99 results about "Tactile stimuli" patented technology

The present invention relates to a system (10) and to a method for providing body sway feedback to a body of a subject. The system (10) comprises (a) at least one body sway sensor means (12) adapted to be attached the body and adapted for providing body sway signals indicative of a sway of the body, (b) a system processor means (14) adapted for deriving body sway information from the body sway signals and adapted for generating a body sway feedback signal from the body sway information, and (c) a subject body sway feedback means (40) having at least one transducer unit (42, 44) and adapted for providing a body sway feedback to the body via said at least one transducer unit (42, 44) based on said body sway feedback signal, (d) wherein said at least one transducer unit (42, 44) is or comprises at least one transducer, (e) wherein said at least one transducer is adapted to be contacted to a head of the body, adapted for vibrating, and adapted for transferring a respective vibration to the head, and (f) wherein said at least one transducer is adapted to evoke based on the vibration a multimodal body sway feedback as stimuli to the subject having a plurality of kinds of stimuli of the group comprising auditory stimuli, tactile stimuli, and vestibular stimuli.

The invention discloses a wearing device with temperature sensation and vibration sensation. The wearing device comprises an information acquiring module used for receiving scene information and orientation information of wearing personnel, an information decoding module used for decoding the scene information and the orientation information and generating vibration commands and heating and cooling commands, a multi-touch driving module composed of a temperature sensation driving unit and a vibration sensation driving unit, and a multi-touch prompting module composed of a temperature sensation wrist guard, a vibration sensation leg guard and a vibration sensation wristband, the temperature sensation driving unit generates temperature sensation driving signals according to the heating and cooling commands, the vibration sensation driving unit generates vibration sensation driving signals according to the vibration commands, the temperature sensation wrist guard receives the temperature sensation driving signals to generate temperature stimulation on the wrist guard, and the vibration sensation leg guard and the vibration sensation wristband receive the vibration sensation driving signals to generate vibration stimulation on the leg guard and the wristband. Touch stimulation is formed by combining temperature sensation with vibration sensation while scene information is sensed, and the wearing device can be applied to the fields of navigation, games and the like.

A wearable apparatus capable of altering a physiological parameter such as the heart rate of a user to provide a relaxing or stimulating effect on the user is provided. The apparatus comprises a device capable of engaging the patient's skin to provide a rhythmic tactile stimulus to the user that can alter the user's heart rate and an arrangement for securing the device to the user such that the device can apply the stimulus to the user. The apparatus may be part of a system enabling the device to be controlled remotely. The apparatus may also be configured to provide additional tactile stimuli.

A wearable tactile stimulation device can include a facial mask, an air-suit, and a pair of gloves. A wearable tactile stimulation device can include integrated conduits and nozzles configured to deliver tactile stimulation to portions of a users face, hands, and/or body. The tactile stimulation can be delivered via puffs of air transmitted through the conduits and nozzles. A controller can be configured to control tactile stimulation by controlling the generation and delivery of puffs of air. The puffs can be delivered individually, or in combination.

Modular electronic and/or combined electronic/mechanical apparatus for the detection, analysis, transmittal and delivery of tactile stimuli (touch). Sexual application is suggested.

System of translation between written or performed music and visual, tactile and motion sensation experiences. Specific metaphors for most aspects of music among these non-audio media are described. Examples include rules for color assignment to pitches in a scale; positioning visual representations of notes; visualizing notes between pitches; arranging tactile stimuli to represent pitches; and rendering stages of cadence with motion sensing experiences such as movement within space, or changes in one's tilt, pitch, etc. The system includes documentation of theoretical/interpretive elements such as key signature, current chord, association of notes with melody, as they occur in a piece, along with metaphors for their translation in these non-audible media. The metaphors are strictly prescribed, yet accommodating large variations and freedoms in visual, tactile and motion renderings by producers/artists, allowing for visual, tactile or motor metaphors for non-musical instrument sounds such as finger sliding across windings of a guitar string.

A haptic feedback device (10) for a prosthetic body part (2) or a sensorially deficient body part (2′) comprises a sensor interface (12) configured to be arranged on the prosthetic or sensorially deficient body part (2,2′), equipped with a contact sensor (21) to generate a contact signal (23) according to a contact condition with an object (6); a tactile stimulation unit equipped with a transducer (13,13′) to generate a tactile stimulation (33); a support (15) wearable on a sensorially sound body part (5), on which the tactile stimulation unit is arranged, so as to receive the stimulation (33); a control unit (14) for receiving the contact signal (23) from the contact sensor (21) and comprising a program means (41) configured to cause a control signal (29) to be produced for actuating the transducer, responsive to the contact signal (23), and for cyclically comparing the contact signal (23) with a contact threshold value (Ti,j); for producing the control signal (29) and actuating the transducer (13,13′) when the contact signal (23,23′) crosses the threshold value (Ti,j); for leaving the transducer (13,13′) still in an intermediate time between this crossing of the threshold (Ti,j) and a subsequent crossing in an opposite direction, so that the transducer (13) is actuated if an event occurs of beginning or of end of a contact between the prosthetic or sensorially deficient body part (2,2′) and the object (6).

