Vibration Stimulus for Autonomic Nervous System Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for maintaining autonomic nervous system balance are ineffective as they do not accurately reflect the user's current state and can cause discomfort due to brain stimulation, making it difficult to apply during sleep or focused activities.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that synchronize the user's real-time average cardiac interval with a vibration stimulus tailored to their specific autonomic nervous system state, using reference heart rate information to adjust the stimulus period and intensity, ensuring non-recognized vibrations that align with desired autonomic states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If brain stimulation is applied to maintain autonomic nervous system balance, then the desired state can be maintained, but the user may feel uncomfortable and experience side effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct brain stimulation with vibration stimulus applied to the body. Instead of stimulating the brain directly, the system uses vibration actuators to apply mechanical vibrations to the user's body, which then naturally influences the autonomic nervous system through physiological pathways. This substitution eliminates the discomfort and side effects associated with direct brain stimulation while achieving the same therapeutic goal of maintaining autonomic nervous system balance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces vibration stimulus as an intermediary between the control system and the autonomic nervous system. Rather than directly stimulating the brain, the system uses vibration applied to the body as a mediator that indirectly influences autonomic nervous system activity. This intermediary approach allows for more comfortable and safer stimulation while maintaining the desired physiological effects.
2Reliability
If audiovisual stimuli are applied to maintain desired state, then brain activity can be enhanced, but the user must concentrate on the stimulus which limits application during sleep or focused activities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces audiovisual stimuli with mechanical vibration stimulus. Instead of requiring the user to perceive and concentrate on light or sound signals, the system applies subtle vibrations to the body that can influence the autonomic nervous system without requiring conscious attention. This mechanical approach allows the system to function effectively during sleep or when the user is engaged in focused activities that require concentration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the concentration requirement from the stimulation process. By using vibration stimulus instead of audiovisual stimuli, the system removes the need for the user to actively concentrate or perceive the stimulus. The vibration stimulus works passively on the autonomic nervous system, allowing the user to maintain their current state of consciousness or sleep without being distracted by the stimulation.
3Device complexity
If preset frequency stimulation is applied, then the device complexity is reduced, but the user's current state is not accurately reflected and the desired state cannot be accurately maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors the user's physiological state through heart rate detection and uses this information to dynamically adjust the vibration stimulus frequency. The system compares the detected heart rate with the target frequency and modifies the stimulation parameters in real-time to maintain accurate synchronization with the user's current state. This feedback loop ensures precise control while adapting to changing physiological conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from static preset frequency stimulation to dynamic frequency adjustment. The vibration stimulus frequency is no longer fixed but is continuously adapted based on real-time detection of the user's heart rate and physiological state. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain accurate synchronization with the user's current state while providing personalized stimulation, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and measurement precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Accurately induces autonomic nervous system activity in user-desired states, preventing side effects by reflecting current user conditions and providing personalized stimulation, enhancing sleep, concentration, and cardiovascular regulation.
Implementation Method 1
supporting a first vibration stimulus with a first period corresponding to the first reference heart rate information to be applied to the user, to thereby allow the user's real-time average cardiac interval to be synchronized with the first vibration stimulus
Data Source
AI summary
A method for inducing an activity of a user's autonomic nervous system is provided. The method includes steps of: (a) on condition that each of the user's reference heart rate information corresponding to each of active states of the user's autonomic nervous system is obtained, an inducing device, if a specific active state of the autonomic nervous system is selected by the user, acquiring first reference heart rate information of the user corresponding to the specific active state of the autonomic nervous system; and (b) the inducing device supporting a first vibration stimulus with a first period corresponding to the first reference heart rate information to be applied to the user, to thereby allow the user's real-time average cardiac interval to be synchronized with the first vibration stimulus.