Automatic operant conditioning system especially for scoliosis
First Claim
1. A portable apparatus for the treatment of a patient having a posture characterized by idiopathic scoliosis, said apparatus to be worn by the patient and utilizing biofeedback to improve the posture of the patient, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a first cable which is expandable and contractable and is adapted to be removably positioned around the chest of the patient to measure respiration (RES);
(b) a second cable which is expandable and contractable and is adapted to be removably positioned longitudinally around the trunk of the patient to measure the greater circumference of the trunk;
(c) first and second transducer means connected to said first and second cables respectively to measure changes in the expansion and contraction of the respective cables and convert said chances into digital electrical signals;
(d) a digital microcomputer connected to said transducer means to receive said digital signals and having digital programmed memory and additional digital memory;
(e) a feedback stimulus means controlled by the microcomputer to stimulate the patient for reinforcement by applying a stimulus to the patient;
(f) computation means to compute an actual effective spine length R during sample periods where R=T-K·
RES, T being a spine length during proper posture of the patient and K being a coefficient of coupling between T and RES; and
(g) control means to control said feedback stimulus means so that the stimulus is applied only if R<
C where C is an adjustable criteria;
(h) adjustment means to automatically adjust C based upon the prior history of R and C of the patient;
(i) compliance means to determine if the apparatus is being worn by the patient; and
(j) multiplexing means to sample data from said first and second transducer means and power saving means to control said multiplexing means so the multiplexing means samples data at a slower rate if the compliance means has determined that the apparatus is not being worn.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for the operant conditioning of subjects using biofeedback includes means to measure a variable condition, such as posture, which is controllable by the subject. The apparatus sets criteria which, if not met, may result in a negative reinforcement, such as unpleasant audio tone or, if the criteria is met, will reward the subject. The criteria is automatically adjusted, upwards or downwards, in accordance with the subject'"'"'s history of reaching, or not reaching, the criteria.
One embodiment is a device for the training of patients with idiopathic scoliosis (curvature of the spine), as a replacement for a brace. The device includes two cables, one about the chest to measure breathing and the other longitudinally about the trunk to measure spine length. The variable lengths of the cables are converted to digital signals by rotary-to-digital converters. The device includes a programmed microcomputer whose inputs are the digital converters which automatically adjusts the criteria and which controls a tone generator and its speaker to provide an audio feedback of out-of-criteria postures.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A portable apparatus for the treatment of a patient having a posture characterized by idiopathic scoliosis, said apparatus to be worn by the patient and utilizing biofeedback to improve the posture of the patient, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a first cable which is expandable and contractable and is adapted to be removably positioned around the chest of the patient to measure respiration (RES); (b) a second cable which is expandable and contractable and is adapted to be removably positioned longitudinally around the trunk of the patient to measure the greater circumference of the trunk; (c) first and second transducer means connected to said first and second cables respectively to measure changes in the expansion and contraction of the respective cables and convert said chances into digital electrical signals; (d) a digital microcomputer connected to said transducer means to receive said digital signals and having digital programmed memory and additional digital memory; (e) a feedback stimulus means controlled by the microcomputer to stimulate the patient for reinforcement by applying a stimulus to the patient; (f) computation means to compute an actual effective spine length R during sample periods where R=T-K·
RES, T being a spine length during proper posture of the patient and K being a coefficient of coupling between T and RES; and(g) control means to control said feedback stimulus means so that the stimulus is applied only if R<
C where C is an adjustable criteria;(h) adjustment means to automatically adjust C based upon the prior history of R and C of the patient; (i) compliance means to determine if the apparatus is being worn by the patient; and (j) multiplexing means to sample data from said first and second transducer means and power saving means to control said multiplexing means so the multiplexing means samples data at a slower rate if the compliance means has determined that the apparatus is not being worn. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A portable apparatus for the treatment of a patient having a posture characterized by idiopathic scoliosis, said apparatus to be worn by the patient and utilizing biofeedback to improve the posture of the patient, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a first cable which is expandable and contractable and is adapted to be removably positioned around the chest of the patient to measure respiration (RES); (b) a second cable which is expandable and contaractable and is adapted to be removably positioned longitudinally around the trunk of the patient to measure the greater circumference of the trunk; (c) first and second transducer means connected to said first and second cables respectively to measure changes in the expansion and contraction of the respective cables and convert said changes into digital electrical signals; (d) a digital microcomputer connected to said transducer means to receive said digital signals and having digital programmed memory and additional digital memory; (e) a feedback stimulus means controlled by the microcomputer to stimulate the patient for reinforcement by applying a stimulus to the patient; (f) computation means to compute an actual effective spine length R during sample periods where R=T-K·
RES, T being a spine length during proper posture of the patient and K being a coefficient of coupling between T and RES;(g) control means to control said feedback stimulus means so that the stimulus is applied only if R<
C where C is an adjustable criteria;(h) adjustment means to automatically adjust C based upon the prior history of R and C of the patient; (i) compliance means to determine if the apparatus is being worn by the patient; and (j) counter means connected to said compliance means to accumulate data representing time periods when the patient wears the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification