Detection method of life activity, measuring device of life activity, transmission method of life activity detection signal, or service based on life activity information

• US 9,456,776 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2014
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hideo Ando
• Original Assignee: Hideo Ando
• Inventors: Ando, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US14/270,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20140336479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0042 for the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0068 Confocal scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0082 adapted for particular medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4041 Evaluating nerves condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4064 Evaluating the brain A61B5/031, A61B5/369, A61B5/14553 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7228 Signal modulation applied to the input signal sent to patient or subject; demodulation to recover the physiological signal modulation H03C
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/4806 Functional imaging of brain activation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

According to a measuring method or a control method of life activity, a life object is illuminated with an electromagnetic wave including a wavelength in a designated waveband, and a characteristic in a local area of the life object is detected, or a life activity thereof is controlled. The “designated waveband” is defined based on phenomena used for detecting or controlling an activity state of the life object or a change of the state. This “local area” is an area constituted by one or more cells.

Claims

1. A non-invasive method applied to a life object, comprising:

detecting a position of a controlled area in the life object, the position of the controlled area being detected with a first electromagnetic wave having a first prescribed wavelength; and

controlling a life activity by illuminating the controlled area with a second electromagnetic wave having a second prescribed wavelength, wherein

the first prescribed wavelength is included in a range from 0.840 μ

m to 2.50 μ

m, and the first electromagnetic wave passes through at least a part of the life object so that the position in a depth direction of the life object is detected,

the second electromagnetic wave is condensed to one cell in the controlled area, the life activity of the one cell corresponding to cellular activity is controlled, and

the second prescribed wavelength is included in a range from 0.945 μ

m to 1.86 μ

m and the second prescribed wavelength relates to the cellular activity, and the cell absorbs the second electromagnetic wave at the second prescribed wavelength so that the cellular activity of the cell is controlled.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one cell corresponds to a neuron and the cellular activity relates to neural activity.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second electromagnetic wave is condensed to plural separated locations in the controlled area, to each cell in each of the plural separated locations, and illuminating intensity increases at locations in which the life activity is to be controlled so that the life activity control is performed at each cell in each of the plural separated locations.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising detecting life activity in the controlled area, wherein

an amount of the second electromagnetic wave is increased at a time of the life activity control, and

the amount of the second electromagnetic wave is reduced at a time of life activity detection.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the position of the controlled area is detected using an image pattern formed by the first electromagnetic wave.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the position of the controlled area in the depth direction of the life object is at a distance from a surface of the life object.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting information via an internet, and controlling the life activity control based on the information transmitted.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a reaction by a user; and

providing a service for the user on a basis of executing life activity control to excite a sense of the user in response to the reaction by the user.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the position of the controlled area in the depth direction of the life object is at a distance from a surface of the life object.

10. An apparatus for controlling life activity in a life object, comprising:

a light emitting component that emits a first electromagnetic wave having a first prescribed wavelength and a second electromagnetic wave having a second prescribed wavelength;

a photodetector for optically detecting a position of a controlled area in the life object, the photodetector being sensitive to the first electromagnetic wave having the first prescribed wavelength; and

a light guiding element that guides the second electromagnetic wave to the life object, wherein

the first prescribed wavelength is included in a range from 0.840 μ

m to 2.50 μ

m so that the first electromagnetic wave passes through at least a part of the life object to detect the position in a depth direction in the life object,

the light guiding element is configured to condense the second electromagnetic wave to one cell in the controlled area, the life activity relates to cellular activity, and

the second prescribed wavelength is included in a range from 0.945 μ

m to 1.86 μ

m and the second prescribed wavelength relates to the cellular activity, and the cell absorbs the second electromagnetic wave at the second prescribed wavelength so that the cellular activity of the cell is controlled.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the one cell corresponds to a neuron and the cellular activity relates to neural activity.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the position of the controlled area is detected using an image pattern formed by the first electromagnetic wave.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the position of the controlled area in the depth direction of the life object is at a distance from a surface of the life object.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the position of the controlled area in the depth direction of the life object is at a distance from a surface of the life object.