Network enabled biofeedback administration

• US 7,150,715 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2001
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Theresia Mrklas, Thomas F. Collura
• Original Assignee: Theresia Mrklas, Thomas F. Collura
• Inventors: Collura, Thomas F., Mrklas, Theresia
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FOREMAN, JONATHAN M
• Application Number:
  US09/777,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20020107454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,143 Days
• Field of Search: 600/545, 600/300.X, 600/301, 600/546, 128/904, 128/905.X, 128/920, 705/2
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/377 using evoked responses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/905 Feedback to patient of biological signal other than brain electric signal

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling a biofeedback session. The system utilizes distributed processing that includes localized processing capability allowing a user to initiate a self-controlled biofeedback session and additionally includes remote processing capabilities enabling simultaneous remote analysis and monitoring of the session.

Claims

1. A distributed biofeedback system for managing a biofeedback session, comprising;

(a) an input means for receiving physiological data from a user;

(b) an output means for communicating feedback to the user;

(c) an input node connected to the input means for receiving data from the input means;

(d) a first-level data node connected to the input node for receiving and processing data received from the input node;

(e) a remote input node connected to the first-level data node for receiving data from the first-level data node and further processing the data and preparation of the data for remote outputting;

(f) a remote feedback node having remote feedback inputs connected to the remote input node for producing a remote feedback output responsive to the remote feedback inputs;

(g) a first-level feedback node having first-level feedback inputs connected to the first-level data node and the remote feedback node for producing a first-level feedback output responsive to the first-level feedback inputs;

(j) a primary feedback node having primary feedback inputs connected to the input node and the first-level feedback node for producing a primary feedback output for controlling the output means.

2. The distributed biofeedback system for managing a biofeedback session as in claim 1, further comprising a local database for storing and retrieving data from a local node, a first-level input node, a first-level feedback node, and a primary feedback node.

3. The distributed biofeedback system for managing a biofeedback session as in claim 2, further comprising a remote database for storing and retrieving data from the remote input node and remote feedback node.

4. The distributed biofeedback system for managing a biofeedback session as in claim 3, further comprising remote output means connected to a second remote input node for communicating data to a monitor at a remote location;

and remote input means for receiving input from the monitor at the remote location.

5. The distributed biofeedback system for managing a biofeedback session as in claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a second remote input node connected to the remote input node for receiving data from the remote input node and further processing the data and preparation of the data for remote outputting;

(b) remote output means connected to the second remote input node for communicating data to a monitor at a remote location;

(c) remote input means for receiving input from the monitor at the remote location;

(d) a second remote feedback node having secondary remote feedback inputs connected to the remote input means and second remote input node for producing a second remote feedback output responsive to the secondary remote feedback inputs, the second remote feedback node being connected to one of the inputs of the remote feedback node.

6. The distributed biofeedback system for managing a biofeedback session as in claim 2, wherein the remote input node is connected to a first-level data node by the Internet and the remote feedback node is connected to the first-level feedback node by the Internet.

7. The distributed biofeedback system for managing a biofeedback session as in claim 2, wherein the second remote input node is connected to the remote node by the Internet and the output of the second remote feedback node is connected to the input of the remote feedback node by the Internet.

8. The distributed biofeedback system for managing a biofeedback session as in claim 7, further comprising:

(a) a local database for storage and retrieval of data input into the input node and the first-level data node, and data output from the primary feedback node and the first-level feedback node;

(b) a first remote database for storage and retrieval of data input into the remote input node, and data output from the remote feedback node;

(c) a second remote database for storage and retrieval of data input into the second remote input node, and data output from the second remote feedback node.

9. The distributed biofeedback system for managing a biofeedback session as in claim 2, further comprising computer readable instructions on a computer readable medium having instructions for selecting and outputting data from the local database to the remote output means;

and computer readable instructions for selecting and outputting data from the first remote database to the remote output means; and

computer readable instructions for selecting and outputting data from the second remote database to the output means.

10. The distributed biofeedback system for managing a biofeedback session as in claim 9, further comprising computer readable instructions for controlling the output of the primary feedback node from the remote input means;

computer readable instructions for controlling the output of the remote feedback node from the remote input means, and;

computer readable instructions for controlling the output of the second remote feedback node from the remote input means.