Using image modification and temperature biofeedback to diagnose and treat ADHD

• US 6,652,470 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mclean Hospital (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Patton, David L., Parks, Peter A., Blazey, Richard N.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARMOR II, CHARLES ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/747,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20030070685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 600/26-28, 600/300, 600/549, 600/558, 600/559, 128/897, 128/898, 128/905, 128/920, 434/236, 434/262
• US Class Current: 600/549
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/168 Evaluating attention deficit, hyperactivity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/726 using Wavelet transforms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof

Abstract

A method of reducing the symptoms of an individual having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) comprising: displaying an image, having a level of obscuration, to an individual with the symptoms of ADHD; sampling the peripheral skin temperature of the individual to provide sampled peripheral skin temperature data and reducing the level of obscuration of the image as a function of the sampled peripheral skin temperature data in order to minimize the symptoms of ADHD.

Claims

1. A method of reducing the symptoms of an individual having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) comprising:

displaying an image, having a level of obscuration, to an individual with the symptoms of ADHD;

sampling the peripheral skin temperature of said individual to provide sampled peripheral skin temperature data; and

reducing the level of obscuration of said image as a function of said sampled peripheral skin temperature data in order to minimize said symptoms.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said symptoms of said individual are manifested by a peripheral skin temperature that is less than a desired value and wherein said level of obscuration of said image is reduced as the difference between peripheral skin temperature of said individual and said desired value is reduced.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the skin temperature of at least one extremity of said individual is sampled.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the skin temperature of at least one finger of said individual is sampled.

5. The method of claim 1 including providing obscured audio related to the displayed image to said individual;

and

wherein obscured audio is reduced as a function of said sampled peripheral skin temperature.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said audio is provided to said individual by earphones worn by said individual.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein there is a linear relationship between said sampled skin temperature and level of obscuration of said image.

8. A system for reducing the symptoms of an individual having ADHD comprising:

a display;

an image source for images displayed on said display;

a device for sampling the peripheral skin temperature of an individual viewing said display to produce sampled peripheral skin temperature data; and

an image obscuration circuit for obscuring an image from said image source displayed on said display, wherein said obscuration of said displayed image is functionally related to said sampled peripheral skin temperature.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said display is an electronic display and said image source is a source of electronic images.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said device includes a sensor for sensing the skin temperature of at least one extremity of a said individual.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein said device includes a sensor for sensing the skin temperature of at least one finger of said individual.

12. The method of claim 8 including earphones adapted to be worn by said individual and further including an audio circuit for providing obscured audio related to said displayed image to said earphones, wherein said obscured audio is functionally related to said sampled peripheral skin temperature.

13. A method of determining whether an individual has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) comprising:

displaying an image, having a level of obscuration, to an individual for a predetermined time interval when said individual is in an inactive state;

sampling the peripheral skin temperature of said individual to provide sampled peripheral skin temperature data; and

analyzing the sampled peripheral skin temperature data for a pre-selected parameter, to determine whether said has a value indicative of ADHD.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the skin temperature of at least one extremity of said individual is sampled.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the skin temperature of at least one finger of said individual is sampled.

16. The method of claim 13 including providing obscured audio related to the displayed image to said individual.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said audio is provided to said individual by earphones worn by said individual.