WO2020145719A1

WO2020145719A1 - Stimulation providing device, perception training method, and computer program

Info

Publication number: WO2020145719A1
Application number: PCT/KR2020/000459
Authority: WO
Inventors: 강동화; 홍락균
Original assignee: 주식회사 뉴냅스
Priority date: 2019-01-11
Filing date: 2020-01-10
Publication date: 2020-07-16

Abstract

Provided are: a stimulation providing device capable of training, though various stimulation methods, a patient having neuropathy symptoms; a perception training method using the stimulation providing device; and a computer program stored in a medium so as to execute the perception training method. The stimulation providing device comprises: a wearing unit worn on a body part; a stimulation providing unit which is arranged in the wearing unit and which provides stimulation to the body part; and a control unit for controlling the stimulation providing unit, wherein the control unit controls at least one from among the location, the range, and the strength of stimulation.

Description

Stimulators, perceptual training methods and computer programs

The present invention relates to a stimulus providing apparatus, a perceptual training method and a computer program.

Conventionally, various methods for training perception have been provided for correctly recognizing stimuli in patients with neurological disorders as congenital and acquired causes.

On the other hand, the conventional perceptual training method has been approached to activate a sensory organ with deterioration in a simple approach.

However, the human neural pathway is not simple, and, for example, in relation to chronic pain and the like, in addition to negative symptoms (deterioration of function, deafness), positive symptoms (secondary disorders in which sensation is felt in a different way after deterioration) Chronic pain caused by tinnitus).

Therefore, there is a need for a perceptual training method capable of improving the perception ability by training the patient's brain with various stimulation methods.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is a stimulation providing apparatus capable of training a patient with neurological disorder symptoms in various stimulation methods, a perception training method using the stimulation providing apparatus, and a computer program stored in a medium to execute the perception training method Is to provide

The problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

A device for providing a stimulus according to an aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem includes one or more wearing parts worn on a body part; And one or more stimulus providing parts disposed on the wearing part and providing stimulation to body parts. Including, the stimulus providing unit is included in the stimulus providing device or physically separated and controlled by a control unit in a user terminal interworking with the stimulus providing device, and the control unit controlling at least one of the location and range and intensity of the stimulus Control.

In addition, in another embodiment, the control unit is characterized in that it detects the time when the sensory stimulation is not input to the patient and manually outputs the stimulus through the stimulus providing unit.

In addition, in another embodiment, the control unit is characterized by determining the appropriate stimulus intensity by receiving whether or not a patient feels pain while performing stepwise adjustment of the stimulus intensity.

In addition, in another embodiment, the control unit is characterized in that, in conjunction with a physically separated EEG measuring device, the patient determines the appropriate stimulus intensity at which the brain activity level is greater than or equal to a reference value without feeling pain.

In addition, in another embodiment, the control unit controls one or more stimulus providing units to sequentially provide stimuli to a specific body part or to simultaneously provide stimuli to a plurality of body parts, and distinguish the stimuli provided to the user. It is characterized by requiring to be selected.

In addition, in another embodiment, the stimulus providing unit includes at least one first strip that provides a first temperature higher than the surface temperature to the body part, and at least one second strip that provides a second temperature lower than the surface temperature to the body part. Including, the one or more first strips and the one or more second strips are arranged in an alternating stripe pattern.

In addition, in another embodiment, the stimulation providing unit includes a plurality of heating elements, and the control unit controls the stimulation providing unit in a warming mode and a stimulation providing mode.

In addition, in another embodiment, the wearing part includes a first wearing part worn on a normal body part and a second wearing part worn on an abnormal body part, and the stimulus providing part is disposed on the first wearing part and is placed on a normal body. It includes a first stimulation providing unit that provides stimulation to the site, and a second stimulation providing unit that is disposed on the second wearing part and provides stimulation to an abnormal body part.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a perception training method provides a plurality of stimuli having at least one of different positions, ranges, and strengths of a stimulus sequentially or to a plurality of body parts by a stimulus providing device. Providing a stimulus; Requesting to select a correct answer by distinguishing a plurality of stimuli provided to a user, wherein the correct answer is a stimulus meeting a specific condition or a different stimulus among three or more stimuli; And a correct answer determining step of determining whether the user's selection is the correct answer.

A computer program according to another aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem may be stored in a medium in order to execute the perceptual training method.

The present invention provides a stimulation providing apparatus capable of normally activating the brain of a patient by various stimulation methods. Furthermore, the present invention provides a perceptual training method using the stimulus providing apparatus and a computer program stored in a medium to execute the perceptual training method.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

1 and 2 are conceptual diagrams showing various embodiments of a wearing part of the stimulus providing apparatus of the present invention.

