38 results about "Vibrotactile stimulation" patented technology

A system and method for providing therapy and assessment utilizing vibrotactile feedback is disclosed. Such treatment is useful for the assessment and treatment of disequilibrium, movement and balance disorders. The system and method measures a subject's performance of predetermined tasks with respect to expected parameters using sensors such as force plates, inertial sensors, and three dimensional cameras. Predetermined motions are motions such as stand, sit-to-stand, reach, bend, functional gait, functional gait plus headshake, and other functional tasks. Vibrotactile stimulation may be applied during the subject's performance as disruptive input. Variance and rate of change of variance between measured and expected parameters is used as a tool for assessment of said subject, and is also used for providing real-time vibrotactile training to said subject. The invention is useful in the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), neurologic disorders causing disequilibrium and balance disorders, and the like.

A planar reciprocating actuator (PRA) provides a linear motor configured and optimized for small displacement and oscillation, and can use the effect of a designed mechanical or magnetic spring to increase the amplitude of displacement at certain operating points. The PRA is intended to be used in vibrotactile and haptic applications. The PRA can generate various types of vibratory characteristics that may be perceived as distinct and readily user-identifiable haptic stimuli.

To provide the user with the relationship between the scrolling speed in scroll-displaying and an operation performed on an input surface, a tactile stimulus control apparatus includes an intensity determination unit and a tactile stimulus control unit. In a case where an operation performed by a manipulator on the input surface provided corresponding to a display unit is detected while an image is scroll-displayed by the display unit, the intensity determination unit determines the intensity of a tactile stimulus to be provided to the manipulator based on the scrolling speed at the timing of detection of the operation. The tactile stimulus control unit controls a tactile stimulus generating unit, which is configured to generate the tactile stimulus to be provided to the manipulator, to generate the tactile stimulus with the intensity determined by the intensity determination unit.

Embodiments of tactile stimulation apparatuses and components of such apparatuses are generally described herein. For example, in one embodiment, a tactile stimulation apparatus is provided. This tactile stimulation apparatus has a composite section comprising an insulation region and a semiconducting region that is proximate to the insulation region. This insulation region is touchable by a body member. Additionally included is a voltage source proximate to the semiconducting region. Here, the voltage source is configured to charge the semiconducting region to an electric potential, which produces an electrosensory sensation on the body member.

A device for providing tactile stimulation of a subject via a pulse of compressible fluid, typically for medical diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The device preferably includes a high pressure fluid source and a low pressure fluid source. A pressure valve selectively connects the pressure sources to an outlet conduit. The outlet conduit includes an applicator for directing pulses against the skin of a subject. The pulses may be applied via one applicator or a plurality of applicators, and may be applied in one pattern or several patterns at various application sites. A method of providing tactile stimulation is also disclosed.

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 vibroacoustic system includes a shell having a plurality of transducers mounted in an energy transmitting relation thereto. The transducers receive input signals having distinct wave characteristics and drive the shell to simultaneously produce both a vibratory experience effected by a tactile stimulus and an auditory experience effected by an aural stimulus.

This invention generally provides two tactile stimulation modules, or “tappers”. One tapper is held by a person in each of his hands. Alternatively, a tapper is secured to each wrist or to other parts of the body on opposite sides. Each tapper is powered by a rechargeable battery, and contains both a tactile stimulation transducer, such as an electric motor having either a balanced or unbalanced mass on its output shaft, and a transceiver that communicates with a host or master. Each tapper includes at least one control button and a status indicator. Each tapper contains a micro-controller that performs tasks such as communication, motor activation, user monitoring and control, battery monitoring, low-power sleep, and algorithm execution. At least one tapper can contain at least one optional sensor, which measures a physiological function. Measurements can be used to modify performance of the tactile stimulation transducers.

The invention discloses an electro-tactile feedback device and a surgical robot provided with the same. The electro-tactile feedback device comprises a multi-dimensional force sensor and an electro-tactile feedback system, detects force information contact between surgical instruments and sicken tissues in actual minimally invasive surgeries and transfers the force information to an electro-tactile control system. The electro-tactile control system comprises a master control module and a current stimulation module, wherein the master control module receives a signal output by the multi-dimensional force sensor, sends an instrument to the current stimulation module, provides tactile stimulation feedback through the current stimulation module, feeds real-time force information back to an operator and accordingly can guide the operator to exert an accurate acting force. Accordingly, the surgical robot provided with the electro-tactile feedback device can effectively improve the accuracy and stability of surgical operation.

