Apparatus and method for improving psychophysiological function for performance under stress

• US 9,138,558 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2014
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optivio Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Biofeedback systems design, llc
• Inventors: Kusik, Daniel, Stankovic, Dejan, Bourhis, Andrew M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Archer, Marie
• Application Number:
  US14/309,497
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4035 Evaluating the autonomic nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4076 Diagnosing or monitoring particular conditions of the nervous system A61B5/4821, A61B5/4824 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4884 inducing physiological or psychological stress, e.g. applications for stress testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/005 images, e.g. video
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0088 modulated by a simulated respiratory frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/42 : Rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 : Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 : Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/00 : ICT specially adapted for therapies or health-improving plans, e.g. for handling prescriptions, for steering therapy or for monitoring patient compliance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/70 : relating to mental therapies, e.g. psychological therapy or autogenous training
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 : for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for improving psychophysiological function for performance of a subject under stress includes, after a plurality of sensors that monitor stress-indicating physiological parameters have been coupled to the subject, exposing the subject, using computer processes, to at least one training segment during which is determined a degree to which the subject has achieved a targeted level of least one stress-indicating physiological parameter as to be indicative of coherence in the subject. Additionally, the method includes providing, to the subject, feedback indicative of the degree to which the subject has achieved the targeted level of the at least one parameter as to be indicative of coherence in the subject.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for training a subject to improve psychophysiological function for performance of a stress-inducing activity, the training carried out by a computer running a training program, the method comprising computer processes, defined by the training program, as follows:

receiving, from a sensor coupled to the subject and having an output coupled to the computer via a sensor interface, a measurement stream that quantifies a stress-indicating physiological parameter of the subject, and storing (a) a measurement of a baseline level of the stress-indicating physiological parameter provided by the sensor when the subject is not performing the stress-inducing activity and (b) a measurement of a stress condition level of the parameter provided by the sensor when the subject is performing the stress-inducing activity;

in a first training segment, while monitoring the measurement stream from the sensor, prompting the subject to carry out a relaxation-inducing protocol, until the subject achieves a state in which the subject maintains alertness with a relative minimum of stress, such state referred to herein as “

coherence”

, wherein such state is determined to have been achieved when the sensor provides a measurement of the parameter corresponding to the baseline level;

in a second training segment, while monitoring the measurement stream from the sensor, prompting the subject to carry out the relaxation-inducing protocol while also presenting feedback indicative of the value of the stress-indicating physiological parameter as measured by the sensor, until the subject achieves the state of coherence, wherein such state is determined to have been achieved when the sensor provides a measurement of the parameter corresponding to the baseline level;

in a third training segment, while monitoring the measurement stream from the sensor, presenting feedback indicative of the value of the parameter as measured by the sensor, without prompting the subject to carry out the relaxation-inducing protocol, until the subject achieves the state of coherence, wherein such state is determined to have been achieved when the sensor provides a measurement of the parameter corresponding to the baseline level;

in a fourth training segment, while monitoring the measurement stream from the sensor, prompting the subject to carry out the relaxation-inducing protocol while presenting feedback indicative of the value of the parameter as measured by the sensor and while presenting the stress-inducing activity to the subject, until the subject achieves the state of coherence, wherein such state is determined to have been achieved when the sensor provides a measurement of the parameter corresponding to the baseline level;

in a fifth training segment, while monitoring the measurement stream from the sensor, presenting indicative of the value of the parameter as measured by the sensor, while presenting the stress-inducing activity to the subject, without prompting the subject to carry out the relaxation-inducing protocol, until the subject achieves the state of coherence, wherein such state is determined to have been achieved when the sensor provides a measurement of the parameter corresponding to the baseline level; and

in a sixth training segment, while monitoring the measurement stream from the sensor, presenting the stress-inducing activity to the subject, without prompting the subject to carry out the relaxation-inducing protocol and without presenting feedback indicative of the value of the parameter as measured by the sensor, until the subject achieves the state of coherence, wherein such state is determined to have been achieved when the sensor provides a measurement of the parameter corresponding to the baseline level;

wherein ordered completion of the training segments improves the subject'"'"'s psychophysiological function by altering the level of the stress-inducing physiological parameter, when the subject is performing the stress-inducing activity, from the stress condition level to the baseline level.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising re-determining, in the course of at least one training segment, a new baseline level of the parameter as to be indicative of coherence in the subject.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing, to the subject in the course of each segment, feedback indicative of a degree to which the subject has achieved the baseline level of the parameter.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing, to the subject during the course of at least one of the training segments, feedback having a visual component, wherein the visual component is in the form of a virtual race involving virtual objects, wherein a first virtual object represents achievement by the subject in reaching the baseline level of the parameter, and other distinct virtual objects represent distinct amounts of shortfall by the subject in reaching the baseline level of the parameter.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the relaxation-inducing protocol includes at least one of passive muscle relaxation, autogenics, guided imagery, mindfulness, or controlled breathing, and wherein the relaxation-inducing protocol is structured in a manner tending to cause achievement of coherence.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the stress-inducing physiological parameter includes one of:

heart rate, respiration rate, skin conductance, skin temperature, muscle tension, and EEG alpha, beta, or delta brain waves.

7. A computer-implemented method, for training a subject to improve psychophysiological function for performance of a stress-inducing activity, the training carried out by a computer running a training program, the method comprising computer processes, defined by the training program, as follows:

receiving, from a sensor coupled to the subject and having an output coupled to the computer via a sensor interface, a measurement stream that quantifies a stress-indicating physiological parameter of the subject, and storing (a) a measurement of a baseline level of the stress-indicating physiological parameter provided by the sensor when the subject is not performing the stress-inducing activity and (b) a measurement of a stress condition level of the parameter provided by the sensor when the subject is performing the stress-inducing activity;

presenting to the subject at least one training segment in the form of computerized visual, audible, or tactile prompts or a combination of such prompts, during which the sensor measures a level of the stress-indicating physiological parameter in the subject;

determining, by the training program, a degree to which the subject has achieved a state in which the subject maintains alertness with a relative minimum of stress, such state referred to herein as “

coherence”

, wherein such degree is determined by comparing the baseline level of the stress-indicating physiological parameter to the measured level of the parameter; and

providing, to the subject by computerized visual, audible, or tactile prompts or a combination of such prompts, feedback indicative of the degree to which the subject has achieved coherence, until the sensor provides a measurement of the parameter corresponding to the baseline level;

wherein providing to the subject the feedback indicative of the degree to which the subject has achieved coherence improves the subject'"'"'s psychophysiological function by altering the level of the stress-inducing physiological parameter, when the subject is performing the stress-inducing activity, from the stress condition level to the baseline level.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein presenting the at least one training segment comprises presenting a virtual race involving virtual objects, wherein a first virtual object represents achievement by the subject in reaching the baseline level of the parameter, and other distinct virtual objects represent distinct amounts of shortfall by the subject in reaching the baseline level of the parameter.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein providing the training segment includes providing to the subject at least one of:

prompts to carry out a relaxation-inducing protocol, feedback indicative of the value of the stress-indicating physiological parameter, and prompts producing the stress-inducing activity.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the relaxation-inducing protocol includes at least one of passive muscle relaxation, autogenics, guided imagery, mindfulness, or controlled breathing, and wherein the relaxation-inducing protocol is structured in a manner tending to cause achievement of coherence.

11. A method according to claim 7, wherein the stress-inducing physiological parameter includes one of:

heart rate, respiration rate, skin conductance, skin temperature, muscle tension, and EEG alpha, beta, or delta brain waves.