Pressure vest for treating autism

• US 20030074711A1
• Filed: 10/17/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cure Autism Now Foundation
• Original Assignee: Cure Autism Now Foundation
• Inventors: Iversen, Portia E.
• Application Number:
  US10/273,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20030074711A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1664 linear
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/08 Trunk
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/655 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/001 without substantial movement between the skin and the device
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0078 with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26

Abstract

There is provided a pressure vest for applying pressure upon a torso of a wearer. The pressure vest comprises a torso-engaging member configured to engage the torso of the wearer. Moreover, a plurality of pressure applicators are disposed about the torso-engaging member. Further, at least one sensor for detecting moisture of the wearer is in communication with each of the pressure applicators. The sensor activates the pressure applicators in response to detected moisture for applying pressure upon the torso of the wearer.

Claims

1. A pressure vest for applying pressure upon a torso of a wearer, the pressure vest comprising:

a torso-engaging member configured to engage the torso of the wearer;

a plurality of pressure applicators disposed about the torso-engaging member; and

at least one sensor for detecting moisture of the wearer in communication with each of the pressure applicators, the sensor activating the pressure applicators in response to detected moisture for applying pressure upon the torso of the wearer.

2. The pressure vest of claim 1 wherein the torso-engaging member has an interior surface, the pressure applicators being engaged to the interior surface.

3. The pressure vest of claim 1 wherein the pressure applicators are polymers.

4. The pressure vest of claim 3 wherein the polymers are polymer gels.

5. The pressure vest of claim 1 further comprising a galvanic skin response (GSR) measuring device placed in communication between the sensor and the pressure applicators, the GSR measuring device being operative to receive and measure the detected moisture from the sensor and selectively activate the pressure applicators in response thereto.

6. The pressure vest of claim 5 wherein the GSR measuring device is disposed about the torso-engaging member.

7. The pressure vest of claim 5 wherein the sensor and the GSR measuring device electrically communicate with each other via a sensor-to-GSR wire having at least one attachment band, the at least one attachment band being configured to secure the sensor-to-GSR wire along an arm of the wearer.

8. The pressure vest of claim 5 wherein the GSR measuring device electrically communicates with each of the pressure applicators via GSR-to-applicator wires.

9. The pressure vest of claim 5 wherein the sensor is configured to detect an electrical charge of moisture associated with a hand of the wearer, the sensor generating and transmitting a sensor signal corresponding to detected electrical charge to the GSR measuring device.

10. The pressure vest of claim 9 wherein the GSR measuring device comprises a converter for converting the sensor signal into a GSR signal depending upon an intensity of the detected electrical charge.

11. The pressure vest of claim 10 wherein the sensor signal is converted into the GSR signal when the detected electrical charge reaches a threshold intensity.

12. The pressure vest of claim 10 wherein the GSR measuring device transmits the GSR signal to activate the pressure applicators.

13. The pressure vest of claim 1 wherein the pressure applicators are inflated upon activation.

14. A method of applying pressure upon a torso of a wearer, the method comprising the steps of:

a) engaging a pressure vest around the torso of the wearer;

b) placing at least one sensor of the pressure vest on a hand of the wearer;

c) detecting moisture produced at the hand with the sensor;

d) activating a plurality of pressure applicators disposed about the pressure vest in response to detected moisture; and

e) applying pressure upon the torso of the wearer with the activated pressure applicators.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein steps c) and d) comprise:

1) detecting an electrical charge of moisture with the sensor;

2) generating a sensor signal corresponding to detected electrical charge;

3) defining a galvanic skin response (GSR) measuring device of the pressure vest;

4) transmitting the sensor signal to the GSR measuring device; and

5) activating the pressure applicators with the GSR measuring device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein step 5) comprises:

i) defining a converter of the GSR measuring device;

ii) converting the sensor signal into a GSR signal when the detected electrical charge reaches a threshold intensity; and

iii) transmitting the GSR signal to the pressure applicators.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the pressure applicators in step d) are polymer gels.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein step e) comprises inflating the pressure applicators upon activation.