3 is a conceptual diagram showing various embodiments of a stimulus providing unit of the stimulus providing apparatus of the present invention.

4 to 9 is a flow chart showing that the perception training method of the present invention is provided in various embodiments.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods for achieving them will be clarified with reference to embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in various different forms, and only the present embodiments allow the disclosure of the present invention to be complete, and are common in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. It is provided to fully inform the skilled person of the scope of the present invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

The terminology used herein is for describing the embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. In the present specification, the singular form also includes the plural form unless otherwise specified in the phrase. As used herein, “comprises” and/or “comprising” does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components other than the components mentioned. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals refer to the same components, and “and/or” includes each and every combination of one or more of the components mentioned. Although "first", "second", etc. are used to describe various components, it goes without saying that these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another component. Therefore, it goes without saying that the first component mentioned below may be the second component within the technical spirit of the present invention.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in this specification may be used in a sense that can be commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. In addition, terms that are defined in a commonly used dictionary are not ideally or excessively interpreted unless specifically defined.

The spatially relative terms “below”, “beneath”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, etc., are as shown in the figure. It can be used to easily describe a correlation between a component and other components. The spatially relative terms should be understood as terms including different directions of components in use or operation in addition to the directions shown in the drawings. For example, if a component shown in the drawing is turned over, a component described as "below" or "beneath" of another component will be placed "above" of the other component. Can. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can include both the directions below and above. The component can also be oriented in other directions, so that spatially relative terms can be interpreted according to the orientation.

Hereinafter, the stimulus providing apparatus 10 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are conceptual diagrams showing various embodiments of a wearing part of the stimulus providing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 3 are conceptual diagrams showing various embodiments of a stimulation providing unit of the stimulation providing apparatus of the present invention.

The stimulus providing apparatus 10 according to embodiments of the present invention may be provided in the form of a wearable device (for example, a wearable or attachable wearable device), and provides stimulation in various ways to a user to perform perceptual training It can be done. The manner in which various wearable devices provide stimuli will be described later in detail.

Meanwhile, the stimulus providing apparatus 10 according to the embodiments of the present invention can be applied to patients with various diseases. For example, the stimulus providing apparatus 10 of the present invention may be applied to a patient with perception disorder. In particular, it can also be applied to patients with chronic pain, and in this case, the chronic pain may be a neuropathic disease or an inflammatory disease. In addition, the stimulation providing device 10 may be applied to the treatment of patients with tremors due to nervous system abnormalities. A detailed description of the treatment method using a stimulus providing device for each disease will be described later.

The stimulus providing apparatus 10 according to embodiments of the present invention may perform training in connection with various devices.

In one embodiment, the stimulus providing device 10 may be used in pair with a user device (not shown). In this case, the user device may include one or more of a telecommunication device such as a smart phone, a tablet, a PDA, a laptop, and a remote controller, but is not limited thereto.

In this case, the stimulus providing apparatus 10 of the present invention can be controlled (eg, training difficulty setting) by a user device, and the training results can be managed and managed in a database in a user device (eg, a training log) , The user's status can be monitored in real time to the guardian by the user device.

In addition, the user device or application associated with the stimulus providing device 10 is connected to the central management server of the hospital, so that the training results can be shared with the medical staff, through which the medical staff can monitor the user's training performance. .

Further, in another embodiment, the stimulus providing device 10 may be used in connection with a virtual and augmented reality device (AR, VR Device). The stimulus providing device 10 may be used in conjunction with a virtual reality space implementation device (eg, a head mounted display device, etc.), or may be manufactured as some components of the virtual and augmented reality devices. For example, the stimulus providing device 10 may be built in a VR glove that detects a user's hand gesture. The stimulus providing device 10 may provide various trainings in connection with a display device for virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR), and detailed description thereof will be described later. For example, when the stimulus providing apparatus 10 of the present invention provides skin stimulation (eg, providing a temperature stimulus in real reality), the virtual and augmented reality devices have various visual contents (eg, skin in virtual and augmented reality) Providing an image of a thermal conductor contacting a body part to which stimulation is applied) to help a user perceive skin irritation in real life.

Specifically, the stimulus providing device may provide stimulation for pain treatment to a body part wearing the stimulus providing device while providing visual content as it is linked to the HMD for VR. That is, by forming a temporal-spatial relationship between visual stimulation and tactile stimulation, it is possible to improve the tactile perception learning effect for pain reduction.

