Volition induction apparatus and input/output apparatus which use optical measuring instrument, and recording medium

• US 6,723,047 B1
• Filed: 12/07/2001
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Ito, Yoshitoshi, Yamashita, Yuichi, Yamamoto, Tsuyoshi, Maki, Atsushi, Koizumi, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCrosky, David J.
• Application Number:
  US10/009,187
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600/322, 600/323, 600/544, 600/545, 128/905, 128/920, 128/923, 463/36, 482/4-9, 482/901, 482/902, 434/29, 340/573.1, 340/825.19
• US Class Current: 600/309
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/26 the game being influenced by physiological parameters A63F2250/1031 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/905 Feedback to patient of biological signal other than brain electric signal

Abstract

It has long been unclear in what degree the brain should be activated and how much the blood volume should be varied for controlling a signal by measuring the concentration of metabolic substance in the tissue or change of concentration thereof using the light and by using the result of measurement. The present invention provides an optical measuring system which can present the concentration of metabolic substance in the tissue which may be detected with a subject by itself or the target value of change of the concentration. Thereby, it is now possible for the subject by itself to more easily detect and control the concentration of metabolic substance in the tissue or change of concentration thereof. As a result, cerebral information can be extracted in direct to realize various applications such as control of the game machines and welfare facilities.

Claims

1. A volition induction apparatus, using an optical measuring instrument, comprising:

a light source for irradiating a subject of a living body with light;

a light detector for detecting light signals from a predetermined area of the subject irradiated by said light source;

a memory for storing the signals detected by said light detector; and

an input/output display for setting and displaying the present level of the signals obtained from said memory and a predetermined level as a target,

wherein by feeding back the signals of said input/output display to the subject, the present level of the signals of said input/output display is updated based on the signals from said memory to induce volition of the subject until the target level can be attained.

2. A volition induction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input/output display displays the target level and the present level on the same display screen.