System for enhancement of neurophysiological processes

• US 7,211,050 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2000
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cellfield Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Dimitri Caplygin
• Inventors: Caplygin, Dimitri
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FOREMAN, JONATHAN M
• Application Number:
  US10/018,733
• Time in Patent Office: 2,511 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600/558, 600/26, 600/27, 600/544, 600/546, 600/545, 351/222, 351/237, 351/238, 351/239
• US Class Current: 600/558
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/032 Devices for presenting test symbols or characters, e.g. test chart projectors A61B3/036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/168 Evaluating attention deficit, hyperactivity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/378 Visual stimuli

Abstract

Treatment apparatus and method for the enhancement of neurophysiological processes of a patient'"'"'s visual system utilizes a computer generated display that provides a patient simultaneously with passive visual stimulation images and visual cognitive exercises. The stimulation images include moving elements having edges or points of contrast. The exercises include visual and phonological elements. The invention is used to treat reading, writing and speech disorders, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as having broader applications for example in sports sciences.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the enhancement of neurophysiological processes of a patient by the stimulation of receptive cell fields in the visual pathways of the patient between the retina and the visual cortex, the apparatus including first visual display means for viewing by said patient and computer processing means producing an output to said first visual display means to cause a display on said visual display means, said display including at least one visual cognitive exertion exercise and at least one visual stimulation image including one or more therapeutic display elements targeted to stimulate selected ones of said receptive cell fields, said therapeutic display elements including one or more moving contrast edges, wherein said therapeutic display elements are displayed on said visual display means so as to provide therapeutic stimulation to said receptive cell fields of a patient whilst said patient is performing said cognitive exertion exercise;

further including second visual display means to be viewed by a therapist and therapist input means allowing said therapist to provide inputs to said processing means to vary said display;

further including feedback means providing an indication of said patient'"'"'s performance to said computer processing means, and means for indicating said performance on said second visual display means; and

further including means for varying the display on said first visual display means to optimise said patient'"'"'s brain response.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the variations to the display on said first visual display means are made by said computer processing means without input from said therapist.

3. Apparatus for the enhancement of neurophysiological processes of a patient by the stimulation of receptive cell fields in the visual pathways of the patient between the retina and the visual cortex, the apparatus including first visual display means for viewing by said patient and computer processing means producing an output to said first visual display means to cause a display on said visual display means, said display including at least one visual cognitive exertion exercise and at least one visual stimulation image including one or more therapeutic display elements targeted to stimulate selected ones of said receptive cell fields, said therapeutic display elements including one or more moving contrast edges, wherein said therapeutic display elements are displayed on said visual display means so as to provide therapeutic stimulation to said receptive cell fields of a patient whilst said patient is performing said cognitive exertion exercise;

and

further including means for controlling said patient'"'"'s position relative to said first visual display means,

wherein said means for controlling said patient'"'"'s position includes an electronically controllable seat capable of moving up, down and laterally, an electronically controllable backrest and an electronically controllable headrest.

4. Apparatus for the enhancement of neurophysiological processes of a patient by the stimulation of receptive cell fields in the visual pathways of the patient between the retina and the visual cortex, the apparatus including first visual display means for viewing by said patient and computer processing means producing an output to said first visual display means to cause a display on said visual display means, said display including at least one visual cognitive exertion exercise and at least one visual stimulation image including one or more therapeutic display elements targeted to stimulate selected ones of said receptive cell fields, said therapeutic display elements including one or more moving contrast edges, wherein said therapeutic display elements are displayed on said visual display means so as to provide therapeutic stimulation to said receptive cell fields of a patient whilst said patient is performing said cognitive exertion exercise, wherein said visual stimulation image includes a plurality of dots and annuli.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said visual stimulation image includes a dot surrounded by a contrasting annulus.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or 5 wherein said visual stimulation image provides stimulation to concentrically organised receptive cell fields of a patient.

