Method for improving psychophysiological function for performance under stress

• US 9,668,693 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2016
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optivio Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Biofeedback systems design, llc
• Inventors: Kusik, Daniel A., Stankovic, Dejan, Bourhis, Andrew M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Archer, Marie
• Application Number:
  US15/202,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20160310073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• 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 method of improving psychophysiological function of a subject performing a stress-inducing activity using a computer includes, after a plurality of sensors that monitor stress-indicating physiological parameters have been coupled to the subject and to the computer, providing, by the computer to the subject, a set of training segments that each present the subject with one or more visual, audible, or tactile prompts, wherein in at least one of the training segments, the prompts induce the subject to simultaneously perform both the stress-inducing activity and a relaxation-inducing protocol. The computer provides the set of training segments until a value of at least one physiological parameter that indicates stress in the subject is within a pre-defined range of a baseline value of the parameter, thereby indicating that the subject has successfully performed the stress-inducing activity while maintaining alertness with a relative minimum of stress.

Claims

1. A method of improving psychophysiological function of a subject performing a stress-inducing activity, using a computer having an output interface, the method comprising:

providing, by the computer to the subject, a profiling segment in which the stress-inducing activity, a relaxation-inducing protocol, and a stress-inducing physiological parameter are determined for use in providing a set of training segments; and

providing, by the computer to the subject, the set of training segments until an end condition is achieved, each training segment in the set presenting the subject with one or more visual, audible, or tactile prompts or a combination of such prompts using the output interface, wherein in at least one of the training segments the prompts induce the subject to simultaneously perform both the stress-inducing activity and a relaxation-inducing protocol;

wherein the end condition is achieved when the computer determines that a value of the stress-inducing physiological parameter is within a pre-defined range of a baseline value of the parameter, and

wherein providing the profiling segment comprises;

receiving, by the computer from each sensor in a plurality of sensors coupled to the computer and to the subject, each such sensor providing a stream of measured values of a respective physiological parameter of the subject, a baseline value of the corresponding physiological parameter of the subject;

while the subject is performing each of a plurality of stress-inducing activities, receiving, by the computer from each sensor in the plurality of sensors, a stress condition value of a corresponding physiological parameter of the subject;

while the subject is performing each of a plurality of relaxation-inducing protocols, receiving, by the computer from each sensor in the plurality of sensors, a relaxation condition value of a corresponding physiological parameter of the subject;

selecting, by the computer as the stress-inducing physiological parameter for use in the set of training segments, the physiological parameter for which the greatest variation exists between its baseline value and its stress condition value measured while the subject performed any of the plurality of stress-inducing activities;

selecting, by the computer for use in the set of training segments, the stress-inducing activity whose performance by the subject produced the greatest variation; and

selecting, by the computer for use in the set of training segments, the relaxation-inducing protocol for which the greatest variation exists between the baseline value and the relaxation-condition value of the stress-inducing physiological parameter.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the set of training segments comprises providing a first sequence of training segments that do not present the stress-inducing activity, followed by a second sequence of training segments that do present the stress-inducing activity.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first sequence of training segments comprises:

a first training segment in which the subject is prompted to perform the relaxation-inducing protocol;

a second training segment in which the subject is prompted to perform the relaxation-inducing protocol while receiving feedback indicative of the at least one physiological parameter; and

a third training segment in which the subject receives feedback indicative of the at least one physiological parameter without being prompted to perform the relaxation-inducing protocol,

wherein the first, second, and third training segments are provided in any order within the first sequence of training segments.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the second sequence of training segments comprises:

a fourth training segment in which the subject is prompted to simultaneously perform the stress-inducing activity and the relaxation-inducing protocol, while receiving feedback indicative of the at least one physiological parameter;

a fifth training segment in which the subject is prompted to perform the stress-inducing activity, but not the relaxation-inducing protocol, while receiving feedback indicative of the at least one physiological parameter; and

a sixth training segment in which the subject is prompted to perform the stress-inducing activity, but not the relaxation-inducing protocol, while not receiving feedback indicative of the at least one physiological parameter,

wherein the fourth, fifth, and sixth training segments are provided in any order within the second sequence of training segments.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program code that, when executed by a processor of a computer having an output interface, provides a method of improving psychophysiological function of a subject performing a stress-inducing activity, the method comprising:

providing, by the computer to the subject, a profiling segment in which the stress-inducing activity, a relaxation-inducing protocol, and a stress-inducing physiological parameter are determined for use in providing the set of training segments; and

providing, by the computer to the subject, the set of training segments until an end condition is achieved, each training segment in the set presenting the subject with one or more visual, audible, or tactile prompts or a combination of such prompts using the output interface, wherein in at least one of the training segments the prompts induce the subject to simultaneously perform both the stress-inducing activity and a relaxation-inducing protocol;

wherein the end condition is achieved when the computer determines that a value of the stress-inducing physiological parameter is within a pre-defined range of a baseline value of the parameter, and

wherein providing the profiling segment comprises;

receiving, by the computer from each sensor in a plurality of sensors coupled to the computer and to the subject, each such sensor providing a stream of measured values of a respective physiological parameter of the subject, a baseline value of a corresponding physiological parameter of the subject;

while the subject is performing each of a plurality of stress-inducing activities, receiving, by the computer from each sensor in the plurality of sensors, a stress condition value of a corresponding physiological parameter of the subject;

while the subject is performing each of a plurality of relaxation-inducing protocols, receiving, by the computer from each sensor in the plurality of sensors, a relaxation condition value of a corresponding physiological parameter of the subject;

selecting, by the computer as the stress-inducing physiological parameter for use in the set of training segments, the physiological parameter for which the greatest variation exists between its baseline value and its stress condition value measured while the subject performed any of the plurality of stress-inducing activities;

selecting, by the computer for use in the set of training segments, the stress-inducing activity whose performance by the subject produced the greatest variation; and

selecting, by the computer for use in the set of training segments, the relaxation-inducing protocol for which the greatest variation exists between the baseline value and the relaxation-condition value of the stress-inducing physiological parameter.

6. The storage medium according to claim 5, wherein the program code for providing the set of training segments comprises program code for providing a first sequence of training segments that do not present the stress-inducing activity, followed by a second sequence of training segments that do present the stress-inducing activity.

7. The storage medium according to claim 6, wherein the program code for providing the first sequence of training segments comprises program code for providing:

a first training segment in which the subject is prompted to perform the relaxation-inducing protocol;

a second training segment in which the subject is prompted to perform the relaxation-inducing protocol while receiving feedback indicative of the at least one physiological parameter; and

a third training segment in which the subject receives feedback indicative of the at least one physiological parameter without being prompted to perform the relaxation-inducing protocol,

wherein the first, second, and third training segments are provided in any order within the first sequence of training segments.

8. The storage medium according to claim 6, wherein the program code for providing the second sequence of training segments comprises the program code for providing:

a fourth training segment in which the subject is prompted to simultaneously perform the stress-inducing activity and the relaxation-inducing protocol, while receiving feedback indicative of the at least one physiological parameter;

a fifth training segment in which the subject is prompted to perform the stress-inducing activity, but not the relaxation-inducing protocol, while receiving feedback indicative of the at least one physiological parameter; and

a sixth training segment in which the subject is prompted to perform the stress-inducing activity, but not the relaxation-inducing protocol, while not receiving feedback indicative of the at least one physiological parameter,

wherein the fourth, fifth, and sixth training segments are provided in any order within the second sequence of training segments.