The stimulus providing apparatus may provide a stimulus corresponding to the visual content while providing visual content capable of visual-tactile connection through the virtual reality HMD. For example, in order to provide causality between visual and tactile stimuli to increase realism and immersion, it is possible to provide a temperature stimulus while providing visual content approaching a warm object through HMD so that warmth can be felt. It is possible to induce the normalization of the sensory system by providing the stimulus generated in real reality in the virtual space. In addition, for example, feedback that should be output in the content viewed by the patient may be generated as a stimulus output from the stimulus providing device. Through multiple spatially and temporally relevant stimuli (multimodal stimuli), the effect of tactile perception learning can be improved.

The stimulation providing apparatus 10 of the present invention may include one or more wearing parts 11 and one or more stimulation providing parts 12.

The wearing part 11 may be provided in a wearable form and worn on a user's body part. The body part in which the stimulation providing apparatus 10 of the present invention provides stimulation may be determined by the wearing part 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, the wearing part 11 may have various embodiments. As an example, the wearing part 11 may be provided in the form of a wearable band as shown in FIG. 1 (1), or may be provided in the form of gloves as shown in FIG. As shown in 3), it may be provided in the form of a body suit, or as shown in FIG.

The stimulus providing unit 12 may be disposed on the wearing unit 11 and provide stimulation to the body part.

The stimulus providing unit 12 may provide various types of stimuli. For example, "temperature stimulation (warm stimulation/cooling stimulation)", "pressure stimulation (pressure)", "electrical stimulation (eg, deterioration of biological tissue with radio frequency current (RF))", "haptic stimulation (eg, Vibration)", "fluid stimulation (eg, gas injection)" and "brush stimulation (pleasant stimulation that rubs the body with a soft microfiber)", but is not limited thereto. For example, in patients with chronic pain, "temperature stimulation" can be used as a stimulus for perceptual training, using the characteristic that temperature stimulation and pain stimulation are anatomically perceived through the same neuropath. That is, the stimulus providing unit 12 may provide temperature stimulation to perform perceptual training for pain that occurs in the absence of damage to body tissues (ie, occurs without trauma).

A detailed description of how the stimulation providing unit provides each type of stimulation will be described later.

In addition, in another embodiment, the stimulus providing device may control the stimulus providing time so that the stimulus is not adapted. For example, the stimulus providing device may provide a stimulus for the first time at the same location, and then provide a rest period for the second time. Through this, the stimulation providing apparatus may provide a stimulus for the treatment of pain to one body part, while allowing treatment without being adapted to the stimulus. Specifically, after providing the stimulus for the first time, the stimulus providing device may repeat the process of providing a time interval during which the stimulus is not provided for the second time.

Furthermore, referring to FIG. 2, the wearing part 11 may include a first wearing part 13 and a second wearing part 15 worn on different body parts among a plurality of body parts of the user. That is, the user (ie, the patient) can wear the first wearing part on the first body part and wear the second wear part on the second body part, thereby providing stimulation to various body parts. In one embodiment, the first wearing part 13 may be worn on a normal body part, and the second wearing part 15 may be worn on an abnormal body part. Through this, the patient can be trained to distinguish the stimuli provided to the first body part and the second body part. In addition, in another embodiment, when a passive stimulus is provided to the patient without discriminating the stimulus, the location of the stimulus is provided to the first body part so that the patient is not adapted to the stimulus provided by the stimulus provider. You can change to the second body part. For example, when the location where the patient mainly feels pain is in multiple locations, pain stimulation may be provided by using each pain region as the first body region and the second body region.

To this end, when the wearing part 11 includes the first wearing part 13 and the second wearing part 15, the stimulus providing part 12 is a body part (work) in which the first wearing part 13 is worn. For example, a first stimulation providing unit 14 that provides stimulation to a normal body part, and a second stimulation agent that provides stimulation to a body part (eg, an abnormal body part) on which the second wearing part 15 is worn. It may include study (16).

The stimulus providing unit 12 may provide stimuli in various ways. For example, as shown in (1) of FIG. 3, the stimulus providing unit 12 may include one or more first strips 12-1 providing a first temperature and one or more second strips providing a second temperature ( 12-2).

In this case, the one or more first strips 12-1 and the one or more second strips 12-2 may be arranged in an alternating stripe pattern.

In addition, the first temperature may be higher than the surface temperature of the body part (warm stimulation), and the second temperature may be lower than the surface temperature of the body part (cooling stimulation).

As a result, the stimulus providing unit 12 may alternately and repeatedly provide a cooling stimulus and a warm stimulus, so that the user may perceive a “virtual stimulus”. On the other hand, "virtual stimulation" is a stimulation generated by a phenomenon called hot grill illusion (Thermal grill illusion), for example, a body part after alternating metal straps set at 40 degrees (℃) and 20 degrees (℃). It may be a painful stimulus that the brain feels when it is touched.

Also, the stimulus providing unit 12 may include a plurality of segments 12-3 driven to provide stimuli, as shown in FIG. 3(2). In this case, the plurality of segments 12-3 may be arranged along one or more rows and one or more columns.

Further, the plurality of segments 12-3 can be driven in various ways. For example, the plurality of segments 12-3 may selectively provide an excitation motion to provide a pressure stimulus, or may be selectively applied with electrical energy to provide an electrical stimulus, but is not limited thereto.

In addition, the stimulus providing unit 12 may include a plurality of heating elements 12-4, as shown in FIG. 3(3). In this case, the plurality of heating elements 12-4 may be provided in the form of a hot wire.

Also, the stimulus providing unit 12 may provide a pressure stimulus (pressure). For example, the stimulus providing unit may include a protrusion module in which one or more protrusion levels are controlled, and accordingly, the intensity of pressure stimulation provided to the patient may be controlled. In addition, when a plurality of protruding modules are included, the stimulus providing unit may adjust the pressure intensity by controlling the number of protruding portions. The protruding module may have a blunt tip or a sharp tip against the skin.

Also, the stimulus providing unit 12 may include one or more electrodes that provide high frequency current (RF) in two dimensions. At this time, the stimulus providing unit outputs the RF current to the electrode by the RF module. Specifically, so that the patient does not wear a separate configuration other than the stimulation providing device, the stimulation providing unit may be manufactured in a bipolar manner in which a plurality of electrodes have (+) and (-) poles adjacent to each other. Through this, the patient can feel the electrical stimulation, and the skin is heated by the RF current of a certain intensity or more, and the temperature stimulation can also be felt.

In addition, the stimulus providing unit 12 may include one or more haptic modules, and generate haptic stimulation by a control unit described later. The haptic module adjusts the intensity of the haptic stimulus output by the control unit described later.

In addition, in another embodiment, the stimulus providing device may be controlled by a control unit in a physically separated device (eg, a patient's smartphone interlocked with the stimulation providing device), or controlled by a control unit in the stimulation providing device. Can be. For example, when the stimulus providing device and the user terminal are used in conjunction, the user terminal and one or more stimulus providing devices may form a stimulus providing training system.

The control unit (not shown) serves to set a stimulus to be provided through the stimulus providing unit. For example, the control unit may control at least one of the location, range, and intensity of the stimulus. Therefore, the stimulus providing apparatus 10 of the present invention can provide stimuli in various ways. As a result, the user can perform perceptual training by receiving stimuli in various ways according to his or her condition.

Meanwhile, the location of the stimulus may mean a location where the stimulus is provided, and by changing the location of the stimulus, not only the point at which the stimulus is provided in one body portion may be changed, but also the body portion itself may be changed. For example, when it is possible to provide stimulation to various body parts (for example, when a patient wears a first wearing part having a first stimulation providing part and a second wearing part having a second stimulation providing part), The controller may set a position to provide the stimulus (eg, a position in which the first stimulus providing unit is disposed or a position in which the second stimulus providing unit is disposed).

In addition, the range of the stimulus may mean a range in which the stimulus is provided at a specific location, and when the stimulus providing unit 12 includes a plurality of segments 12-3, the plurality of segments 12-3 are selectively selected. It can be controlled by driving.

Further, the intensity of the stimulus may mean an absolute value or a relative value of the stimulus provided in a specific location and a specific range. On the other hand, in the case of a patient with a perception disorder, the intensity of the stimulus actually provided and the intensity of the stimulus that they perceive may be different, and accordingly, various disorders may be complained (eg, chronic pain).

Meanwhile, the stimulus may be provided as a plurality of stimuli, and in this case, at least a portion of the plurality of stimuli may have at least one of a location, a range, and an intensity of the stimulus.

In addition, in one embodiment, the control unit may control the stimulus providing unit 12 in the “daily life mode” and the “training concentration mode”.

In the "Passive mode", providing the stimulus to the body part is performed only a predetermined number of times, and the user may not be asked to select the answer by distinguishing the provided stimulus. That is, in the "everyday life mode", by continuously providing stimulation to a specific body part, it is possible to normalize the abnormal brain activation (Positive symptom) due to sensory function decline (Negative symptom) or sensory function failure. have. In this case, the location, range, and intensity of the stimulus at each predetermined number of times may be kept constant or changed, but it may be desirable to remain constant.

Hereinafter, a detailed description of a mode in which the patient is passively provided with a stimulus (hereinafter, a passive stimulation mode or a daily life mode) without a process of distinguishing the stimuli from the patient will be described.

In one embodiment, the passive stimulation mode may be implemented in a manner that provides stimulation to a body part having the same nerve path in a body part where the patient feels pain or a body part where the patient mainly feels pain.

Further, in another embodiment, the passive stimulation mode may provide a stimulus at a position where the stimulus providing unit is disposed at a time appropriate to provide a passive stimulus for pain relief. For example, since patients often do not feel pain while performing a movement, it is possible to provide passive stimulation at rest when the patient does not perform movement. Specifically, since the patient does not actually have stimulation, but the sensory input is not actually applied to the phantom pain caused by judging from the brain as having stimulation, when sensory stimulation is not input (for example, , At rest).

In addition, in another embodiment, the control unit serves to determine or determine an appropriate time for providing passive stimulation to the patient. For example, the control unit may calculate a timing when it is determined that there is no sensory stimulation (that is, stimulation applied to the skin of a region where pain is mainly felt) to the patient, and request the stimulus output set in the stimulus providing unit. For example, when the stimulus providing device includes a motion sensor such as a gyro sensor, the control unit may request that the stimulus is provided to the stimulus providing unit after sensing that the patient remains still without movement. That is, the control unit may determine an appropriate time for passive perceptual learning to improve the effect of perception training for pain treatment.

In addition, in another embodiment, the control unit may change the stimulation type or stimulation level according to the situation taken by the patient. There may be a difference in the degree of perception of the stimulus in the situation where the patient is resting and performing the movement. That is, the control unit may determine whether the patient is moving or not to change the stimulus intensity provided (eg, increase the intensity of the stimulus when the patient performs the movement).

In addition, in another embodiment, so that the patient does not feel pain during training, the control unit sets a stimulus of intensity that the patient will not feel as pain. Since the criteria of the stimulus intensity perceived as pain may be different depending on the patient, the controller provides training by setting an appropriate level of stimulus intensity to a patient performing passive stimulation-based perception training.

To this end, in one embodiment, the control unit may set an appropriate stimulus intensity by receiving feedback from the patient while adjusting the stimulus intensity provided to the patient. In another embodiment, the control unit may be connected to a separate EEG measuring device to set a stimulus that the patient will not feel as pain, but a high brain activation level. Proper stimulation intensity setting may be performed through the EEG measurement device possessed by the patient, or appropriate stimulus intensity setting may be performed based on feedback on the EEG and patient's pain level obtained by adjusting the stimulation intensity when visiting the hospital. .

On the other hand, in the "training intensive mode or active perception training mode (Active mode: a training mode in which a patient discriminates stimuli provided simultaneously or sequentially)", providing the stimulus to the body part is performed a predetermined number of times, and furthermore the user You may be asked to choose the answer by distinguishing the stimuli provided to you. That is, in the "training intensive mode", the stimulus is changed and provided to the abnormal body part, and the user perceives that the stimulus is changed. Can. In this case, the location, range, and intensity of the stimulus may be kept constant or changed at each predetermined number of times, but it may be desirable to change.

When the patient with perception disorder is a chronic pain patient, the sensitivity of the stimulus is lowered (for example, the threshold for stimulation is increased), and the brain generates a stimulus signal through an abnormal path, so that the patient feels pain. Chronic pain can be resolved by training in the "training intensive mode" to improve stimulation through the correct neurotransmission pathway.

Various training methods in the "training intensive mode" will be described in detail in the perceptual training method of the present invention described later.

In addition, in another embodiment, the control unit may set at least one of the location, range, and intensity of the stimulus according to the number of sensory receptors in the body part where the stimulus is provided. As described above, the body part to which the stimulus is provided may be determined primarily by the wearing unit 11, and may be determined secondarily by the control unit determining the location of the stimulus.

In addition, in another embodiment, the control unit may control the stimulus providing unit 12 in the "warmth mode" and the "stimulation providing mode", for example, the wearing unit 11 is provided in the form of a glove and the stimulus providing unit When (12) includes a plurality of heating elements (12-4), the stimulus providing unit 12 may provide a temperature for warming of the body part in the "warmth mode" and in the "stimulation providing mode" of the body part You can provide a temperature for stimulation.

Hereinafter, a perception training method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 4 to 9 is a flow chart showing that the perception training method of the present invention is provided in various embodiments.

Hereinafter, a method for training perception in the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The perception training method of the first embodiment of the present invention may include a stimulus providing step 100, a request step 200 and a correct answer checking step 300.

