Brush-writing instruments for health and therapy

• US 6,375,622 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Versitech Limited (Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region)
• Original Assignee: University of Hong Kong (Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region)
• Inventors: Goan, Ching Hui, Kao, Shang Ren Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US09/616,801
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600/485, 600/493-6, 600/500-503, 600/504, 600/529, 600/549, 600/561, 600/587, 600/595
• US Class Current: 600/485
• 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 5/375 using biofeedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4854 Diagnosis based on concepts of traditional oriental medicine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to a writing brush or instrument that can be used to enhance general health and render therapeutic effects in treating behaviourial, psychological, mental and psychosomatic disorders. The writing instrument has one or more biological detectors embedded in or attached to the shaft of the writing brush or instrument. The biological detectors record the biological activities of the user that are associated with the user'"'"'s sensory, perceptual, emotional, cognitive and physiological conditions during writing or drawing. Sensory signals from the detectors can provide ongoing information of the user'"'"'s graphonomic act and thus enable the user to control and regulate his or her bodily conditions throughout the writing process by influencing the changes in the sensory signals. The present invention is capable of improving the user'"'"'s general health as well as providing therapeutic treatment for users with physical or mental disorders.

Claims

1. A writing instrument for providing biofeedback training to a user during the user'"'"'s writing act, comprising:

a writing shaft having a soft tip;

a sensing device for sensing and recording a sensory signal of the user, the sensory signal being selected from the group consisting of heart rate, EEG, EMG, GSR, respiration, blood pressure, skin conductance, skin temperature, digital pulse volume, and pulse rate; and

a display device for showing conditions and changes of the user'"'"'s physiological states reflected by the sensory signal detected during the writing act to provide a feedback to the user for self-regulating physiological behavior;

wherein the sensing device and the display device are externally linked to electronic monitoring and display systems.

2. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the writing instrument is a Chinese writing brush.

3. The writing instrument of claim 1 further comprising a power unit embedded in the writing shaft,

wherein the sensing device is a bio-sensing device, and

wherein the display device is a biofeedback display device.

4. The writing instrument of claim 3, wherein the power unit comprises micro batteries.

5. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the sensing device and the display device are embedded in the writing shaft.

6. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the sensing device and the display device are externally linked to polygraph recording equipment or computer system with a monitor.

7. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the sensing device comprises a pressure transducer embedded in the writing shaft to monitor the force exerted thereon by the user during the writing activity.

8. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the display device generates a signal selected from the group consisting of visual, auditory, tactile, and thermal signals.

9. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the display device is a visual display device, which generates color-coded lights in plural discrete light modes.

10. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the display device is an auditory display device, which generates a continuous tone with plural pitch levels or discrete tones of varying sound levels.

11. The writing instrument of claim 1 further comprising a retractable mechanism capable of retracting the writing tip into the writing shaft.

12. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the writing act is conducted in 1D, 2D or 3D space.

13. A writing instrument for providing biofeedback training to a user during the user'"'"'s writing act, comprising:

a writing shaft having a soft tip;

a sensing device for sensing and recording a sensory signal of the user, the sensory signal being selected from the group consisting of heart rate, EEG, EMG, GSR, respiration, blood pressure, skin conductance, skin temperature, digital pulse volume, and pulse rate; and

a display device for showing conditions and changes of the user'"'"'s physiological states reflected by the sensory signal detected during the writing act to provide a feedback to the user for self-regulating physiological behavior;

wherein the sensing device senses and records a plurality of sensory signals of the user.

14. A writing instrument for providing biofeedback training to a user during the user'"'"'s writing activity, comprising:

a writing shaft;

a sensing device for sensing and recording the user'"'"'s sensory signal;

a display device for showing conditions and changes of the user'"'"'s physiological states during the writing activity; and

a power unit embedded in the writing shaft;

wherein the sensing device and the display device are integrated as a sealed bubble gauge.

15. The writing instrument of claim 14, wherein the sensory signal is selected from the group consisting of HR, EEG, EMG, GSR, BP, skin conductance, skin temperature, respiration, digital pulse volume, and pulse rate.

16. The writing instrument of claim 14, wherein at least one of the sensing device, the display device, and the power source is externally linked to the writing shaft of the writing instrument.

17. A writing instrument for providing biofeedback training to a user during the user'"'"'s writing activity, comprising:

a writing shaft having a writing tip;

a sensing device for sensing and recording the user'"'"'s sensory signal;

a display device for showing conditions and changes of the user'"'"'s physiological states during the writing activity; and

a power unit embedded in the writing shaft;

wherein the display device shows the kinesthetic information of the writing tip movement.