System for treating patients with anxiety disorders
First Claim
1. A virtual reality system for treating patients with a fear of flying, comprising:
- a video screen for displaying a graphical environment, the graphical environment emulating the interior of an airplane including a window and a view out of the window;
a speaker for delivering sound, the sound being logically related to the graphical environment;
an automatic anxiety sensor for sensing a level of patient anxiety;
a headset worn by the patient, the headset having sensors disposed to detect movement and positioning of the patient'"'"'s head; and
a computer for controlling the display of the graphical environment on the video screen and the sound delivered from the speaker, the computer responsive to both the position of the headset and the level of patient anxiety sensed by the automatic anxiety sensor to affect the graphical environment displayed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A virtual reality system provides effective exposure treatment for psychiatric patients suffering from a particular anxiety disorder. The system is characterized by a video screen disposed in front of the patient to display an image of a specific graphical environment that is intended to trigger anxiety within the patient as a result of the particular patient phobia. A headset is worn by the patient, and has sensors disposed to detect movement and positioning of the patient'"'"'s head. A computer program controls the operation of the system, and is designed to control the display of the graphical environment on the video screen, monitor the headset sensors and determine the position of the patient'"'"'s head, and controllably manipulate the graphical environment displayed on the video screen to reflect the movement and position of the patient'"'"'s head. In a preferred embodiment, a sensor is provided to automatically detect a level of patient anxiety, and the computer program is designed to monitor this sensor and controllably manipulate the graphical environment displayed on the video screen in response thereto. In other embodiments, sound and tactile feedback are provided to further enhance the graphic emulation.
173 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A virtual reality system for treating patients with a fear of flying, comprising:
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a video screen for displaying a graphical environment, the graphical environment emulating the interior of an airplane including a window and a view out of the window; a speaker for delivering sound, the sound being logically related to the graphical environment; an automatic anxiety sensor for sensing a level of patient anxiety; a headset worn by the patient, the headset having sensors disposed to detect movement and positioning of the patient'"'"'s head; and a computer for controlling the display of the graphical environment on the video screen and the sound delivered from the speaker, the computer responsive to both the position of the headset and the level of patient anxiety sensed by the automatic anxiety sensor to affect the graphical environment displayed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 30)
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7. A virtual reality system for treating patients with a particular phobia, comprising:
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a video screen for displaying a graphical environment, the graphical environment being one composed to trigger patient anxiety in response to the particular phobia; a headset worn by the patient, the headset having sensors disposed to detect movement and positioning of the patient'"'"'s head; an automatic anxiety sensor for measuring a level of patient anxiety; and a computer program for controlling the operation of the system including the steps of; displaying the graphical environment on the video screen; monitoring the headset sensors and determining the position of the patient'"'"'s head; controllably manipulating the graphical environment displayed on the video screen to reflect the movement and position of the patient'"'"'s head; and monitoring the level of patient anxiety measured by the automatic anxiety sensor and controllably manipulating the graphical environment displayed on the video screen in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31)
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29. A virtual reality system for treating patients with a fear of flying, comprising:
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a video screen for displaying a graphical environment, the graphical environment emulating the interior of an airplane including a window and a view out of the window; a speaker for delivering sound, the sound being logically related to the graphical environment; a headset worn by the patient, the headset having sensors disposed to detect movement and positioning of the patient'"'"'s head; an automatic anxiety sensor for measuring the anxiety level of the patient; and a computer program for controlling the operation of the system including the steps of; displaying the graphical environment on the video screen; monitoring the headset sensors and determining the position of the patient'"'"'s head; controllably manipulating the graphical environment displayed on the video screen to reflect the movement and position of the patient'"'"'s head and in response to the measured patient anxiety level; and controllably manipulating the sound generated by the speaker in a manner logically associated with the graphical environment displayed on the video screen in response thereto.
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Specification