In the stimulus providing step 100, providing the stimulus to the body part may be performed a predetermined number of times. In the requesting step 200, a stimulus provided to the user may be distinguished and a response may be selected. In the correct answer checking step 300, it may be determined whether the user's selection is correct.

That is, in the perception training method of the first embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a stimulus to a user a predetermined number of times, and it can be confirmed whether the user distinguishes the stimulus according to the user's selection.

As described above, in the case of a patient with cognitive impairment, various symptoms are complained because the actual stimulus and the stimulus perceived by him do not match. In the perception training method of the first embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to normalize sensory function by checking whether a patient with a perception disorder correctly recognizes a stimulus.

On the other hand, in the perception training method of the first embodiment of the present invention, the stimulus may be a virtual stimulus generated by providing a first temperature higher than the surface temperature to the body part and a second temperature lower than the surface temperature to the body part.

In this case, the difference between the first temperature and the second temperature may be changed for each number of times in the stimulus providing step 100, and the difference between the first temperature and the second temperature to the user for each number of times in the requesting step 200 Distinguish between changes, and the user may be asked to select the intensity of the perceived virtual stimulus (the intensity of pain).

That is, in the perception training method of the first embodiment of the present invention, unlike the conventional perception training method, the intensity of the virtual stimulus (pain caused by the brain to be mistaken) according to the difference between the first temperature and the second temperature generating the virtual stimulus The intensity of) may be used to perform perceptual training by checking whether the user has correctly perceived the intensity of the virtual stimulus.

In addition, in the training method of the modification example of the first embodiment of the present invention, another method of perceptual training using virtual stimuli is provided.

In this case, the difference between the first temperature and the second temperature is constant for each number of times in the stimulus providing step 100, and the values of the first temperature and the second temperature may be changed, and each number of times in the requesting step 200 Each time, the user may be asked to select the intensity of the virtual stimulus perceived by the user by distinguishing that the values of the first temperature and the second temperature are changed.

That is, in another perceptual training method of the first embodiment of the present invention, although the difference between the first temperature and the second temperature is constant, the intensity of the virtual stimulus is adjusted by changing the values of the first temperature and the second temperature (changing the base line) and , Perception training can be performed by checking whether the user correctly perceives the intensity of the virtual stimulus according to the change of the base line.

Further, in the perceptual training method of another modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, in the stimulus providing step 100, at least one of the location, range, and intensity of the stimulus may be changed at a predetermined number of times. Furthermore, in the requesting step 200, the user may be asked to select at least one of the location, range, and intensity of the perceived stimulus by distinguishing that at least one of the location, range, and intensity of the stimulus is changed for each number of times. .

In addition, in the perceptual training method of another modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention, in the stimulus providing step 100, a plurality of stimuli are provided at each of a predetermined number of times, and at least a part of the plurality of stimuli is positioned and ranged and the intensity At least one of them may be different. That is, a plurality of stimuli in which at least one of at least one of the location and range and intensity of the stimulus is different in one process may be provided. Furthermore, in the requesting step 200, a stimulus that satisfies a specific condition among a plurality of stimuli perceived by a user by distinguishing that at least one of a location and a range and intensity of at least a portion of a plurality of stimuli is different from each user for each number You may be asked to choose.

For example, when the stimulus providing apparatus 10 for performing another modification of the first embodiment of the present invention is provided in the form of a glove, a plurality of stimuli may be provided one by one to the index finger, middle finger, and ring finger, and the user You may be asked to select a stimulus that has the greatest stimulus intensity among the plurality of stimuli.

Hereinafter, a method for perceptual training in a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The perception training method of the second embodiment of the present invention may include the stimulus providing step 100, the request step 200, and the correct answer checking step 300, similar to the perception training method of the first embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, in the perceptual training method of the second embodiment of the present invention, a feedback step 400 may be further included.

In the feedback step 400, if the user's selection is the correct answer, the user may provide a feedback stimulus according to the correct answer. In this case, the feedback stimulus may be provided after the predetermined number of times or may be provided for each of the predetermined number of times. Also, the feedback stimulus may be provided to the same body part as the stimulus provided in the stimulus providing step 100. Also, the feedback stimulus may be a pleasant stimulus, for example, a brush stimulus.

Hereinafter, a perception training method according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The perception training method of the third embodiment of the present invention may include the stimulus providing step 100, the request step 200, and the correct answer checking step 300, similar to the perception training method of the first embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, in the perception training method of the third embodiment of the present invention, a difficulty determination step 500 may be further included.

In the difficulty determining step 500, if the correct answer rate in the correct answer checking step 300 is greater than or equal to the reference condition, it may be determined with an appropriate difficulty. Furthermore, if it is determined that the difficulty is proper, training may be performed again while maintaining the stimulation conditions in the stimulus providing step 100.

