Head set for lingual manipulation of an object, and method for moving a cursor on a display

• US 8,579,766 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2011
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Youhanna Al-Tawil
• Original Assignee: Youhanna Al-Tawil
• Inventors: Al-Tawil, Youhanna
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US13/092,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20110287392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 11, 482900-902, 701/1, 600587-590, 600/23, 434/185, 434/247
• US Class Current: 482/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 4/00 Methods or devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or a device not forming part of the body operating or control means for prostheses A61F2/48, A61F2/68
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/52 Controlling members specially adapted for actuation by other parts of the human body than hand or foot
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A head set is provided. The head set is beneficial for assisting an individual who is significantly impaired in the use of his or her upper extremities. The system enables this individual to manipulate an object through lingual movement. The object may be a mechanical device such as a door or a bed. Alternatively, the object may be an appliance, wherein “moving” the appliance means turning it on, off, up or down. Alternatively still, the object may be a cursor on a digital display or screen that facilitates the typing of alphanumeric characters on a virtual keyboard. The head set includes a head piece. The head piece supports an articulating arm. The articulating arm supports a mouthpiece at a distal end. The mouthpiece has a plurality of cells embedded therein. The cells are configured to receive pressure applied by the tongue of the user. Movement of the tongue over and against the cells causes the object to be moved, either directly or through a cursor on a display. A method for moving an object using a mouthpiece controlled through lingual movement is also provided. In addition, a method of typing characters on a virtual keyboard using lingual musculature is offered.

Claims

1. A head set for facilitating movement of an object through lingual manipulation, the head set comprising:

a head piece;

an articulating arm extending from the head piece and having a distal end;

an elastomeric mouthpiece comprising a bulb, the bulb being connected proximate the distal end of the articulating arm, and the bulb having a plurality of fluid-containing cells embedded therein configured to respond to pressure applied by the tongue of an individual when the mouthpiece is in a mouth of the user;

a plurality of tubes, each tube having a proximal end and a distal end, with the distal end of each of the tubes being in substantially sealed fluid communication with a corresponding cell, and the proximal end being in substantially sealed fluid communication with a respective transducer wherein each transducer converts changes in pressure within the cells to electrical signals.

2. The head set of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor for processing the electrical signals, wherein the electrical signals are modulated to generate a pressure profile from the cells, the pressure profile representing a magnitude of pressure within cells, a direction of pressure, a duration of pressure, or combinations thereof.

3. The head set of claim 2, further comprising:

said transducers being mechanically supported by the head set.

4. The head set of claim 2, wherein the transducers and the processor are not mechanically supported by the head set but are tethered to the head set through the plurality of tubes.

5. The head set of claim 2, wherein:

each cell and each tube contains (i) a compressible fluid, (ii) a non-toxic incompressible fluid, or (iii) a combination thereof.

6. The head set of claim 2, wherein:

each cell and each tube contains a compressible fluid; and

the compressible fluid comprises air, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or combinations thereof.

7. The head set of claim 2, wherein:

each cell and each tube contains a non-toxic incompressible fluid; and

the incompressible fluid comprises water.

8. The head set of claim 2, wherein the mouthpiece is fabricated from polyisoprene rubber, silicone, chloroprene rubber, neoprene, styrene butadiene rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, ethylene propylene diene methylene, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene, polyurethane, urethane-coated nylon, ethyl vinyl acetate, and combinations thereof.

9. The head set of claim 2, wherein the bulb comprises at least three outer cells disposed radially around a centerpoint.

10. The head set of claim 9, wherein the centerpoint defines a separate central cell in fluid communication with one of the plurality of tubes.

11. The head set of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of tubes has an inner diameter of about 0.05 inches to 0.5 inches.

12. The head set of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of tubes resides substantially at ambient pressure.

13. The head set of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of tubes is pre-loaded at a pressure of about 15 psi to 25 psi.

14. The head set of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of transducers is a pressure sensor having a diaphragm that is sensitive to changes in pressure within a tube.

15. The head set of claim 2, wherein the signal processor receives electrical signals from each of the plurality of transducers and processes those signals such that:

each electrical signal represents a pressure reading from a corresponding cell; and

electrical signals from one or more corresponding cells are averaged over a specified period of time to produce the pressure profile, the pressure profile having a peak indicative of location at which pressure is being generated within the one or more cells during the specified period of time.

