Patent ID: 6090037
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A system for modifying naturally occurring biorhythmic activity comprising:a monitor for analyzing biorhythmic activity of a user;a biorhythmic activity modifier for providing to the user a stimulus input which is operative to change at least one aspect of the biorhythmic activity of the user;a driver operative to control the operation of the biorhythmic activity modifier, so as to change at least one non-frequency characteristic of the input to the user, in response to changes in the biorhythmic activity of the user during operation of the modifier;and wherein said monitor comprises:an elastic belt stretchable along a longitudinal length thereof and which may be wrapped around at least a portion of a body of the user, which portion undergoes circumferential changes as a result of the biorhythmic activity of the user;a deformable structure against which abuts at least a portion of said belt, wherein said belt when stretched applies a force against and deforms said deformable structure;a force transducer in contact with said deformable structure which outputs a signal in correspondence with a deformation of said deformable structure; anda plurality of guides attached to said deformable structure, through which said belt is guided, such that tensile forces in said belt are transferred to a portion of said deformable structure at a constant angle, irrespective of an angle at which said belt reaches said deformable structure.