System and method for providing therapy by altering the motion of a person

• US 20100114188A1
• Filed: 10/31/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Wood, Lowell L. JR., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Chan, Alistair K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,340,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0072 with application of electrical currents
• 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 2230/63 Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition

Abstract

A method for providing motor control therapy for a user by altering a user'"'"'s motional response is generally described. The method includes directing a user to perform a specified motion in accordance with a schedule. The method also includes detecting the user'"'"'s motions in response to the directions, by a feedback sensor device, the motions associated with the user and providing information from an information source including information associated with a target motion. Further, the method includes generating, by a control program, control data based on the data representative of the detected motions and the information. The control program is configured to receive data representative of the detected motions and to receive the information. The control program has a control algorithm configured to generate control data based on the data representative of the detected motions and the information. Further still, the method includes running the control program by a controller configured to output control signals based on the control data. Yet further still, the method includes delivering current from the current source to a vestibular stimulation device configured to deliver a stimulation current to at least one electrical contact, in response to the control signals. The at least one electrical contact is configured to contact flesh of the user.

Claims

1. A system for providing therapy for a user by altering a user'"'"'s motional response, the system comprising:

a current source;

a reference source including information associated with desired motions of the user;

a recording device configured to maintain a record of motions of a user;

a feedback sensor device configured to detect the motions associated with the user and the feedback sensor device providing sensor information to the recording device;

a control program configured to receive data representative of the detected motions and to receive the information, the control program having a control algorithm configured to generate control data based on the data representative of the detected motions and the information;

a controller configured to run the control program and output control signals based on the control data;

a vestibular stimulation device configured to deliver a current from the current source to a vestibular system of the user in response to the output control signals;

an analysis program configured to analyze the information from the recording device related to the user'"'"'s therapeutic progress and provide changes to at least one of the reference source, the control algorithm, the controller, the current source, or a vestibular stimulation device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis program includes an objective function.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis program includes a target.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis program includes a performance score.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis program includes an output including instructions for the user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis program includes an output including instructions to repeat a previous action.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis program includes an output including instructions to modify a previous action.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis program includes functionality to make changes to the information.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis program includes functionality to make changes to one or more control algorithm parameters.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis program includes functionality to make changes to one or more controller parameters.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis program includes functionality to make changes to current magnitude.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis program includes functionality to make changes to current frequency.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis program includes functionality to make changes to current polarity.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis program includes the functionality to make changes to parameters of the vestibular simulation device.

15. A system for providing therapy for a user by altering a user'"'"'s motional response, the system comprising:

a current source;

a reference source including information associated with desired motions of the user;

a recording device configured to maintain a record of motions of a user;

a feedback sensor device configured to detect the motions associated with the user and the feedback sensor device providing sensor information to the recording device;

a control program configured to receive data representative of the detected motions and to receive the information, the control program having a control algorithm configured to generate control data based on the data representative of the detected motions and the information;

a controller configured to run the control program and output control signals based on the control data;

a vestibular stimulation device configured to deliver a current from the current source to vestibular system of the user in response to the output control signals;

a schedule configured to provide scheduling information to the user to attempt to provide therapy for a user condition.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the schedule is generated based on an objective function.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the schedule is generated based on a target.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the schedule is generated based on a performance score.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the schedule is generated based on an input from the user.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the analysis program includes an output including instructions to modify a previous action.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the schedule includes instructions to repeat a previous action.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the schedule includes changes to the reference information.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the schedule includes changes to one or more control algorithm parameters.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the schedule includes changes to one or more controller parameters.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the schedule includes changes to current magnitude.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the schedule includes changes to current frequency.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the schedule includes changes to current polarity.

28. The system of claim 15, wherein the schedule includes changes to parameters of the vestibular simulation device.

29. A method for providing motor control therapy for a user by altering a user'"'"'s motional response, the method comprising:

directing the user to perform a specified motion in accordance with a schedule;

detecting the user'"'"'s motional response to the directions, by a feedback sensor device, the specified motions associated with the user;

providing information from an information source including the information associated with a target motion;

generating, by a control program, control data based on data representative of the detected motions and the information, the control program configured to receive the data representative of the detected motions and to receive the information, the control program having a control algorithm configured to generate the control data based on the data representative of the detected motions and the information;

running the control program by a controller configured to output control signals based on the control data; and

delivering a current from the current source to a vestibular stimulation device configured to deliver a stimulation current to at least one electrical contact, in response to the output control signals, the at least one electrical contact configured to contact flesh of the user.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating the schedule based on an objective function.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating the schedule based on a target.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating the schedule is generated based on a performance score.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating the schedule based on an input from the user.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating instructions to repeat a previous action based on the schedule.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating instructions to modify a previous action.

36. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating changes to the information in accordance with the schedule.

37. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating changes to one or more control algorithm parameters in accordance with the schedule.

38. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating changes to one or more controller parameters in accordance with the schedule.

39. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating changes to a current magnitude in accordance with the schedule.

40. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating changes to a current frequency in accordance with the schedule.

41. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating changes to a current polarity.

42. The method of claim 29, wherein the schedule includes changes to parameters of the vestibular simulation device.

43. A method for providing motor control therapy for a user by altering a user'"'"'s motional response, the method comprising:

directing the user to perform a specified motion;

detecting the user'"'"'s motional response, by a feedback sensor device, the specified motions associated with the user;

providing information from an information source including the information associated with a target motion;

generating, by a control program, control data based on data representative of the detected motions and the information, the control program configured to receive data representative of the detected motions and to receive the information, the control program having a control algorithm configured to generate the control data based on the data representative of the detected motions and the information;

running the control program by a controller configured to output control signals based on the control data;

delivering a current from the current source to a vestibular stimulation device configured to deliver a stimulation current to at least one electrical contact, in response to the output control signals, the at least one electrical contact configured to contact flesh of the user; and

analyzing a therapeutic progress of the user by analysis of the information.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the analyzing includes analysis of an objective function.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the analyzing includes analysis of a target.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the analyzing includes analysis of a performance score.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein the analyzing includes analysis of an output including instructions for the user.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein the analyzing includes analysis of an output including instructions to repeat a previous action.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein the analyzing includes analysis of an output including instructions to modify a previous action.

50. The method of claim 43, wherein the analyzing includes analysis of functionality to make changes to the reference information.

51-56. -56. (canceled)