16. The head set of claim 2, wherein the head piece comprises a pair of opposing head rests, with at least one of the head rests being adjustable relative to the head piece.

17. The head set of claim 2, wherein the articulating arm comprises:

a first arm portion extending from one of the opposing head rests, and comprising a pivot point away from the head rest; and

a second arm portion connected to the pivot point, and having the distal end away from the pivot point.

18. The head set of claim 2, wherein the head piece is configured such that the first arm portion may be selectively connected to either of the opposing head rests.

19. The head set of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of tubes comprises more than one tubular body operatively connected through a manifold to form individual, fluidically sealed channels.

20. The head set of claim 2, wherein:

the processor is in electrical communication with (i) a motor for moving an object, (ii) a switch for changing an electrical state of an appliance, or (iii) a cursor on a display; and

a magnitude of each electrical signal is recorded as part of the pressure profile over the specified period of time.

21. The head set of claim 20, wherein the electrical signal is a voltage signal.

22. The head set of claim 20, wherein:

the processor is in electrical communication with a motor for moving an object; and

the object is a bed, a wheelchair, or a door.

23. The head set of claim 20, wherein:

the processor is in electrical communication with a switch for changing an electrical state of an appliance; and

the switch controls a light fixture, a television, or a thermostat.

24. The head set of claim 23, wherein the bulb comprises at least three outer cells disposed radially around a centerpoint.

25. The head set of claim 24, wherein an application of pressure by a user on the centerpoint for a specified period of time and at a specified magnitude causes a location of the object to be reset to a beginning point on the display.

26. The intra-oral system of claim 23, wherein:

the processor is in electrical communication with a cursor on a display

an application of pressure by the user on a designated outer cell for a specified period of time and at a specified magnitude causes a location of the cursor to be moved to a corresponding location on the display.

27. A method for moving a cursor on a display using lingual manipulation, comprising:

providing a head set for a user, the head set comprising;

a head piece;

an articulating arm extending from the head piece and having a distal end;

an elastomeric mouthpiece comprising a bulb, the bulb being connected proximate the distal end of the articulating arm, and the bulb having a plurality of fluid-containing cells embedded therein for receiving pressure applied by the tongue of an individual; and

a plurality of tubes, each tube having a proximal end and a distal end, with the distal end of each of the tubes being in substantially sealed fluid communication with a corresponding cell, and the proximal end being in substantially sealed fluid communication with a respective transducer wherein each transducer converts changes in pressure within the cells to electrical signals;

providing a processor for processing the electrical signals, wherein the electrical signals are modulated to generate a pressure profile from the cells, the pressure profile representing a magnitude of pressure within the cells, a direction of pressure, a duration of pressure, or combinations thereof;

placing the plurality of tubes in fluid communication with the corresponding plurality of transducers;

placing the processor in operative electrical communication with a cursor on a display so that a user may cause the cursor on the display to move in accordance with the pressure profile using lingual manipulation.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the transducers are mechanically supported by the head set.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the transducers reside in an operational box, and are in fluid communication with the plurality of tubes by means of a manifold.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the head piece comprises a pair of opposing head rests, with at least one of the head rests being adjustable relative to the head piece.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the articulating arm comprises:

a first arm portion extending from one of the opposing head rests, and comprising a pivot point away from the head rest; and

a second arm portion connected to the pivot point, and having the distal end away from the pivot point.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the head piece is configured such that the first arm portion may be selectively connected to either of the opposing head rests.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein:

each cell and each tube contains (i) a compressible fluid, (ii) a non-toxic incompressible fluid, or (iii) a combination thereof.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the compressible fluid comprises air, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or combinations thereof.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the incompressible fluid comprises water.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the mouthpiece is fabricated from polyisoprene rubber, silicone, chloroprene rubber, neoprene, styrene butadiene rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, ethylene propylene diene methylene, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene, polyurethane, urethane-coated nylon, ethyl vinyl acetate, and combinations thereof.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein the signal processor receives electrical signals from each of the plurality of transducers and processes those signals such that:

each electrical signal represents a pressure reading from a corresponding cell; and

electrical signals from one or more corresponding cells are averaged over a specified period of time to produce the pressure profile, the pressure profile having a peak indicative of location at which pressure is being generated within the one or more cells during the specified period of time.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

