Patent ID: 9402581
Filing Date: 2016-08-02
CPC Classification: A61B,A61M,G09B,G16H

Claim Text:
1. A computer-implemented method for improving psychophysiological function for performance of a subject under stress, the method carried out by a computer coupled to a sensor interface device that is connected to a plurality of sensors that are coupled to the subject, the method comprising: in a baseline determination computer process conducted when the subject is not performing a stress-inducing activity, (a) receiving, by the computer from the sensor interface device, for each of the plurality of sensors, a measurement stream that quantifies a respective physiological parameter of the subject as measured by such sensor, and (b) storing in the computer, for each of the plurality of sensors, a received measurement of a baseline level of the respective physiological parameter as measured by such sensor; in a stress determination computer process conducted while the computer is receiving the measurement streams from each of the plurality of sensors, for each one of a stress-inducing activity in a plurality of stress-inducing activities: (a) using the computer to present such stress-inducing activity to the subject, and (b) storing in the computer, for each of the plurality of sensors, a received measurement of a stress condition level of the respective physiological parameter as measured by such sensor when the subject is performing such stress-inducing activity; in a relaxation determination computer process conducted while the computer is receiving the measurement streams from each of the plurality of sensors, for each one of a relaxation-inducing protocol in a plurality of relaxation-inducing protocols: (a) using the computer to prompt the subject to carry out such relaxation-inducing protocol, and (b) storing in the computer, for each of the plurality of sensors, a received measurement of a relaxation condition level of the respective physiological parameter as measured by such sensor when the subject is performing such relaxation-inducing protocol; in a characterization computer process, (a) selecting, by the computer, the physiological parameter for which the greatest variation exists between the baseline value of the physiological parameter and a stress condition level of the physiological parameter exhibited by the subject when performing an associated stress-inducing activity, (b) selecting, by the computer, the associated stress-inducing activity, (c) selecting, by the computer, the relaxation-inducing protocol for which the greatest variation exists between the baseline value of the selected physiological parameter and a relaxation condition level of the selected physiological parameter exhibited by the subject when performing a relaxation-inducing protocol, and (d) storing, in the computer, data characterizing the selected physiological parameter, the selected stress-inducing activity, and the selected relaxation-inducing protocol; and providing training in a training computer process, wherein the training computer process includes: in a first training segment, while monitoring the sensor that provides the measurement stream quantifying the selected physiological parameter, using the computer to present to the subject feedback indicative of the value of the selected physiological parameter as measured by the corresponding sensor, without using the computer to prompt the subject to carry out the determined relaxation-inducing protocol, until the subject achieves a state in which the subject maintains alertness with a relative minimum of stress, such state referred to herein as “coherence”, wherein such state is determined to have been achieved when the sensor provides a measurement of the parameter corresponding to the baseline level; and in a second training segment, while monitoring the sensor that provides the measurement stream quantifying the selected physiological parameter, using the computer to prompt the subject to carry out the selected relaxation-inducing protocol, while using the computer to present feedback indicative of the value of the selected physiological parameter as measured by the corresponding sensor, and while using the computer to present the determined stress-inducing activity to the subject, until the subject achieves coherence, wherein such state is determined to have been achieved when the sensor provides a measurement of the parameter corresponding to the baseline level.