7. Apparatus for the enhancement of neurophysiological processes of a patient by the stimulation of receptive cell fields in the visual pathways of the patient between the retina and the visual cortex, the apparatus including first visual display means for viewing by said patient and computer processing means producing an output to said first visual display means to cause a display on said visual display means, said display including at least one visual cognitive exertion exercise and at least one visual stimulation image including one or more therapeutic display elements targeted to stimulate selected ones of said receptive cell fields, said therapeutic display elements including one or more moving contrast edges, wherein said therapeutic display elements are displayed on said visual display means so as to provide therapeutic stimulation to said receptive cell fields of a patient whilst said patient is performing said cognitive exertion exercise, wherein said therapeutic display elements include a first plane of parallel stripes rotating relative to a second plane of parallel stripes.

8. Apparatus for the enhancement of neurophysiological processes of a patient by the stimulation of receptive cell fields in the visual pathways of the patient between the retina and the visual cortex, the apparatus including first visual display means for viewing by said patient and computer processing means producing an output to said first visual display means to cause a display on said visual display means, said display including at least one visual cognitive exertion exercise and at least one visual stimulation image including one or more therapeutic display elements targeted to stimulate selected ones of said receptive cell fields, said therapeutic display elements including one or more moving contrast edges, wherein said therapeutic display elements are displayed on said visual display means so as to provide therapeutic stimulation to said receptive cell fields of a patient whilst said patient is performing said cognitive exertion exercise, wherein said therapeutic display elements include a brick pattern.

9. Apparatus for the enhancement of neurophysiological processes of a patient by the stimulation of receptive cell fields in the visual pathways of the patient between the retina and the visual cortex, the apparatus including first visual display means for viewing by said patient and computer processing means producing an output to said first visual display means to cause a display on said visual display means, said display including at least one visual cognitive exertion exercise and at least one visual stimulation image including one or more therapeutic display elements targeted to stimulate selected ones of said receptive cell fields, said therapeutic display elements including one or more moving contrast edges, wherein said therapeutic display elements are displayed on said visual display means so as to provide therapeutic stimulation to said receptive cell fields of a patient whilst said patient is performing said cognitive exertion exercise, wherein at least one of said therapeutic display elements moves to at least partially obscure a displayed cognitive exertion exercise.

10. Apparatus for the enhancement of neurophysiological processes of a patient by the stimulation of receptive cell fields in the visual pathways of the patient between the retina and the visual cortex, the apparatus including first visual display means for viewing by said patient and computer processing means producing an output to said visual display means to cause a display on said visual display means, said display including at least one visual cognitive exertion exercise and at least one visual stimulation image including one or more therapeutic display elements targeted to stimulate selected ones of said receptive cell fields, said therapeutic display elements including one or more contrast edges moving in a substantially linear path, wherein said therapeutic display elements are displayed on said visual display means so as to provide therapeutic stimulation to said receptive cell fields of a patient whilst said patient is performing said cognitive exertion exercise,

wherein said therapeutic display elements include a dot surrounded by a contrasting annulus.

12. Apparatus according to claims 10 or 11 wherein the locus of movement of said visual display elements is periodically adjusted.

11. Apparatus for the enhancement of neurophysiological processes of a patient by the stimulation of receptive cell fields in the visual pathways of the patient between the retina and the visual cortex, the apparatus including first visual display means for viewing by said patient and computer processing means producing an output to said visual display means to cause a display on said visual display means, said display including at least one visual cognitive exertion exercise and at least one visual stimulation image including one or more therapeutic display elements targeted to stimulate selected ones of said receptive cell fields, said therapeutic display elements including one or more contrast edges moving in a substantially linear path, wherein said therapeutic display elements are displayed on said visual display means so as to provide therapeutic stimulation to said receptive cell fields of a patient whilst said patient is performing said cognitive exertion exercise, wherein said therapeutic display elements are a pattern of bricks.

13. Apparatus for the enhancement of neurophysiological processes of a patient by the stimulation of receptive cell fields in the visual pathways of the patient between the retina and the visual cortex, the apparatus including first visual display means for viewing by said patient and computer processing means producing an output to said visual display means to cause a display on said visual display means, said display including at least one visual cognitive exertion exercise and at least one visual stimulation image including one or more therapeutic display elements targeted to stimulate selected ones of said receptive cell fields, said therapeutic display elements including one or more moving contrast edges, wherein said therapeutic display elements are displayed on said visual display means so as to provide therapeutic stimulation to said receptive cell fields of a patient whilst said patient is performing said cognitive exertion exercise, said apparatus further including means for generating an auditory cognitive exertion exercise including one or more auditory signals related to at least one of said visual cognitive exertion exercises,

wherein said auditory cognitive exertion exercise is related to a visual cognitive exertion exercise displayed on said first visual display means and requires said patient to focus on said related visual cognitive exercise,

wherein said auditory signals are computer generated speech signals, and

wherein said speech signals are acoustically modified by said computer processing means such that the temporal portion of said speech is adjusted but the spectral portion of said speech remains substantially constant.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said auditory signals are modified in response to input from a therapist.

