Patent Publication Number: US-2021166480-A1

Title: Virtual Reality System and Method for Treating Medical Condition in User

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 16/008,981 filed on Jun. 14, 2018. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of treatments for medical conditions of existing art and more specifically relates to a virtual reality software for psychologically treating a medical condition. 
     Being diagnosed with a medical condition such as diabetes, cancer or heart disease can be difficult to cope with. It is normal to experience a range of emotions in the wake of such a diagnosis. Distress is common following a diagnosis of a medical condition. In the past, patients have been guided to practice a variety of techniques such as yoga, counseling, behavior medications and the like to deal with the emotions associated with a medical condition. However, facing the medical condition head-on may lead to the best way of coping. Therefore, a suitable solution is desired. 
     In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements and methods from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement for a virtual reality system. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known treatments for medical conditions art, the present disclosure provides a novel virtual reality system and method. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an efficient and effective virtual reality system and method. 
     A virtual reality system is disclosed herein. The virtual reality system includes a virtual reality headset having a display unit configured to display a three-dimensional virtual reality environment. The virtual reality headset may include a processor embedded in the virtual reality headset and configured to provide controls for performing one or more multimedia interactions with the three-dimensional virtual reality environment. The virtual reality headset may further include a memory removably embedded in the virtual reality headset and configured to store the multimedia interactions. 
     The processor of the virtual reality headset may further be configured to communicate with the memory, to execute the multimedia interactions, and to display the multimedia interactions on the display unit such that the user is able interact with the three-dimensional virtual reality environment. 
     The virtual reality headset may be configured to host a software providing the three-dimensional virtual reality environment. The three-dimensional virtual reality environment is configured to provide a simulation for completing a medical-mission to eliminate a virtual-representation of a medical condition associated with the user. This may enable the user to psychologically treat and face the medical condition by obtaining the virtual-representation of their medical condition. 
     According to another embodiment, a method for using a virtual reality system is also disclosed herein. The method for using the virtual reality system includes providing a virtual reality system as described above; interacting with the three-dimensional virtual reality environment with an avatar; controlling the avatar via a controller in communication with the virtual reality headset; and completing the medical-mission with the avatar to provide therapeutic relief to the user for the medical-condition. 
     For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the virtual reality system during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  shows an exemplary screen of the virtual reality system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  shows a block diagram of the virtual reality system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  shows a flow diagram of the virtual reality system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5A  shows a flow diagram illustrating a method using a virtual reality system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5B  shows a flow diagram illustrating a method using a virtual reality system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the wearable sanitizer dispenser. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for dispensing hand sanitizing solution to a hand of the wearer. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiment (s) of the invention. References to “one embodiment,” “at least one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “one example,” “an example,” “for example,” and so on indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) may include a feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in an embodiment”, “first embodiment”, “second embodiment”, or “third embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. 
     Generally, the present disclosure provides an interactive software or “video game” where users can battle their personalized medical condition or illness to mentally improve wellbeing. The software may allow the user to travel throughout the human anatomy to reach the location of their specific medical condition or illness and attack it. By doing so, the user may mentally heal themselves and increase positive reinforcement for fighting the medical condition. The present disclosure may substantially benefit to users during long wait times for appointments and those who are admitted to hospital for lengthy treatments. 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , various views of a virtual reality system  100 . Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a virtual reality system  100  during an ‘in-use’ condition  50 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the virtual reality system  100  is beneficial for use by a user  40  to treat the mental and emotional state of the user  40  associated with a medical condition via a simulation. As illustrated, the virtual reality system  100  may include a virtual reality headset  110  having a display unit  112  (head mounted display) configured to display a three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120 . The virtual reality headset  110  includes a processor  114  embedded within. The processor  114  is configured to provide controls for performing one or more multimedia interactions  124  with the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120 . Multimedia interactions  124  may be understood as virtual interactions performed by the user within the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120  (i.e., shooting, flying, right turn, left turn, aiming, etc.). 
     The virtual reality headset  110  further includes a memory  116  removably embedded within. The memory  116  is configured to store the multimedia interactions  124  made within the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120 . The memory  116  is further configured to store a software  150 . In some embodiments, the memory  116  includes a removable hardware  140 , such as a flash memory card. In other embodiments, a port  142  is included on the virtual reality headset  110  for receiving the removeable hardware  140 . 
     The processor  114  is configured to communicate with the memory  116 ; execute the multimedia interactions  124 ; and display the multimedia interactions  124  on the display unit  112  such that the user  40  is able to interact with the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120 . 
     In some embodiments, a controller  118  in communication with the virtual reality headset  110  is provided to the user  40  for performing the multimedia interactions  124  within the three-dimensional virtual environment  120 . In an alternate embodiment, the virtual reality headset  110  includes a microphone (not shown) to provide a voice recognition system permitting the user  40  to perform the multimedia interactions  124  with the three-dimensional virtual environment  120 . The voice recognition system provides an output of synthesized voice instructions and be configured to receive an input of voice commands from the user via the microphone. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the virtual reality headset  110  is configured to host the software  150  providing the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120 . The three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120  is configured to provide a simulation for completing a medical-mission to eliminate a virtual-representation of a medical condition associated with the user  40 . The medical-mission can be utilized to emotionally and mentally treat the user  40  by destroying the visual virtual-representations. 
     Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other virtual reality system  100  arrangements such as, for example, improvements in the virtual reality headset  110 , etc., may be sufficient. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown the virtual reality system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the virtual reality software system  100  includes the virtual reality headset  110  having the display unit  112  configured to display the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120 . The virtual reality headset  110  includes the processor  114  embedded within. The processor  114  is configured to provide controls for performing one or more of the multimedia interactions  124  with the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120 . The virtual reality headset  110  further includes the memory  116  removably embedded within. The memory  116  is configured to store the multimedia interactions  124  made within the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120 . The processor  114  is further configured to communicate with the memory  116 ; execute the multimedia interactions  124 ; and display the multimedia interactions  124  on the display unit  112  such that the user  40  is able to interact with the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, an avatar  122  is provided with the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120 . This enables the user  40  to virtually interact within the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120  by use of the multimedia interactions  124 . A set of command prompts before beginning the simulation allows the avatar  122  to be personalized according to characteristics (i.e., hair color, eyes, body shape) and/or the medical condition of the user  40 . The medical condition may comprise of a physical illness (i.e., asthma, cancer, etc.) and associated anxiety disorders developed from having the medical condition. The virtual reality system  100  provides a therapeutic outlet for the user  40  suffering from the physical illness with associated anxiety. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120  is representative of an anatomy. In some embodiments, the anatomy includes an organ or a blood stream. As shown in  FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120  represented as the blood stream contains visual representations of good/bad blood cells. The bad blood cells can be targeted by the avatar  122 . In the illustrated embodiment, the avatar  122  includes a means of transportation throughout the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120 . The transportation can be in the form of vehicle configured to transport the avatar  122  within the virtual reality environment, such as throughout different parts of the anatomy. The three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120  may be customized (or selected) according to the medical condition of the user  40 . Customization of the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120  may occur on the software  150  prior to uploading to the memory  116 . 
     In one embodiment, the medical-mission may comprise of reaching a location within the anatomy and eliminating the virtual-representation(s) of the medical condition. A weapon system may be used for eliminating the virtual-representation(s). The weapon system can be chosen by the user  40 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a block diagram of the virtual reality system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the virtual reality system  100  includes the virtual reality headset  110  having the display unit  112  configured to display the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120 . The virtual reality headset  110  includes the processor  114  embedded within. The processor  114  is configured to provide controls for performing one or more of the multimedia interactions  124  with the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120 . The virtual reality headset  110  further includes the memory  116  removably embedded within. The memory  116  is configured to store the multimedia interactions  124  made within the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120 . The memory  116  is further configured to store the software  150 . In some embodiments, the memory  116  includes the removable hardware  140 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the multimedia interactions  124  are configured to impart at least one sensory output selected from three-dimensional graphic visuals and audio. To provide the audio, the virtual reality headset  110  may be in communication (wireless or wired) with an auditory output device  130  (i.e., speakers, headphones, or any other known device in the art). 
     In some embodiments, the controller  118  is in wired communication with the virtual reality headset  110  and configured to provide controls for performing the multimedia interactions  124 . In other embodiments, the controller  118  is in wireless communication with the headset. In another embodiment, the controller  118  is contemplated as the voice recognition system to provide hands-free control over the virtual reality system  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a flow diagram of the virtual reality system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The flow diagram details the steps taken by the user  40  in regard to beginning the simulation and completing the medical-mission. The memory  116  enables progress of the user  40  to be saved and returned to later. When the medical-mission is complete, a strength point system read out may be acquired. The strength point system read out may provide a performance summary to the user  40 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , there are shown flow diagrams illustrating a method for using a virtual reality system  500 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method for using the virtual reality system  500  includes one or more components or features of the virtual reality system  100  as described above. In some embodiments, the method for using the virtual reality system  500  includes the steps of: step one  501 , providing a virtual reality system  100  comprising a virtual reality headset  110  hosting a software  150  and having a display unit  112  configured to display a three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120 , the virtual reality headset  110  including, a processor  114  embedded in the virtual reality headset  110  and configured to provide controls for performing one or more multimedia interactions  124  with the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120 , and a memory  116  removably embedded in the virtual reality headset  110 ; step two  502 , interacting with the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120  with an avatar  122 ; step three  503 , controlling the avatar  122  via a controller  118  in communication with the virtual reality headset  110 ; and step four  504 , completing a medical-mission with the avatar  122  to provide therapeutic relief to a user  40  for a medical-condition. 
     In some embodiments, the method for using the virtual reality system further includes the steps of: step five  505 , customizing the three-dimensional virtual reality environment  120  on the software  150  to correspond with the medical condition; step six  506 , uploading the software  150  to the memory  116 , wherein the memory  116  includes a removable hardware  140 ; and step seven  507 , inputting the removable hardware  140  into a port  142  in the virtual reality headset  110 , such that the virtual reality headset  110  is able to host the software  150 . 
     It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use  500  can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for the virtual reality system  100  (e.g., different step orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taught herein. 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.