REMOTE INTERACTIVE CONTROL AND DELIVERY OF TACTILE BILATERAL STIMULATION (BLS)

The present invention generally provides devices and the supporting software that allows a therapist to interactively control the delivery of tactile BLS to a remotely located client during a therapy session. The unique advantage of this invention is that the therapist and client can be in different physical locations during treatment with tactile BLS. The therapist's device supports configuring parameters such as the start, stop, and number of tactile stimulations delivered to the client. The client's device receives the parameters and activates the bilateral stimulation sequences accordingly. Each device connects to the Internet and communicates with a cloud-based service to exchange commands and settings. With this invention, the therapist and the client are no longer required to be in the same location during a treatment session incorporating tactile BLS.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of psychotherapy, wherein a trained therapist delivers Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) to a client during a therapy session. Delivering BLS refers to the presentation of a visual, auditory, or tactile stimulus to one side of the body, then to the other side, followed by repeated sets of these alternating stimulations. A set is a sequence of one left-side vibration followed by one right-side vibration. One example of therapy where BLS is used is for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment.

During treatment incorporating BLS, the therapist and client meet in person so the therapist can interactively guide the presentation of the BLS based on the observed behavior and responses by the client. A method for delivering tactile BLS might consist of a controller and a pair of tactile stimulators connected to the controller, with the limiting constraint that the therapist and client must be in close physical proximity to each other. The therapist holds the controller and selects parameters for the delivery of the tactile BLS sets. The client holds one of the tactile stimulators in each hand, which vibrate alternately as the therapist guides delivery of the BLS.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The increasing trend in virtual or telehealth therapy sessions means that a therapist and a client may be remotely located, i.e., not occupying the same physical premises. The present invention provides a means to support tactile BLS when the client is at a different physical location than the therapist, allowing the therapist to interactively control the delivery of tactile BLS to a remotely located client during a therapy session.

The invention generally comprises: an internet enabled device to be used by the therapist, hereinafter referred to as the therapist device; an internet enabled device to be used by the client, hereinafter referred to as the client device; and a cloud service that supports authorization and secure connection between the devices. The client device includes tactile stimulators for the delivery of BLS. In the description that follows, these devices may be referred to as “Internet of Things (IoT)” devices, meaning any internet enabled device.

The therapist uses the therapist device to select parameters and control the delivery of the tactile BLS to the remotely located client. The client holds the tactile stimulators of the client device, which vibrate or otherwise deliver the stimulations during the session. As the session proceeds, the therapist guides and dynamically adjusts the stimulus delivery parameters based on the client's verbal and non-verbal responses, according to the treatment protocol. The unique advantage of this invention is that tactile BLS can be delivered even when the therapist and client are not at the same physical location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1provides an overview of one preferred embodiment of the invention. The therapist premises101and the client premises102are designated by the dotted lines encircling the therapist IoT device103and the client IoT device104, respectively. The premises are shown in this way to illustrate that they may be physically separate, i.e., the therapist and client may be in different locations. However, the underlying principles of this invention also support the case where the therapist and client are in a single location, such as the therapist's office.

Each of the IoT devices103and104connect to the Internet110through a connection109with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). In some embodiments of the invention, the connection109is wireless, e.g., over Wi-Fi through a local router and modem, over a cellular connection such as 3G, 4G LTE, or similar. In other embodiments of the invention, the connection109may be wired to the local router or other networking communications device. Thereafter, the devices103and104connect to the IoT cloud service111.

In one embodiment, the cloud service111may support, but is not limited to, the following functions:a. Initial registration of each device103and104, including adding the device and associated user (therapist) to a database112;b. Updates to the database112for adding or removing devices and users;c. Security and authentication to ensure trusted communications with devices103and104; andd. Handling messaging between the two IoT devices103and104.

FIG. 2illustrates the key components comprising one embodiment of a therapist IoT device103. These components may include but are not limited to the following:a. An antenna201and an associated network interface module205;b. A security module206and a mechanism for secure key storage202;c. A power management module203, and a battery or DC power input204that provides power to the device;d. A low-power microprocessor207;e. A program upload connection208, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) micro-B connection or similar, to optionally support uploading program code and data;f. Memory209, such as static or dynamic memory, which provides the memory resource for both programs210and data211;g. An output display212, which may be of various types commonly used in the industry, and is used for output indications such as the parameters, battery percentage remaining, connection status, and others; andh. Input sensors213, which are used to select the values of the various parameters related to tactile BLS.

In some embodiments, the input sensors213may include but are not limited to physical inputs such as knobs and switches, touchscreen devices for selections from a touchscreen display, and voice control for selecting options.

In some embodiments, the power management module203may handle recharging circuitry and logic to support DC power input204from a rechargeable battery, such as a Lithium Polymer (Li—Po) battery or other types of rechargeable batteries.

FIG. 3illustrates the components of one embodiment of a client IoT device104. These components may include but are not limited to the following:a. An antenna301and an associated network interface module305;b. A security module306and a mechanism for secure key storage302;c. A power management module303, and a battery or DC power input304that provides power to the device;d. A low-power microprocessor307;e. A program upload connection308, such as a USB micro-B connection to optionally support uploading program code and data; f Memory309, such as static or dynamic memory, which provides the memory resource for both programs310and data311;g. Output display312, which may optionally provide a visual display of the left and right stimulations and other status indications; andh. A tactile stimulator controller313, which issues commands and controls the left and right tactile stimulators107and108to produce the BLS.

