System and method of measuring and correlating human physiological characteristics such as brainwave frequency

• US 3,875,930 A
• Filed: 02/22/1973
• Issued: 04/08/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John M. Narrace, Jose R. Silva
• Original Assignee: John M. Narrace, Jose R. Silva
• Inventors: Narrace, John M., Silva, Jose R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/334,743
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.5R,2.5T,2.6A,2.6F,2.6R,2.1A,2.1B,2.1M,2.1R,2.1X
• US Class Current: 600/545
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/374 Detecting the frequency distribution of signals, e.g. detecting delta, theta, alpha, beta or gamma waves

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for providing an audible indication of a person'"'"''"'"'s brain wave frequency for comparison with a fixed audible signal having a preselected frequency characteristic. Means may also be included for rendering both signals inaudible to the subject person whenever the frequency characteristic of the brain wave signal approaches coincidence with the preselected frequency characteristic of the fixed signal.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring variable human physiological characteristics and the like, comprising detection means for deriving an electrical representation of a selected physiological characteristic, calibrating means for deriving an electrical calibrating signal having a preselected identity characteristic and a first preselected information characteristic, a signal generator means responsive to said detection means for providing an electrical monitoring signal having a second preselected identity characteristic different from said first identity characteristic and an information characteristic functionally related to said selected physiological characteristic, and audio means for providing an audible comparison of said identity and information characteristics of said monitoring and calibrating signals.

2. The system described in claim 1, wherein said audio means includes indicating means responsive to said calibrating means and said signal generator means for simultaneously providing an audible representation of the identity and information characteristics of both said calibrating and monitoring signals.

3. The system described in claim 1, wherein said audio means further includes comparison means for suppressing said audible representations provided by said indicating means when said information characteristic of said monitoring signal substantially corresponds to said preselected information characteristic of said calibrating signal.

4. A system for monitoring the frequency characteristic of human brain waves or the like, comprising detection means for deriving an electrical measurement signal functionally representative of said brain waves, a first signal generator means responsive to said detection means for providing a first audio signal having a first preselected tone characteristic and a second frequency characteristic functionally related to the frequency characteristic of said measurement signal, a calibration signal generator means for producing an electrical signal functionally representative of a predetermined brain wave frequency, a second signal generator means responsive to said calibration signal generator means for providing a second audio signal having a second preselected different tone characteristic and a second frequency characteristic functionally related to the frequency characteristic of said calibration signal, and audio means responsive to said first and second signal generator means for producing an audible representation of said first and second audio signals.

5. The system described in claim 4, wherein said first and second signal generator means include a first triggered oscillator means for generating a first constant audio frequency signal of a first preselected tone characteristic in discrete bursts having a rate of occurrence which is functionally related to the frequency characteristic of said measurement signal, and a second triggered oscillator means for generating a second constant audio frequendy signal of a second different preselected tone characteristic in discrete bursts having a rate of occurrence which is functionally related to the frequency characteristic of said calibration signal.

6. The system described in claim 5, wherein said audio means is interconnected with said first and second triggered oscillator means for simultaneously providing audible representations of said first and second constant audio frequency signals.

7. The system described in claim 6, further comprising comparison means for suppressing said audio frequency signals upon substantial conformance of the frequency of said measurement signal with the frequency of said calibration signal.

8. The system described in claim 7, wherein said comparison means comprises frequency comparator means for comparing the rate of occurrence of said discrete bursts of said first audio frequency signal with tthe rate of occurrence of said discrete bursts of said second audio frequency signal, and gating means for suppressing said first and second audio frequency signals upon substantial conformance of the frequency of said measurement signal with the frequency of said calibration signal.

9. The system described in claim 8, wherein said frequency comparator means includes means for providing a comparison output signal functionally related to the magnitude of any difference between said rates of occurrence.

10. The system described in claim 9, wherein said comparator means further includes a first wave form means for deriving from said detector means a first digital signal composed of electrical pulses occurring at a frequency functionally related to the frequency of said measurement signal, a second wave form means for deriving from said calibration signal a second digital signal composed of electrical pulses occurring at a frequency functionally related to the frequency of said calibration signal, a difference comparator means for generating a difference signal composed of pulses representative in polarity and frequency of any frequency differential between said first and second digital signals, converter means responsive to said difference comparator means for generating a control signal during substantial conformity between the frequencies of said measurement and calibration signals, and muting means responsive to said control signal for suppressing said triggered oscillators.

11. The system described in claim 10, further including utilization means responsive to said control signal for providing an output of preselected information.

12. The system described in claim 6, further comprising sensing means for providing another different electrical measurement signal functionally representative of skin resistivity or the like, and switch means interconnected with said first triggered oscillator means and said detection means for substituting said another measurement signal for said measurement signal derived by said detection means.

13. A method of monitoring the frequency characteristic of human brain waves and the like, comprising deriving an electrical measurement of said brain waves, deriving from said measurement a first tone signal having a first preselected pitch and another signal characteristic functionally representative of the frequency of said brain waves, deriving a second tone signal having a second different preselected pitch and another signal characteristic functionally representative of a preselected brain wave frequency, comparing said first tone signal with said second tone signal to determine any difference between said signal characteristics, and deriving an observable indication of said difference therebetween.

14. The method described in claim 13, including the step of providing an audible representation of any difference between the signal characteristics of said first and second tone signals.

15. The method described in claim 14, including the steps of presenting said first tone signal in the form of discrete bursts at an audible rate of occurrence functionally related to the rate of occurrence of said brain waves, and presenting said second tone signal in the form of discrete bursts at an audible rate of occurrence functionally related to said preselected brain wave frequency.

16. The method described in claim 15, further including the step of terminating said tone signals upon substantial conformance of the rates of occurrence of said bursts.

17. The method described in claim 15, further including the steps of deriving a different electrical measurement of another different physiological characteristic, substituting said different electrical measurement for said electrical measurement of the frequency of said brain waves, and presenting an audible representation of said different measurement in the form of discrete bursts of said first tone signal at a rate of occurrence functionally related to the magnitude of said physiological characteristics.