System for providing biofeedback

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10016574-B2
Application number	US-201113991633-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2011
Priority date	Dec 16, 2010
Publication date	Jul 10, 2018
Grant date	Jul 10, 2018

Abstract

The invention relates to a system ( 102 ) for providing biofeedback to a person ( 104 ). The system ( 102 ) comprises a source ( 106 ) for generating a source signal ( 108 ) and a transducer ( 110 ) for generating a measurement signal ( 112 ) in response to a physiological parameter ( 114 ) indicative for mental relaxation of the person ( 104 ). The system ( 102 ) furthermore comprises a filter ( 116 ) for variably filtering the source signal via modifying a cut-off frequency in response to the measurement signal ( 112 ) and an interface ( 118 ) for providing a biofeedback signal ( 119 ) to the person on the basis of the source signal as variably filtered by the filter ( 116 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for providing biofeedback to a person comprising:
a source configured to generate a source signal,
a transducer configured to generate a measurement signal in response to a physiological parameter indicative of mental relaxation of the person,
a processor for computing a spectral power of the measurement signal,
a filter configured to variably filter the source signal via modifying a lowest cut-off frequency in response to the spectral power, and
an interface configured to provide a biofeedback signal to the person based on the source signal as variably filtered by the filter in response to the spectral power.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the interface is arranged to provide a biofeedback signal comprising an audible component.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the transducer is configured for generating the measurement signal in response to a physiological parameter which monotonically increases with mental relaxation of the person, wherein the filter is arranged for modifying the lowest cut-off frequency in response to the spectral power according to a relation via which said lowest cut-off frequency monotonically decreases with said spectral power.

4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the filter is arranged for maintaining the cut-off frequency at a minimum frequency if the spectral power is smaller than a lower boundary of spectral power.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the minimum frequency is in a range of 0 Hz to 3 Hz.

6. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the filter is arranged for maintaining the lowest cut-off frequency at a maximum frequency if the spectral power is larger than an upper boundary of spectral power.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the maximum frequency is in a range of 1500 Hz to 2500 Hz.

8. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the system is arranged for generating a cumulative probability distribution on a basis of the spectral power associated with samples of the measurement signal, and wherein the system is arranged for computing a lower boundary of spectral power and an upper boundary of spectral power by equating the cumulative probability distribution to a lower level and an upper level, respectively.

9. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the transducer is configured for generating the measurement signal in response to a physiological parameter which monotonically decreases with mental relaxation of the person, wherein the filter is arranged for modifying the lowest cut-off frequency in response to the spectral power according to a relation via which said lowest cut-off frequency monotonically increases with said spectral power.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the transducer is arranged to generate the measurement signal in response to brain activity in a frequency range of 7 to 13 Hz.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises a pair of headphones in which the transducer is integrated.

12. A computer program product for use in the system according to claim 1 , comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer program code embodied therein which, when executed by a computer or a processor, is configured for causing the computer or processor to embody a filter for variably filtering the biofeedback signal via modifying the lowest cut-off frequency in response to the spectral power.

13. A method for providing biofeedback to a person comprising the steps of:
generating a source signal via a source,
generating a measurement signal via a transducer in response to a physiological parameter indicative of mental relaxation of the person,
computing a spectral power of the measurement signal via a processor,
modifying a lowest cut-off frequency of a frequency filter automatically in response to the spectral power,
filtering the source signal by said frequency filter, and
providing a biofeedback signal to the person via an interface, based on the filtered source signal.

Assignees

• Jaeger Mark Christoph
• Denissen Adrianus Johannes Maria
• Gillies Murray Fulton
• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Jaeger Mark Christoph
• Denissen Adrianus Johannes Maria
• Gillies Murray Fulton

Classifications

• A61M21/02 Primary

  for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia (for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021) · CPC title

• A61B5/165

  Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety · CPC title

• A61B5/048

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61B5/0482

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61B5/04845

  Human Necessities · mapped topic