In some embodiments, the output display312may include but is not limited to Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) devices for displaying additional information such as connection status.

In some embodiments, the power management module303may handle recharging circuitry and logic to support DC power input304from a rechargeable battery, such as a Li—Po battery or other types of rechargeable batteries.

FIG. 3. also illustrates details of one embodiment of the left and right tactile stimulators107and108. The left tactile stimulator107is connected to the device104by the left connection105, and the right tactile stimulator108is connected by the right connection106.

In some embodiments, the connections105and106may be wired, and in other embodiments they may be wireless, using industry standards such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). This is indicated by the dotted line from the device104to the tactile stimulators107and108.

In some embodiments, the left tactile stimulator107includes, but is not limited to, the following:a. A controller interface314, which receives commands and settings from the tactile stimulator controller313for operation of the tactile stimulator107;b. A motor316, which is driven to produce the desired vibratory output; andc. A power source315, which might be required if the left connection105is wireless.

In some embodiments, the power source315may be provided from standard batteries. In other embodiments, the power might be provided from a rechargeable battery, such as a Li—Po battery or other types of rechargeable batteries.

In some embodiments, the right tactile stimulator108includes, but is not limited to, the following:a. A controller interface317, which receives commands and settings from the tactile stimulator controller313for operation of the tactile stimulator108;b. A motor319, which is driven to produce the desired vibratory output; andc. A power source318, which might be required if the right connection106is wireless.

In some embodiments, the power source318may be provided from standard batteries. In other embodiments, the power might be provided from a rechargeable battery, such as a Li—Po battery or other types of rechargeable batteries.

FIG. 4illustrates the components of one embodiment of the IoT cloud service111. These components may include but are not limited to the following:a. A security module403and a mechanism for secure key storage401;b. A registration module402, a user manager404, and a device manager405, which may be used to keep track of registered users (therapists) and their associated devices in the user and device database112;c. The cloud provider's core IoT libraries406, which may be named differently on different cloud provider's platforms; andd. The message receiver407and the message sender408, which may be used to receive, send, and process messages between the therapist device103and the client device104.

FIG. 5shows an example of the user and device information that may be stored in the user and device database112in one embodiment of the invention. The structure of the data must support the following constraints.a. A therapist may have more than one therapist IoT device103. For example, one device103might be used at the therapist's office, and an additional device103might be used at the therapist's home;b. A therapist may have multiple client IoT devices104, one or more per client; andc. The therapist must be able to select the desired client IoT device104for each session. The input Sensors213of the therapist IoT device103provide the means for this.

The list of users501refers to a list of therapists who have registered their devices with the IoT cloud service111.

For each user in the list501, their login information and list of devices is maintained by the cloud service111, as shown in the example User A's information502.

The user's list of devices, as shown in the example User A's list of devices503, includes all the devices registered to that user. Although not shown, the list of devices includes both the user's therapist devices103and their client devices104. Also not shown is the information which is maintained for each device, which might include but is not limited to entries for the unique identifier of the device, and the type of device103or104.

The IoT cloud service111supports the ability to add new users (therapists), and to remove users. Additionally, the cloud service111supports the addition of new devices for a therapist, and the removal of devices.

It should be clear to one who is skilled in the art that the invention might have additional uses for a client, such as relaxation, help in grounding, or other therapeutic applications.

In a best mode for carrying out the invention:a. The therapist device features an ESP32 based ultra low power processor, with an on-board Wi-Fi network interface and antenna. A small LCD display and physical input buttons are used for therapist input and display of parameters. In addition, the therapist may select an “auto-stop” feature which will automatically stop the BLS after a selected number of sets. The therapist may optionally select whether the left/right stimulations are simulated on the display. This option is provided because the visual display of BLS may be distracting for some therapists. A green indicator is shown upon starting BLS, and a red indicator is shown upon cessation of BLS. The current connection status to Wi-Fi, the cloud, and the client device are continually shown on the display. The current battery percentage remaining is also shown. Since a keyboard is not part of the device, a method is provided for the initial password setup or change, so that the device will automatically connect to the selected network without further interaction.b. The client device features an ESP32 based ultra low power processor, with an on-board Wi-Fi network interface and antenna. A small LCD display is used to continually indicate the current connection status to Wi-Fi, the cloud, and the therapist device. The current battery percentage remaining is also shown. Since a keyboard is not part of the device, a method is provided for the initial password setup or change, so that the device will automatically connect to the selected network without further interaction. There is a separate Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) module that is used for the connection to the two BLE-enabled tactile stimulators. A program broadcasts messages over BLE to the two stimulators, which monitor the broadcasts to determine when to produce the assigned left or right stimulation. By using a separate module for the BLE communication and the Wi-Fi communication, the client device is able to more tightly control the synchronization of the vibrations, while at the same time, monitoring the communication with the therapist device over Wi-Fi to detect dynamic changes for issuing the BLS vibrations.c. The cloud service may use a standard messaging service, such as MQTT, provided by a commercial cloud provider. Individual therapist and client devices may be uniquely identified to the cloud provider and are only allowed to access the appropriate messaging system if they are authorized to do so.