15. A method of enhancing neurophysiological processes of a patient by the stimulation of receptive cell fields in the visual pathways of the patient between the retina and the visual cortex, the method including the steps of generating an output from computer processing means to cause a display on visual display means for viewing by said patient, said display including at least one visual cognitive exertion exercise and at least one visual stimulation image including one or more therapeutic display elements targeted to stimulate selected ones of said receptive cell fields, said therapeutic display elements including one or more moving contrast edges, wherein said visual stimulation image provides therapeutic stimulation to selected ones of said receptive cell fields whilst said patient is performing said visual cognitive exertion exercise,

the method further including the step of receiving at said computer processing means feedback representing said patient'"'"'s brain activity.

16. A method according to claim 15 further including the step of varying said display to optimize said patient'"'"'s brain activity.

17. A method of enhancing neurophysiological processes of a patient by the stimulation of receptive cell fields in the visual pathways of the patient between the retina and the visual cortex, the method including the steps of generating an output from computer processing means to cause a display on visual display means for viewing by said patient, said display including at least one visual cognitive exertion exercise and at least one visual stimulation image including one or more therapeutic display elements targeted to stimulate selected ones of said receptive cell fields, said therapeutic display elements including one or more moving contrast edges, wherein said visual stimulation image provides therapeutic stimulation to selected ones of said receptive cell fields whilst said patient is performing said visual cognitive exertion exercise, wherein said visual stimulation image includes a plurality of dots and annuli.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein said visual stimulation image includes a dot surrounded by a contrasting annulus.

19. A method according to claim 17 or 18 wherein said visual stimulation image provides stimulation to concentrically organized receptive cell fields of a patient.

20. A method of enhancing neurophysiological processes of a patient by the stimulation of receptive cell fields in the visual pathways of the patient between the retina and the visual cortex, the method including the steps of generating an output from computer processing means to cause a display on visual display means for viewing by said patient, said display including at least one visual cognitive exertion exercise and at least one visual stimulation image including one or more therapeutic display elements targeted to stimulate selected ones of said receptive cell fields, said therapeutic display elements including one or more moving contrast edges, wherein said visual stimulation image provides therapeutic stimulation to selected ones of said receptive cell fields whilst said patient is performing said visual cognitive exertion exercise, wherein said therapeutic display elements include a first plane of parallel stripes rotating relative to a second plane of parallel stripes.

21. A method of enhancing neurophysiological processes of a patient by the stimulation of receptive cell fields in the visual pathways of the patient between the retina and the visual cortex, the method including the steps of generating an output from computer processing means to cause a display on visual display means for viewing by said patient, said display including at least one visual cognitive exertion exercise and at least one visual stimulation image including one or more therapeutic display elements targeted to stimulate selected ones of said receptive cell fields, said therapeutic display elements including one or more moving contrast edges, wherein said visual stimulation image provides therapeutic stimulation to selected ones of said receptive cell fields whilst said patient is performing said visual cognitive exertion exercise, wherein said therapeutic display elements include a brick pattern.

22. A method of enhancing neurophysiological processes of a patient by the stimulation of receptive cell fields in the visual pathways of the patient between the retina and the visual cortex, the method including the steps of generating an output from computer processing means to cause a display on visual display means for viewing by said patient, said display including at least one visual cognitive exertion exercise and at least one visual stimulation image including one or more therapeutic display elements targeted to stimulate selected ones of said receptive cell fields, said therapeutic display elements including one or more moving contrast edges, wherein said visual stimulation image provides therapeutic stimulation to selected ones of said receptive cell fields whilst said patient is performing said visual cognitive exertion exercise, wherein at least one of said therapeutic display elements moves to at least partially obscure a displayed cognitive exertion exercise.