Disclosed are a device and a method for providing tactile sensation by using electrostatic force between an electrode and a user. The device for providing tactile sensation includes a plurality of electrodes arranged on a substrate, and a dielectric substance layer formed on the substrate and the electrodes, wherein the electrodes electrify the dielectric substance layer with an electric charge according to a driving voltage, so as to generate electrostatic force that provides tactile stimuli to a user who comes into contact with the dielectric substance layer.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to vibrometers, vibrometric systems, and methods of using the same. In particular, some embodiments of the vibrometers are capable of producing vibrotactile stimulation at any frequency between 1 and 500 Hz. Moreover, some embodiments of the vibrometer and/or vibrometric system are capable of applying vibrotactile stimulation to a test subject's skin to determine the existence of peripheral neuropathy. Additionally, some embodiments of the method can provide test subjects with comparative vibrotactile threshold test results that can aid in discovering and/or managing of peripheral neuropathy.

A method for providing a therapeutic benefit to a person wearing an article having first and second tactile stimulators bilaterally positioned in the article to be in therapeutic contact with the person when the article is worn by the person. A controller (mobile device) activates the first tactile stimulator to provide a first stimulation for a first time period and activating the second tactile stimulator to apply a second stimulation for a second time period beginning at least commensurate with a cessation of the first time period. This process is repeated for a therapeutically effective number of repetitions so that the first and second stimulations are applied bilaterally to the body of the person without a perceivable pause in stimulation between the first stimulation and second stimulation to provide the therapeutic benefit to the person.

Systems and methods to mitigate negative effects of a drug in a treatment of a mental health condition include administering a drug to a subject in a therapy session; determining effects of the drug, the effects being counterproductive to the therapy session; and providing tactile stimulation to a subject with a stimulation device that generates transcutaneous vibratory output to be applied to a portion of a body of the subject during the therapy session, wherein the transcutaneous vibratory output is selected to reduce the counterproductive effects of the drug.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an improved handle (12) for a lacrosse stick (10) is provided. The improved handle (12) includes a tubular member (14) having a top end (16) for attachment to the lacrosse head (18) and a bottom end (20) that is opposite the top end (16). The tubular member (14) further includes an outer surface (22) having one or more predetermined portions (24) with a coating (26) coupled thereto. The coating (26) is utilized for strengthening the tubular member (14), preventing damage thereto, decreasing vibration therein, and providing the player with tactile stimuli as to the orientation of a lacrosse stick (10) within his hands.

The invention relates to a tactile stimulating device with measurable tactile stimulating force and adjustable force frequency. The tactile stimulating device comprises an alternating current motor mechanism which is used for sending a pulse and driving an eccentric wheel to rotate, an elastic steel ruler mechanism for generating elastic deformation, an eccentric wheel mechanism for generating force data, and a probe mechanism which is used for generating a displacement in the vertical direction to change to stimulate the epidermis of a living organism, wherein the alternating current motor mechanism is fixedly connected with the eccentric wheel mechanism; the eccentric wheel of the eccentric wheel mechanism is closely attached to an elastic steel ruler of the elastic steel ruler mechanism; and the probe mechanism is fixedly arranged on the lower end surface of the elastic steel ruler mechanism. The tactile stimulating device is simple in structural design, high in integration degree and safe to work; an electromagnetic material covers the outer surface of an alternating current motor to form an electromagnetic shielding device, so that interference is basically eliminated, and the signal stability is high; by the adoption of a noninvasive mechanical stimulation mode, no wound can be caused in the use process; and as the frequency can be adjusted and the stimulating strength can be adjusted, the force action is stable, and the tactile stimulation within a relatively wide frequency range can be flexibly modulated.

A brain-machine interface for extracting user action intentions within a continuous asynchronous interactive environment is presented. A subliminal stimulus module generates contextually appropriate decision-related stimuli that are unobtrusive to a user. An altered perceptual experience module modifies a user's sensation of the interactive environment based on decision-related stimuli generated from the subliminal stimulus module. A brain monitoring module assesses the user's brain activity in response to the decision-related stimuli and to determine whether an action within the asynchronous interactive environment is intended by the user. Finally, an action is taken based on explicit user input, the user's brain activity in response to the decision-related stimuli, or a combination thereof. The decision-related stimuli can be visual stimuli, audio stimuli, tactile stimuli, or olfactory stimuli, any be a repeated signal having a start and a stop, where the start and stop are selected to minimize cognitive load on a user.

The invention relates to a method for alleviating on or more of the symptoms associated with menopause in a woman in the peri-menopause or menopause stage, said method comprising the step of administering a sensory regimen in an amount effective to downregulate the activity of the HPA axis of said woman; wherein said HPA axis comprises: a) levels of adrenocortical hormone present as a function of time in said woman; b) a total daily amount of adrenocortical hormone; c) an integrative measure of morning peak adrenocortical hormone; and d) an onset of sleep threshold; wherein said sensory regimen is selected from the group consisting of auditory stimuli, visual stimuli, tactile stimuli, gustatory stimuli, olfactory stimuli, and combinations thereof.

A hoop for exercise, entertainment and rehabilitation is preferably comprised of closed cell polyethylene having a density in the range of 2.0-2.6 lbs./ft³ (32 kg-41.6 kg). Features providing visual, auditory, olfactory and/or tactile stimuli may be attached to the hoop. The hoop may also comprise elements such as a sound chip or an attached LED.

A tactile stimulation providing apparatus includes a plurality of actuators and a plurality of actuator cases respectively corresponding to the plurality of actuators. Each of the actuator cases includes: a cap covering an upper portion of a corresponding actuator; and a base covering a lower portion of the actuator, the base being connected to the cap to fix the actuator.