Relax inducing device with heartbeat detection unit

Details Relax inducing device with heartbeat detection unit Relax inducing device with heartbeat detection unit

1997-08-21

1999-11-30

DeMille, Danton D.

Surgery: kinesitherapy

Kinesitherapy

Vibrator

601 49, 601 84, 607 17, A61H 100, A61H 2300

Patent

active

059934018

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a relax inducing device for inducing a user to a relax state, and particularly a relax inducing device capable of detecting a biological signal of the user such as heartbeat number or respiration number, and controlling an amount of stimulus to be applied to the user according to the biological signal.
2. Disclosure of the Prior Art
In the past, it has been proposed to determine a relax level of a user according to a biological signal such as brain wave or heart rate. For example, Japanese Patent Early Publication [KOKAI] No. 1-131648 discloses to treat values of heartbeat R--R interval defined as a basic period of an electrocardiogram of a user by a high-speed Fourier transform, and determine a relax level index of the user according to a power value of a particular frequency range and a total power value. In addition, Japanese Patent Early Publication [KOKAI] No. 3-272745 discloses to determine an index by calculating a dispersion of the heartbeat R--R interval. Moreover, Japanese Patent Early Publication [KOKAI] No. 5-42129 discloses to detect a respiration signal in addition to a heartbeat signal of a user, and determine a relax level index by calculating a dispersion of at least one of those signals. However, when the dispersion is used as the relax level index, there is a problem that the confidence of the relax level is poor because of individual variations of the users.
As to a relax inducing device such as a massager of providing a stimulus to a user to induce the user into a relax state, it has been known that there are massagers in which a massage motion must be manually adjusted by the user, and a programmed massage motion is provided to the user. In the former massager, there is a problem that the adjusting of the massage motion is troublesome. On the other hand, since the later massager provides the programmed massage motion irrespective of a physical condition of the user, there is a possibility that the user often feels the programmed massage motion uncomfortable.
Thus, there is room for further improvement in the method of determining the relax level index and the relax inducing device.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For improving the above problems, the present invention is directed to a relax inducing device capable of controlling an amount of stimulus to be applied to a user according to a biological parameter of the user changing moment by moment to induce the user into a relax state. That is, the relax inducing device of the present invention comprises a biological-information detecting unit for detecting at least one biological parameter selected from heartbeat number, respiration number, and brain wave of a user, a stimulus loading unit for providing a stimulus to the user, and a stimulus control unit for controlling an amount of the stimulus according to the detected biological parameter to induced the user into a relax state. The biological-information detecting unit detects the biological parameter of the user when the user utilizes the relax inducing device. The stimulus amount is determined according to the detected biological parameter and provided to the user on a real-time basis. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently and smoothly induce the user into the relax state.
It is preferred that the relax inducing device of the present invention comprises a relax-level determining unit. The relax-level determining unit compares the biological parameter provided from the biological-information detecting unit with at least one relax-level threshold value to determine a relax level of the user. In this case, the stimulus control unit controls the stimulus amount according to the relax level.
In addition, it is preferred that the stimulus control unit controls the stimulus amount such that as the biological parameter is smaller, the stimulus amount decreases.
These and still other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention

REFERENCES:
patent: 5304112 (1994-04-01), Mrklas et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Relax inducing device with heartbeat detection unit does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Relax inducing device with heartbeat detection unit, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Relax inducing device with heartbeat detection unit will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1665759