and/or fingers via the smoking means 300. This provides combined sensations indications that the smoker inflicts damage to himself - a physical sensation (vibration of the device 100 delivered to the lips and/or fingers of the smoker via the smoking means 300) in addition to a visual (e.g. red) light indication - that enhance the smoker’s awareness to the harmful concept of smoking. In specific embodiments, the vibrator provides an unpleasant vibration sensation to the smoker to further discourage him/her from continuing smoking. [041] The above sensations facilitate and enable the apparatus of the invention to be an immediate-feedback apparatus, in that the provide the user with immediate sensory feedback (i.e. lights and/or vibrations) during the actual smoking process.

[042] In certain embodiments, since the purpose of the indication lights is to be seen by the smoker, they are located at the upper section 101 of the apparatus 100, to be visible and thereby seen by the smoker even when the smoking means is in the smoker’s mouth. Such upper section 101 can be constructed as an external box mounted onto an attachment means 200 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, or be an integral part of the apparatus 100 as illustrated in Figs. 3 A and 3B.

[043] The automatic activation of the indication lights and the vibrator (if present), is enabled by the presence of the contact/proximity sensor 102 that identifies when the smoking means 300 is placed inside the smoker’s mouth / between the lips. Fig. 5 illustrates an exemplary electric circuit that illustrates how such a contact/ proximity sensor 102 switches between green and red indication lights. In certain embodiments, the contact/proximity sensor 102 is located at the edge of the apparatus 100 that is close to the smoker’s mouth, to thereby enabling activation thereof when placed in the smoker’s mouth (Fig. 1 illustrates this point).

[044] In certain embodiments, since the light indicators and the vibrator, when present, are electric, the apparatus 100 of the invention may further comprise a power source, such as a battery or a rechargeable battery. In alternative embodiments, the power required for activation of the electric components of the apparatus 100 is obtained from the heat generated by the smoking means 300.

[045] The present invention further provides a method for smoking cessation using the apparatus 100 according to any of the embodiments above. The method of the invention requires the user to mount/attach the apparatus 100 of the invention onto a smoking means 300, such as a cigar, a cigarette and a pipe, before starting smoking, wherein: (a) one light indicator (e.g. green) is turned on automatically and another light indicator (e.g. red) is turned off automatically when the apparatus 100 identifies that the smoking means 300 is not in between the user’s lips; and (b) the red light indicator is turned on automatically and the green light indicator is turned off automatically when the apparatus 100 / sensor 102 identifies that the smoking means 300 is placed in between the user’s lips. [046] In specific embodiments of the above method, the apparatus 100 is activated automatically when attached-to/mounted-on the smoking means 300. In alternative specific embodiments, the method further comprises a step of actively activating the apparatus 100 by the user.

[047] The method of the invention is based on providing visual indication to the smoker that he/she performs a harmful action, i.e. smoking, in the form of a red light. The light may be constant or flashing.

[048] In certain embodiments of the method according to any of the embodiments above, the apparatus 100 further comprises a vibrator, which vibrates when the smoking means is placed in between the user’s lips together with the turning on of the (red) light. [049] Fig. 4 illustrates the cyclic mechanism of action of the apparatus 100 according to the method of the invention: once the smoker places the smoking means 300 in between the lips, i.e. begins smoking/inhaling, a red light is turned on and is optionally accompanied by a vibration at the smoker’s lips. Once the smoker takes the cigarette out of his/her mouth, or stops smoking altogether, the red light is turned off (and so is the vibration) and a green light is turned on, giving the smoker a positive indication that he/she is doing right and not smoke. This cycle continues until the smoker finishes his/her, e.g. cigarette: every time the smoker places the tip of the smoking means 300 in between the lips, the green light is immediately turned off and the red light (and vibration) is turned on, and so forth. In specific embodiments, the smoker needs to activate the apparatus 100 after attachment thereof to the smoking means. In alternative specific embodiments, the apparatus 100 is automatically turned on when attached to the smoking means or when the smoking means is first inserted into the smoker’s mouth (and is turned off automatically after a period in which no smoking is detected). In certain embodiments, and although not explicitly described in Fig. 4, it is to be understood that a a user first needs to mount/place/attach the apparatus 100 of the invention onto a smoking means 300, such as a cigarette. This can be done, e.g., by using a fixator 110 capable of retracting onto the smoking means 300 for affixing the apparatus 100 thereto. In addition, when the apparatus 100 is equipped with a cutter 105 at one of its edges, the user can also use this cutter 105 (before or after affixing the apparatus 100 to the smoking means 300) to shorten the smoking means 300 by cutting it at a desired point, thereby reducing the overall available smoking length of the smoking means 300. [050] Fig. 5 illustrates an exemplary electric circuit that can be constructed in the apparatus 100 of the invention for executing the method: as illustrated, when the smoking means is out of the smoker’s mouth, the contact/proximity sensor 102 switches the circuit to “cycle 1”, in which only the green light is turned on thereby providing a positive incentive to the smoker to continue not smoking. However, upon insertion of the smoking means into the smoker’s mouth, the contact/proximity sensor 102 switches the circuit to “cycle 2”, in which the green light is turned off, and the red light and the vibrator are all activated. “Cycle 2” is designed to provide negative feedback to the smoker (i.e. red light and vibration) to thereby provide incentive to stop smoking.