Relaxation guidance device and biofeedback guidance device

• US 6,554,763 B1
• Filed: 04/04/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Amano, Kazuhiko, Ishiyama, Hitoshi, Uebaba, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilbert, Samuel G.
• Application Number:
  US09/542,789
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/26-28, 600/547, 600/529, 600/481, 128/897, 128/898
• US Class Current: 600/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/726 using Wavelet transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0016 by the smell sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/005 images, e.g. video
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation

Abstract

In order to enable a user to easily and quickly ascertain his body'"'"'s state of relaxation, the device is provided with: a physiological information extractor 101 for extracting an indicator expressing physiological state from user Y; a storage member 102 for storing the extracted indicator; a judging member 103 for analyzing the change over time in the stored indicator, and determining whether or not the user'"'"'s condition has improved toward a state of greater relaxation based on the indicator; and a notifying member 104 for providing notice that the body has moved toward a state of greater relaxation, if the results of the aforementioned determination are affirmative.

Claims

1. A biofeedback guidance device comprising:

a pulse wave detecting means for detecting a pulse waveform of a living body, said pulse waveform having sets of adjacent pulse waves;

an analysis means for carrying out spectral analysis of changes in time intervals of each set of adjacent pulse waves obtained from said pulse waveform detected by said pulse waveform detecting means;

a calculating means for calculating an indicator, wherein said indicator is calculated as an amplitude value, or a ratio of two amplitude values, of a spectral component obtained by said analyzing means;

an indicator providing means for providing in real-time said indicator calculated by said calculating means or providing in real-time a second indicator determined from said indicator calculated by said calculating means;

an evaluating means for evaluating changes of a state of said living body on the basis of said indicator calculated by said calculating means at not less than two different points in time; and

a guidance providing means for providing guidance, for use by said living body to control said state of said living body, on the basis of a result of the evaluation carried out by said evaluating means.

2. The biofeedback guidance device of claim 1, further comprising:

a body motion detecting means for detecting a body motion of said living body; and

a body motion notifying means for providing notification of said body motion detected by said body motion detecting means.

3. A biofeedback guidance device comprising:

a pulse waveform detecting means for detecting a pulse waveform of a living body;

a calculating means for calculating an indicator, wherein said indicator is calculated as a number of times that a time difference between adjacent pulse waves obtained from said pulse waveform detected by said pulse waveform detecting means exceeds a certain value;

an indicator providing means for providing in real-time said indicator calculated by said calculating means or providing in real-time a second indicator determined from said indicator calculated by said calculating means;

an evaluating means for evaluating changes of a state of said living body on the basis of said indicator calculated by said calculating means at not less than two different points in time; and

a guidance providing means for providing guidance, for use by said living body to control said state of said living body, on the basis of a result of the evaluation carried out by said evaluating means.

4. The biofeedback guidance device of claim 3, further comprising:

a body motion detecting means for detecting a body motion of said living body; and

a body motion notifying means for providing notification of said body motion detected by said body motion detecting means.