providing one or more symbols on the display; and

selecting a symbol to actuate a mechanical device or an electrical appliance.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the processor is configured such that the user may click on a symbol on the display by applying pressure on a centerpoint of the mouthpiece for a specified period of time and at a specified magnitude.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the symbol on the display comprises a picture, one or more alphanumeric characters, an arrow, or a geometric figure.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein:

the processor is in electrical communication with a motor for moving an object; and

one of the one or more symbols on the display corresponds to the object.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the object is a bed, a wheelchair, or a door.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein:

the processor is in electrical communication with a switch for changing an electrical state of an appliance; and

one of the one or more symbols on the display corresponds to the appliance.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the appliance is a light fixture, a television, or a thermostat.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the processor is configured such that the user may click on a symbol on the display by applying pressure on a centerpoint of the mouthpiece for a specified period of time and at a specified magnitude.

46. The method of claim 38, wherein:

a magnitude of each electrical signal is recorded as part of the pressure profile over the specified period of time.

47. The method of claim 38, wherein each of the plurality of transducers is a pressure sensor having a diaphragm that is sensitive to changes in pressure within a tube.

48. The method of claim 38, wherein the bulb comprises at least three outer cells disposed radially around a centerpoint.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the centerpoint defines a separate cell in fluid communication with one of the plurality of tubes.

50. The method of claim 27, wherein each of the plurality of tubes has an inner diameter of about 0.05 inches to 0.5 inches.

51. The method of claim 27, wherein each of the plurality of tubes resides substantially at ambient pressure.

52. The method of claim 27, wherein each of the plurality of tubes is pre-loaded at a pressure of about 15 psi to 25 psi.

53. The method of claim 38, wherein an application of pressure by a patient on a designated outer cell for a specified period of time and at a specified magnitude causes a location of the cursor to be moved to a corresponding location or a corresponding symbol on the display.

54. The method of claim 38, wherein one or more symbols on the display comprises a keyboard such that the user may select a series of characters on the keyboard using their tongue to composing a textual message.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

providing a “

send”

symbol on the display that, when selected by the user, the textual message is sent through a wireless communications system.

56. A method of typing characters on a virtual keyboard using lingual musculature, comprising:

wearing a head set on a head, the head set comprising;

a head piece;

an articulating arm extending from the head piece and having a distal end;

an elastomeric mouthpiece comprising a bulb, the bulb being connected proximate the distal end of the articulating arm, and the bulb having a plurality of fluid-containing cells embedded therein for receiving pressure applied by the tongue of an individual; and

a plurality of tubes, each tube having a proximal end and a distal end, with the proximal end of each of the tubes being in substantially sealed fluid communication with a corresponding plurality of transducers for converting changes in pressure within the cells to electrical signals, and with the distal end of each of the tubes being in substantially sealed fluid communication with a corresponding cell; and

placing the mouthpiece in one'"'"'s mouth;

moving one'"'"'s tongue across a bottom surface of the mouthpiece;

applying pressure to cells of the mouthpiece in order to move a cursor on a display, the display having a digital keyboard and the cursor moving across the digital keyboard in accordance with a pressure profile, the pressure profile representing a magnitude of pressure within the cells, a direction of pressure, a duration of pressure, or combinations thereof;

using the cursor to select characters on the digital keyboard; and

clicking on selected characters on the digital keyboard using lingual musculature on the mouthpiece in order to compose a textual message.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein:

applying pressure to the cells causes changes in air pressure within the plurality of tubes, such changes being sensed by each of the plurality of transducers and converted to an electrical signal;

the transducers are in operative electrical communication with a processor which processes the electrical signals in order to generate the pressure profile; and

the processor is in operative electrical communication with the display for causing the cursor to move across the digital keyboard.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein each of the plurality of transducers is a pressure sensor having a diaphragm that is sensitive to changes in pressure within a tube.

59. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

sending the textual message through a wireless communications system.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein the signal processor receives electrical signals from each of the plurality of transducers and processes those signals such that:

each electrical signal represents a pressure reading from a corresponding cell; and

electrical signals from one or more corresponding cells are averaged over a specified period of time to produce the pressure profile, the pressure profile having a peak indicative of location at which pressure is being generated within the one or more cells during the specified period of time.