On the other hand, as the intensity of the virtual stimulus increases, and the position and range and intensity of the stimulus change significantly, the user can better distinguish them, and accordingly, the correct answer rate increases.

In the perception training method of the third embodiment of the present invention, the user may repeatedly perform optimal perception training by setting the case where the stimulus is greater than or equal to a specific change rate to an appropriate difficulty level.

Hereinafter, a method for perceptual training according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The perception training method of the fourth embodiment of the present invention may include a normal body part stimulus providing step 600 and an abnormal body part stimulation providing step 700 and a perception step 800.

In the normal body part stimulus providing step 600, the normal body part may be provided with stimulation, in the abnormal body part stimulus providing step 700, the abnormal body part may be provided with stimulation, and in the perception step 800, the user The stimulus provided to normal body parts and the stimulus provided to abnormal body parts can be perceived.

That is, since chronic pain occurs in a specific body part, when providing the same stimulus as a normal body part, it is possible to train the patient that the provided stimulus is not at a level to feel pain.

Since the user correctly recognizes the stimulus provided to the normal body part, referring to this, the user can recognize that the stimulus provided to the abnormal body part is different from the stimulus actually felt, thereby effectively normalizing the sensory function.

Furthermore, in order to maximize the above-described effect, the normal body part and the abnormal body part may be symmetrical. For example, when the normal body part is the cuff of the left arm, the abnormal body part may be the cuff of the right arm, but is not limited thereto.

On the other hand, depending on the patient's condition, the normal body part stimulation providing step 600 and the abnormal body part stimulation providing step 700 may be performed simultaneously or at this time.

On the other hand, in the stimulus providing apparatus 10 for performing the perception training method of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the wearing part 11 includes a first wearing part 13 and a second wearing part 15, and a stimulating agent When the study 12 includes the first stimulation providing unit 14 and the second stimulation providing unit 16, the first wearing portion 13 is disposed on the normal body part to the first stimulation providing unit 14 The stimulus is provided, and the second wearing part 15 is disposed on the abnormal body part, and the stimulus can be provided by the second stimulus providing part 16.

As described above, although the perception training method of the fourth embodiment of the present invention has been described as a “everyday life mode” for simply providing stimulation to a body part, the perception training method of the fourth embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto.

That is, the perceptual training method of the fourth embodiment of the present invention can also be implemented in the "intensive training mode", and like the perceptual training method of the first embodiment of the present invention, the stimulation is performed a predetermined number of times on normal and abnormal body parts. It can be provided, it can be asked to select the answer by distinguishing the stimulus provided to the user, it can be confirmed whether the user's choice is the correct answer.

Hereinafter, a method for perceptual training in a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 8. Perceptual training method of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, as in the perceptual training method of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the normal body part stimulation providing step 600 and the abnormal body part stimulation providing step 700 and the perception step 800 It can contain. Furthermore, the perception training method of the fifth embodiment of the present invention may further include a triggering stimulus determination step 900.

Depending on the type, patients with perceptual impairment may complain of pain to the abnormal body part by stimulation (provoking stimulation) provided to the normal body part, not stimulation provided to the abnormal body part.

In this case, if it is possible to determine a normal body part (hereinafter, a triggered stimulus body part) to which a triggered stimulus is provided, a customized solution may be provided to a patient with perceptual impairment.

To this end, in the triggering stimulus determination step 900, the user perceives the stimulation of a certain intensity over the abnormal body part in the normal body part stimulation providing step 100 and the intensity of the abnormal body part in the abnormal body part stimulation providing step 200. If the above stimulus is not perceived, the normal body part can be determined as the body part causing stimulation.

Hereinafter, a method for training perception according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The perception training method of the sixth embodiment of the present invention may include a stimulus providing step 100, a user measuring the brain activity 1000, and a difficulty determining step 1100. That is, in the perception training method of the sixth embodiment of the present invention, the brain activity of the user is measured according to the stimulus, and if the brain activity is higher than the reference condition (the brain activity is high in the stimulus providing step), it is determined that the stimulus is provided at an appropriate difficulty. can do.

In addition, in the perceptual training method of another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of stimuli having at least one of different positions and ranges and strengths of stimuli on a body part by a stimulus providing device may be sequentially applied to a specific body part or simultaneously to a plurality of body parts. A stimulus providing step of performing a given number of times to be provided, a plurality of stimuli provided to a user is distinguished, and a correct answer is selected, but the correct answer is a stimulus meeting a specific condition or a different stimulus among three or more stimuli, selecting the correct answer A request step and a step of determining a correct answer may be included to determine whether the user's selection is the correct answer.