A system for evaluating neurologic dysfunction of a subject includes an odorant generator configured to deliver an odorant stimulation to the subject, an auditory generator configured to deliver an audible stimulation to the subject, a vibrotactile stimulator configured to generate a somatosensory stimulation to the subject, a plurality of electrodes configured to be attached to the subject at respective different locations, and at least one processor. The plurality of electrodes are configured to collect neural signals from the subject as a result of the odorant stimulation, the audible stimulation, and the somatosensory stimulation. The at least one processor is configured to process the neural signals from the plurality of electrodes and generate an assessment of neurologic dysfunction of the subject.

The invention discloses an execution control attention measurement system and method based on finger vibration tactile stimulation. The system comprises a main control module, a driven control module, a vibration tactile module, and an anti-interference module; the main control module can be used for controlling a driven control module to drive a vibration tactile module to stimulate a user, and receiving user feedback to measure the reaction time of the user and calculating the execution control attention of the user according to the reaction time of the user; the driven control module can be used for driving the vibration tactile module to produce vibrations with different intensities; the vibration tactile module is arranged on a finger of the user, can produce vibrations with different intensities on the finger of the user for vibration tactile stimulation; the anti-interference module is used in the measurement process and worn on the user to isolate the user from the voice interference and visual interference in the external environment. The system solves the problem that it is difficult to measure the execution control attention when the visual channel is damaged. The execution control attention measurement system is simple in operation, convenient to measure and high in measurement efficiency.

The invention discloses an implementation method for wearable human body basic posture recognition. The method comprises the following steps: a wearer collecting picture information through a worn camera to extract figure posture features in the image, triggering a vibration motor worn by the wearer by applying dynamic tactile coding, controlling vibration units in a vibration motor dot matrix tovibrate according to a certain frequency, time sequence and rhythm, and generating dynamic vibration tactile stimulation to the wearer, so that the wearer senses the posture features of the wearer inthe image through the tactile stimulation. Picture information can be collected through the camera, posture features of the picture information are extracted, the vibration motor is triggered throughdynamic tactile coding, dynamic vibration tactile stimulation is generated, a wearer can perceive the posture features of a person in an image through the tactile stimulation, and the advantages of being portable, small in size, low in energy consumption and easy to operate are achieved.

A handheld device configured to provide tactile stimulation to a head of a human user. The handheld device comprises an outer housing sized and shaped to fit ergonomically and substantially within a hand of the human user. The outer housing defines an internal space and skin facing surface for placement adjacent to or proximate the user's head. A controller is contained within internal space of the outer housing, wherein the controller is configured to generate a signal corresponding to a pattern sequence. A vibration unit is in electronic communication with the controller, the vibration unit being configured to be actuated in response to a signal from the controller so as to generate vibrations that correspond to the pattern sequence.

The present invention relates to a therapeutic system and methods of using the therapeutic system. In particular, the present invention relates to systems having hardware, software, and appliance components for assessing and entraining a neuromuscular pattern or behavior in a patient. The methods include configuring the hardware and software systems to receive data from an orofacial stimulation appliance and to generate a precise therapeutic pulse profile that is actuated as a tactile stimulus. In one embodiment, the system and methods also include collecting data using the orofacial stimulation appliance and delivering the tactile stimulus via the orofacial stimulation appliance to entrain an organized neuromuscular pattern or behavior.

The invention discloses a device for generating local vibration on a touch screen and a control method. The device comprises a control module, a driving module, a display module, a tactile feedback module and the like. The control module is used for receiving tactile information generated in the interaction process and calculated by a tactile rendering algorithm, processing the tactile information through an internal signal processing unit and then sending a corresponding control instruction to the driving module. The driving module is composed of an MOSFET driver and used for driving eight piezoelectric ceramic patches, and each piezoelectric ceramic patch corresponds to one driving module. The display module is composed of a capacitive touch screen. The tactile feedback module is composed of eight piezoelectric ceramic patches which are evenly distributed on the periphery of the surface of the touch screen, and the distance between the piezoelectric ceramic patches and the boundary is larger than the wavelength of mechanical waves. The time reversal mirror principle is introduced into the control method, and the interaction experience when multiple fingers make contact with the touch screen at the same time can be enhanced by generating local vibration tactile stimulation at different positions of the touch screen.

Your applicants, Gail B. Rehmert (formerly Dreybus) and Colby D. Rehmert desire to be granted a Utility Patent for the hereinafter described improvements and enhancements to her former U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,333, a Tactile Stimulating Mechanism, granted Jan. 26, 1982. Goal of device is to relax, soothe, and calm the body and reduce stress. This modified enhanced application, renamed Tactile Sensory Stimulator, is an improvement allowing the device to reduce stress, while able to adjust to a user's large or small body type while in horizontal position. This mechanism creates a relaxing and sensitive touch over user's body by three adjustable wand assemblies holding filaments changed in figure to include light plastic orbed bendable units which do not weigh over 1-2 ounces each. This configuration of filaments creates very gentle pressure as all strands move in a rotational, reversible 360 degree orbit over the user body.