Devices, systems and methods to control caloric intake

US8299930B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Geert W. Schmid-Schonbein · Del Mar, US
• Angelina Altshuler · Danville, US
• Casey Gorish · San Diego, US
• Kunal Sukhija · Rancho Palos Verdes, US
• Amanda Williams · St. Petersburg, US
• Michael Wu · Cambridge, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 4, 2009
• Grant date: Oct 30, 2012
• Expiry date: Mar 15, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G16H20/60
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed which relate to training a user in controlling and limiting total calorie consumption, and consequently body weight, by encouraging the user to perform specified consuming actions such as chewing slowly, adjusting a time interval between bites, detecting the early points of satiation, etc. The disclosure is therefore a “calorie pacer” that naturally reduces calorie consumption by re-teaching a user how to eat on a step-by-step basis. The slower eating pace results in a person feeling full before the intake of excessive food portions. The result is fewer calories consumed. Sensors and microcontrollers throughout a place setting are utilized to prompt the user, for example, when to take bites, how big of a bite to take, when to take a drink, etc and record the data in an efficient manner that allows for analysis, monitoring of progress, and personalized feedback.