System and method of managing a psychological state of an individual using images

• US 6,102,846 A
• Filed: 02/26/1998
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Patton, David L., Fredlund, John R., Mir, Jose M., Horwitz, Cecelia M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROLLINS, ROSILAND STACIE
• Application Number:
  US09/031,245
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 600/509, 600/544, 600/545, 600/546, 600/547, 600/548, 600/26, 600/27, 128/898
• US Class Current: 600/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/70 relating to mental therapies, e.g. psychological therapy or autogenous training
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing

Abstract

A system which includes an apparatus and method of managing a psychological and physiological state of that individual involves the use of images or stimuli, the measurement of a physiological state of the individual, and the creation of a personalized preferred response profile which is specifically tailored to the individual. With the apparatus and method of the present invention, it is possible for an individual to manage and thereby lower his or her stress by viewing, for example, images which are selected based on the created personalized preferred response profile for the individual. The personalized preferred response profile is created by having the individual view, for example, a wide variety of images and creating the profile based on those images which provide a preferred response to the individual. The system supports and enhances existing biofeedback equipment.

Claims

1. A method of managing a psychological and physiological state of an individual using images, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a personalized preferred image response profile for an individual by having the individual view a first set of images and choosing image from the first set of images which provide a preferred response for the individual, wherein said personalized preferred image response profile defines preferred characteristics which are representative of common characteristics of the chosen images;

selecting a second set of images from an image library which include characteristics that match the preferred characteristics of the personalized preferred image response profile; and

displaying the selected second set of images to the individual to manage a psychological and physiological state of the individual.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising the further step of measuring a physiological state of the individual, wherein said step of displaying the selected second set of images to the individual comprises displaying the selected second set of images in a desired sequence in accordance with the measured physiological state of the individual.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of creating the personalized preferred image response profile comprises the step of:

arranging the first set of images in pairs of images; and

showing the pairs of images to the individual to permit the individual to compare the pair of images;

wherein said chosen images from the first set of images are preferred images for each pair of images, which provide the preferred response for the individual.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the physiological state of the individual is measured by recording at least one of an EMG, EEG, galvanic skin response, skin temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, eye movement or pupil size of the individual as the individual views the images.

5. A method according to claim 1, comprising the further step of placing the selected second set of images on a desired output format.

6. A method according to claim 1, comprising the further step of storing the first and second set of images at a remote location.

7. A method of managing a psychological and physiological state of an individual using images, the method comprising the steps of:

showing a first set of images to the individual;

measuring a physiological state of the individual as the individual views the first set of images; and

recording images from said first set of images which provide a preferred response based on the measured physiological state of the individual, and creating a personalized preferred image response profile that defines preferred characteristics which are representative of common characteristics of the recorded preferred images.

8. A method according to claim 7, comprising the further steps of:

selecting a second set of images from an image library which include characteristics that match the preferred characteristics of the personalized preferred image response profile; and

displaying the selected second set of images to the individual to manage the psychological state of the individual.

9. A method according to claim 7, comprising the further steps of:

selecting a second set of images from the individual'"'"'s own personal images; and

displaying the selected second set of images to the individual to manage the psychological state of the individual.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein the physiological state of the individual is measured by recording at least one of an EMG, EEG, galvanic skin response, skin temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, eye movement or pupil size of the individual as the individual views the images.

11. A method according to claim 8, comprising the further step of placing the selected second set of images on a desired output format.

12. A method according to claim 8, comprising the further step of storing the first and second set of images at a remote location.

13. A system which manages a psychological and physiological state of an individual using images, the system comprising:

an image display device which is adapted to store a personalized preferred image response profile of an individual, and to store and display a set of images from an image library; and

a detector device which measures physiological characteristics of the individual, wherein said physiological characteristics are indicative of a stress level of the individual;

said image display device comprising a control mechanism which selects images from said set of images that include attributes that match attributes of the personalized preferred image response profile, and displays the selected images in a desired sequence in accordance with a stress level of the individual as measured by said detector device, to manage a stress level of the individual.

14. A system according to claim 13, further comprising a selector device which includes a viewing screen which displays a further set of images in pairs and selector switches which enable an individual viewing the pairs of images to select a preferred image from the pair, such that said personalized preferred image response profile is based on the selected preferred image from the pair.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein said selector device further includes a memory module for storing the selected images.

16. A method of helping an individual manage his/her psychological and physiological state, the method comprising the steps of:

showing a set of stimuli to the individual;

measuring a physiological state of the individual as the individual views the set of stimuli; and

making a recording of stimuli from said set of stimuli which provide a preferred response based on the measured physiological state of the individual, and creating a personalized preferred response profile that defines preferred characteristics which are representative of common characteristics of the recorded stimuli.

17. A method of managing a psychological and/or physiological state of an individual using images, the method comprising:

showing a first set of images to the individual;

choosing images from said first set of images which provide a preferred response for said individual, wherein said chosen images have common characteristics which define a personalized preferred image response profile for said individual; and

recording said chosen images and/or said personalized preferred image response profile for said individual.