WEARABLE APPARATUS

• US 20160346501A1
• Filed: 01/27/2015
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empathic Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Team Turquoise Ltd.
• Inventors: Hooper, Jack Christopher, Kalamara, Fotini Georgia Markopoulou, Bennett, Nell, Bilicki, Andreas Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 10,532,181 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/123 Linear drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/04 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive hydraulic or Pneumatic massages, A61H9/00; underwater massages, A61H33/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0061 Simulated heartbeat pulsed or modulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0072 with application of electrical currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0294 Piezoelectric materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/04 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36014 External stimulators, e.g. with patch electrodes external pacemakers A61N1/3625

Abstract

A wearable apparatus capable of altering a physiological parameter such as the heart rate of a user to provide a relaxing or stimulating effect on the user is provided. The apparatus comprises a device capable of engaging the patient'"'"'s skin to provide a rhythmic tactile stimulus to the user that can alter the user'"'"'s heart rate and an arrangement for securing the device to the user such that the device can apply the stimulus to the user. The apparatus may be part of a system enabling the device to be controlled remotely. The apparatus may also be configured to provide additional tactile stimuli.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to provide a relaxing or stimulating effect on a user, the apparatus comprising:

a device configured for engaging the user'"'"'s skin and to provide a rhythmic tactile stimulus to the user;

a securing arrangement for securing the device to the user such that the device can apply the stimulus to the user;

a heart monitor for determining the user'"'"'s heart rate; and

one or more controls for adjusting the frequency, tempo duration and/or intensity of the stimulus so as to provide the rhythmic tactile stimulus at a rate that is faster or slower than the user'"'"'s heart rate to provide the relaxing or stimulating effect.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a capacitive sensor configured to enable tactile and/or gestural interaction by the user with the apparatus.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a motor-driven vibrator configured for delivering the rhythmic tactile stimulus and/or an electric contact for delivering an electrical pulse that causes a muscle contraction.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the device comprises a piezo-electric actuator, a shape changing material, a linear actuator, or a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator configured for delivering the stimulus.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to provide a stimulus in the form of a single repeated beat, in the form of a double-peaked beat, or in the form of a beat that substantially matches the form of a user'"'"'s heartbeat.

7. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the device and/or vibrator are at least partially transparent to enable a user to see movement of the vibrator within the device.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a visual output that emits light and/or an audio output that emits sound in synchrony with the stimulus.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the device comprises a transparent portion to enable the user to see the visual output.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a rigid portion to facilitate transmission of the rhythmic tactile stimulus to the user'"'"'s skin.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a data input and/or output configured to enable the device to connect wirelessly or via a wire, to an external controller or monitor in order to alter the settings, including the frequency and/or intensity, for the different stimuli.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control configured for altering the stimuli rhythm in response to the heart rate monitored and wherein the heart rate monitor is configured to monitor the user'"'"'s heart rate either in real-time or records the user'"'"'s resting or previous heart rate.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device is further configured to play the user'"'"'s heart beat back to them via tactile, audio or visual means.

18. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device is further configured to record one or more operating and/or performance parameters and determine, based on one or more of the operating and/or performance parameters, a frequency and/or intensity for the stimulus.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the playback provides the rhythmic tactile stimulus.

20. apparatus An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an external controller or monitor and a recording device for recording the user'"'"'s desired heart rate preferences as one or more profiles, the system being configured such that the user can access the one or more profiles via the device and/or the external controller or monitor to set the desired tactile stimulus.

22. An apparatus according to claim 20, further configured to learn the user'"'"'s preferences based on one or more of the user'"'"'s preferences and/or profiles, data on the user'"'"'s current location, and data on the user'"'"'s current activity.

36. An apparatus according to claim 20, further configured to provide different tempo profiles for different applications of use.

2. (canceled)

8-11. -11. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

23-35. -35. (canceled)

37. An apparatus configured to provide a relaxing or stimulating effect on a user, the apparatus comprising:

a device configured for measuring the user'"'"'s heartbeat, playing the user'"'"'s heart beat back to the user via tactile, audio or visual means, and configured for engaging the user'"'"'s skin to provide a rhythmic tactile stimulus to the user to provide the relaxing or stimulating effect; and

a securing arrangement for securing the device to the user such that the device can apply the stimulus to the user.

38. An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the device is configured to play back the heart beat as a rhythmic tactile stimulus.

39. An apparatus configured to provide a relaxing or stimulating effect on the user, the apparatus comprising:

a device configured for engaging the user'"'"'s skin to provide a rhythmic tactile stimulus to the user to provide the relaxing or stimulating effect; and

a securing arrangement for securing the device to the user such that the device can apply the stimulus to the user,

wherein the device is configured to provide the stimulus in the form of a double-peaked beat that substantially matches a form of the user'"'"'s heartbeat.