The method according to an embodiment of the present invention described above may be implemented as a program (or application) to be executed in combination with a computer that is hardware, and stored in a medium.

The'computer' includes all of various devices capable of performing arithmetic processing and providing results to a user. For example, the computer is not only a desktop PC and a notebook, but also a smart phone, a tablet PC, a cellular phone, and a personal communication service phone (PCS phone), synchronous/asynchronous. Mobile terminals of the International Mobile Telecommunication-2000 (IMT-2000), a Palm Personal Computer (PC), and a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) may also be applicable. Also, the computer may be a server that receives a request from a client and performs information processing.

The above-described program is C, C++, JAVA, machine language, etc., in which a processor (CPU) of the computer can be read through a device interface of the computer in order for the computer to read the program and execute the methods implemented as a program. It may include a code (Code) coded in the computer language of. Such code may include functional code related to a function defining functions required to execute the above methods, and control code related to an execution procedure necessary for the processor of the computer to execute the functions according to a predetermined procedure. can do. In addition, the code may further include a memory reference-related code as to which location (address address) of the computer's internal or external memory should be referred to additional information or media necessary for the computer's processor to perform the functions. have. In addition, when the processor of the computer needs to communicate with any other computer or server in the remote to execute the functions, the code can be used to communicate with any other computer or server in the remote using the communication module of the computer. It may further include a communication-related code for whether to communicate, what information or media to transmit and receive during communication, and the like.

The storage medium refers to a medium that stores data semi-permanently, and that can be read by a device, rather than a medium that stores data for a short moment, such as a register, cache, memory, or the like. Specifically, examples of the medium to be stored include, but are not limited to, ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, and optical data storage device. That is, the program may be stored in various recording media on various servers that the computer can access or various recording media on the user's computer. In addition, the medium may be distributed over a computer system connected through a network to store computer readable codes in a distributed manner.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. You will understand. Therefore, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive.

Claims

In the stimulus providing device for providing a training stimulation for the pain improvement of pain patients,

One or more wearing parts worn on body parts; And

One or more stimulus providing parts disposed on the wearing part and providing stimulation to body parts;

Including,

The stimulus providing unit is included in the stimulation providing device or physically separated and controlled by a control unit in a user terminal interworking with the stimulation providing device,

The control unit is a stimulus providing device for controlling at least one of the position and range and intensity of the stimulus.
According to claim 1,

The control unit detects a time when sensory stimulation is not input to a patient, and is characterized in that the stimulus providing device is passively output through the stimulus providing unit.
According to claim 2,

The control unit is provided with a stimulus providing device, characterized in that determining the appropriate stimulus intensity by receiving whether or not the patient feels as a pain while gradually controlling the stimulus intensity.
According to claim 2,

The control unit, in conjunction with a physically separated EEG measuring device, characterized in that for determining the appropriate stimulation intensity of the brain activity level is greater than or equal to the reference value without the patient feeling pain.
According to claim 1,

The control unit,

Control one or more stimulus providing units to sequentially provide stimuli to specific body parts or to simultaneously provide stimuli to a plurality of body parts,

A device for providing a stimulus, characterized in that the user is asked to select an answer by distinguishing the stimulus provided to the user.
According to claim 1,

The stimulus providing unit includes at least one first strip that provides a first temperature higher than the surface temperature to the body part, and at least one second strip that provides a second temperature lower than the surface temperature to the body part,

The one or more first strips and the one or more second strips are arranged in an alternating stripe pattern.
According to claim 1,

The stimulus providing unit includes a plurality of heating elements,

The control unit is a stimulation providing device for controlling the stimulation providing unit in a warming mode and a stimulation providing mode.
According to claim 1,

The wear part includes a first wear part worn on a normal body part and a second wear part worn on an abnormal body part,

The stimulation providing unit includes a first stimulation providing unit which is disposed on the first wearing unit and provides stimulation to a normal body part, and a second stimulation providing unit which is disposed on the second wearing unit and provides stimulation to an abnormal body part. Stimulation device.
A stimulus providing step of providing a plurality of stimuli, which are different in at least one of the location, range, and intensity of the stimuli by a stimulus providing device sequentially to a specific body part or simultaneously to a plurality of body parts;

Requesting to select a correct answer by distinguishing a plurality of stimuli provided to a user, wherein the correct answer is a stimulus meeting a specific condition or a different stimulus among three or more stimuli; And

A perception training method comprising; a correct answer determination step of determining whether the user's selection is the correct answer.
A computer program stored in a medium to execute the method of claim 9 in combination with a computer that is hardware.