System and method for reducing stress and/or pain

• US 10,186,163 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2017
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter D. Letterese, Thomas J. Karas
• Original Assignee: Peter D. Letterese, Thomas J. Karas
• Inventors: Letterese, Peter D., Karas, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simms, Jr., John E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Dolores
• Application Number:
  US15/620,564
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 434191, 434190
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/174 Facial expression recognition
• 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: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student

Abstract

A stress reduction and/or pain reduction method and system, includes measuring an initial level of user stress, which level is unacceptable, having the user hold a card having multiple single digit math problems therein, the problems being in multiple series of four problems, the math problems comprising at least one of addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems, displaying to and instructing the user to complete a first series of four and only four problems correctly, displaying to and instructing the user to complete a second series of four and only four problems incorrectly, again measuring the user'"'"'s stress level and repeating the steps of displaying and instructing, and measuring, until the output from the device is acceptable. The same process may be followed using a camera or video camera and analyzing the image(s) for a Duchenne smile, in place of or in addition to measuring the indicator of stress.

Claims

1. A stress and pain reduction method for a user, comprising:

(a) providing a device for viewing and analyzing a user'"'"'s face, the device taking an image of the user'"'"'s face;

(b) connecting an output from the device to a processor for analyzing the image for a Duchenne smile;

(c) having a user hold a card having multiple single digit math problems therein, the problems being in multiple series of four problems, the math problems comprising at least one of addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems, and displaying the problems to the user;

(d) instructing the user to view the problems on the card and to complete a first series of four and only four of the problems, and in completing the first series of problems to try to answer the problems correctly;

(e) instructing the user to view the problems on the card and to complete a second series of four and only four of the problems, and in completing the second series of problems to try to answer the problems incorrectly;

(f) using the processor, analyzing the output from the device to determine if the user has a Duchenne smile, and providing a signal indicative of whether or not the user has a Duchenne smile, and displaying whether or not the user has a Duchenne smile on a display; and

(g) repeating steps (d) to (f) until the signal from the processor indicates that the user has a Duchenne smile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the card is a smart card that includes the display device and the processor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the card comprises a smart phone that includes the processor and the display device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least one of a camera and a video camera.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of providing a stress measuring device for measuring stress level of the user, and outputting an indicator output indicative of an initial level of stress of the user, which initial level of stress is unacceptable, and transmitting that output to the processor which displays the output on the display, and in step (f), again measuring the output from the device indicative of a level of stress of the user and transmitting the output to the processor which displays the output on the display.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the math problems which the user is instructed to do are single digit math problems.

7. A stress and pain reduction method for a user, comprising:

(a) providing a device for viewing and analyzing a user'"'"'s face, the device taking an image of the user'"'"'s face, and for measuring stress level of a user;

(b) connecting an output from the device to a processor for analyzing the image for a Duchenne smile and for analyzing an output from the device for a stress level of the user;

(c) having a user hold a card having multiple single digit math problems therein, the problems being in multiple series of four problems, the math problems comprising at least one of addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems, and displaying the problems to the user;

(d) instructing the user, via the display, to view the problems on the card and to complete a first series of four and only four of the problems, and in completing the first series of problems to try to answer the problems correctly;

(e) instructing the user to view the problems on the card and to complete a second series of four and only four of the problems, and in completing the second series of problems to try to answer the problems incorrectly;

(f) using the processor, analyzing the output from the device to determine if the user has a Duchenne smile, and providing a signal indicative of whether or not the user has a Duchenne smile, and displaying whether or not the user has a Duchenne smile on a display, and again measuring the output from the device indicative of a level of stress of the user and transmitting the output to the processor which displays the output on the display; and

(g) repeating steps (d) to (f) until the signal from the processor indicates that the user has at least one of the user having a Duchenne smile and the user having a predetermined acceptable level of stress as determined by the processor, and displaying on the display at least one of an indication that the Duchenne smile has been achieved and that the predetermined acceptable level of stress has been attained, respectively.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the card is a smart card that includes the display device and the processor.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the card comprises a smart phone that includes the processor and the display device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the device comprises at least one of a camera and a video camera.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the math problems which the user is instructed to do are single digit math problems.