Remote non-invasive biofeedback diagnostic system based on patient image

• US 6,921,365 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clinictech Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Clinictech Incorporated
• Inventors: Lee, Hanmyung
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Astorino, Michael C
• Application Number:
  US10/413,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20040204632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 600300-301, 600544-545, 600/559, 600/558, 128/905, 128/920, 128/898, 434236-238
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/378 Visual stimuli
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/905 Feedback to patient of biological signal other than brain electric signal

Abstract

A non-invasive remote diagnostic system includes a central processing unit (CPU) adapted to feed an image of a patient such as a digital photograph to be displayed to an operator by a first computer monitor. A second computer monitor is displaying a realistic outline of a target area of diagnostic interest such as an outline of a human organ or a particular portion thereof. These two monitors together with a CPU are adapted to induce a state of heightened consciousness and intuition of a system operator. A detecting/evaluating unit is sensing non-invasively the operator'"'"'s biofeedback response while the operator is exposed to the images. The biofeedback response is converted to an electrical signal and is fed back into the CPU to compare against a predetermined database of similar signals obtained from volunteers with known diseases. The biofeedback signal allows a non-invasive remote diagnosis of a patient'"'"'s state of health.

Claims

1. A medical diagnosis biofeedback system based on a patient image comprising:

a central processing unit including a situation-generating sub-system in a computer readable memory for producing a series of predetermined patient-specific visual images including at least an outline of a target area of diagnostic interest, said central processing unit also including means for receiving a biofeedback signal from a user exposed to said images;

a consciousness induction unit including a first means for visually displaying the patient image and a second means for visually displaying the outline of a target area of diagnostic interest to the user to cause a heightened state of consciousness and intuition of the user, and

a detection/evaluation unit equipped with noise generator that remotely senses the noise changes constituting the biofeedback response of the user, wherein a biofeedback loop is formed between said central processing unit sending said predetermined patient-specific visual images to said consciousness induction unit to be displayed to the user, said detection/evaluation unit sensing the response of biofeedback of the user representing the user'"'"'s response to said images, said detection/evaluation unit further generating an electrical signal reflecting said biofeedback response and sending said electrical signal back to said central processing unit.

2. The medical diagnosis biofeedback system based on a patient image as in claim 1, wherein said patient-specific visual images include the patient image in addition to the outline of a target area of diagnostic interest.

3. The medical diagnosis biofeedback system based on a patient image as in claim 2, wherein said patient'"'"'s image is a digital photograph of the patient.

4. The medical diagnosis biofeedback system based on a patient image as in claim 2, wherein said outline of a target area is a picture of a human organ or tissue.

5. The medical diagnosis biofeedback system based on a patient image as in claim 3, wherein said digital photograph of the patient is being displayed by said first means and said outline of a target area is being respectively displayed by said second means.

6. The medical diagnosis biofeedback system based on a patient image as in claim 1, wherein said first means is adapted to display continuously the image of the patient while said second means is adapted to display a succession of outlines of various target areas.

7. The medical diagnosis biofeedback system based on a patient image as in claim 1, wherein said first and said second means are computer monitors.

8. The medical diagnosis biofeedback system based on a patient image as in claim 1, wherein said first and said second means are slide projectors.

9. The medical diagnosis biofeedback system based on a patient image as in claim 1, wherein said electrical signal generated by said detection/evaluation unit is used in diagnosis of a functional state of a target area of said patient.

10. The medical diagnosis biofeedback system based on a patient image as in claim 1, wherein said central processing unit is adapted to record said electric signals from said detection/evaluation unit into a database and for comparison of said electric signals against previously known electrical signals.

11. The medical diagnosis biofeedback system based on a patient image as in claim 1, wherein said detection/evaluation unit includes a triggering sensor with a noise generator, said biofeedback response of the user including a noise change in said triggering sensor.

12. The medical diagnosis biofeedback system based on a patient image as in claim 1, wherein said consciousness induction unit further comprising a third means for enhancing the biofeedback response from the user by transmitting to the user of a series of predetermined stimuli to induce consciousness thereof.