JP2004089572A - Relaxation apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a relaxation apparatus by which a user can select stimulation needed when the apparatus is used on the basis of the brain waves. <P>SOLUTION: This relaxation unit has a manual stimulation selecting device 301 to select at least two or more functions among functions to give stimulation by low frequency, magnetism, vibration, heat, finger pressure, sound, and light to a user 102 by manual input, a manual stimulation condition controller 302 to manually preset selected stimulation conditions, and a stimulation generating device 105 to generate stimulation by a stimulation drive signal 107 generated on the basis of the stimulation conditions. The apparatus is also equipped with a brain wave detector 108 to detect the brain wave of the user and an automatic stimulation selecting device 106 to evaluate the detected brain wave 103 and to automatically select the stimulation on the basis of the evaluated brain wave signal 103. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a relaxation apparatus that combines at least two or more functions among functions of providing a user with low frequency, magnetism, vibration, heat, acupressure, sound, and light stimulation, and a control method thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Some conventional relaxation devices provide the user with a combination of any of the functions of stimulating low frequency, magnetism, vibration, heat, acupressure, sound, and light (FIG. 5). In this method, an operator, such as a medical staff (for example, a doctor or a physiotherapist), selects a stimulus that is considered appropriate for the user based on his / her own experience, and sets the order and time for applying the stimulus. Was.
As another relaxation device, there is a device provided with means for detecting the brain waves of the user (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-225034 (FIG. 1)
[0004]
This device is intended to obtain a sleep-inducing effect in addition to the relaxation effect. The brain-wave sensor, an extracting means for extracting an α-wave or the like from the detected brain wave, and generates and outputs a signal for brain-wave induction based on the extracted brain wave. A signal output unit, and a light-emitting unit that emits light according to the output signal, and an electroencephalogram guiding apparatus that guides an electroencephalogram with the light includes a band selection unit that selects any one of a plurality of bands. A first band-pass filter having a narrow pass band corresponding to the α-wave when the eyes are closed and a second band-pass filter having a wide pass band corresponding to the α-wave during sleep transition. One of the filter outputs is output as an extracted brain wave according to the selection. That is, this apparatus extracts an α wave or the like from a detected brain wave, generates a signal for brain wave induction, and drives the stimulus generator using the signal as a stimulus drive signal.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional apparatus has the following problems.
(1) Some types of stimuli are appropriate for the user because there is no clear index on which stimulus to select and how much (amount and time) to give to the user. Or, it could not be judged objectively.
(2) In order to determine a user's degree of relaxation, an apparatus provided with a means for detecting brain waves does not have a plurality of types of stimuli, and cannot always provide a stimulus required by the user. Was.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a relaxation apparatus in which a user is provided with a plurality of types of stimuli to be given to a user, and a stimulus required by the user at the time of use is selected based on brain waves.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the relaxation apparatus according to claim 1 manually controls at least two or more functions among functions of stimulating the user 102 with low frequency, magnetism, vibration, heat, acupressure, sound, and light. A stimulus is generated by a manual stimulus selection device 301 selected by input, a manual stimulus condition adjustment device 302 for manually setting the selected stimulus condition in advance, and a stimulus drive signal 107 generated based on the stimulus condition. In a relaxation device having a stimulus generating device 105 to perform the evaluation, an electroencephalogram detection device 108 for detecting the user's electroencephalogram and the detected electroencephalogram signal 103 are evaluated, and a stimulus is automatically selected based on the evaluated electroencephalogram signal 103. It is characterized by having an automatic stimulus selection device 106.
According to the device of the first aspect, since the detected brain wave corresponds to the degree of relaxation, the stimulus selecting device can be driven according to the state of the brain wave.
The control method according to claim 2, wherein in the relaxation apparatus according to claim 1, (1) the manual stimulus condition adjusting device 302 sets a time ti and a strength pi, which are conditions of each stimulus, and (2) the stimulus. The generator 105 gives each of the stimuli according to the condition of each of the stimuli, and the brain wave signal 103 emitted from the frontal lobe 101 by the user 102 given the stimulus is detected by the electroencephalogram detection device 108, and the automatic In the stimulus selection device 106, the α-wave distribution amount Si (%) corresponding to each of the stimuli is extracted. (3) After giving all the stimuli, the time change rate △ Si of the α-wave distribution amount Si becomes the maximum. The stimulus having a value is selected by the automatic stimulus selection device 106, and the stimulus is given by the stimulus generation device 105. (4) The time elapsed from the start of operation is adjusted by the manual stimulus condition adjustment. The apparatus 302 determines whether or not a predetermined set time te has been reached. If the set time te has been reached, the entire process ends. (5) If the set time te has not been reached, the time change rate △ Si Is determined to be positive. If positive, the process proceeds to the process (3), and if negative, the process proceeds to the process (2).
According to the control method of the second aspect, the user can always relax by selecting a stimulus that increases the α-wave. It is known that α waves are distributed in brain waves during relaxation.
[0007]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the relaxation apparatus according to the first aspect, among the stimulus conditions selected by the automatic stimulus selection device, the stimulus intensity pi is automatically determined based on the electroencephalogram signal 103. It is characterized by having an automatic stimulus condition adjusting device 109 for adjusting the condition.
According to the apparatus described in claim 3, by providing a device that adjusts the condition of the stimulus according to the α-wave, a relaxation device that generates a stimulus (not only a type but also an amount) as needed is provided. Can be.
[0008]
The control method according to claim 4 is the relaxation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein (1) the time ti, the strength pi, and the increment / decrement of the pi, which are the conditions of the respective stimuli, in the manual stimulus condition adjusting device 302. pi is set, and (2) the stimulus generator 105 gives each of the stimuli through the stimulus on the basis of the conditions of each of the stimuli, and the user 102 who has been given the stimulus outputs the electroencephalogram signal 103 emitted from the frontal lobe 101 by The brain wave detection device 108 detects the α-wave distribution Si (%) corresponding to each of the stimuli in the automatic stimulus selection device 106. (3) After the application of all the stimuli, the α-wave distribution The automatic stimulus selection device 106 selects the stimulus having the maximum time change rate △ Si of the amount Si, and gives the stimulus by the stimulus generation device 105. (4) From the start of operation It is determined whether or not the elapsed time has reached a preset time te in the manual stimulus condition adjusting device 302. If the elapsed time has reached the preset time te, all the processes are terminated, and (5) the preset time te must not be reached. In this case, the sign of the time change rate △ Si is determined. If the time change rate △ Si is positive, the process returns to the process (3). (6) If the time change rate △ Si becomes negative, Also, a stimulus (pi + △ pi) that is stronger by △ p is given to the user 102, and (7) the sign of the time change rate △ Si is determined again. If the sign is positive, the process (3) is performed, and (8) ) If it is negative, a stimulus (pi-ｐpi) weak by the stimulus △ p is given to the user 102, (9) the sign of the stimulus △ Si is determined, and if positive, the process (3) is performed. And if it is negative, the process returns to the process (2). .
According to the device of the fourth aspect, by setting the intensity of the stimulus such that the α-wave increases, the user can always relax. It is known that α waves are distributed in brain waves during relaxation.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A relaxation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. First, the stimulus generator 105 can generate the stimulus 104 based on information such as which one to select from among stimuli such as low frequency, magnetism, vibration, heat, acupressure, and sound, and how much the intensity should be.
A stimulus 104 previously selected as an initial setting in the manual stimulus selection device 301 shown in FIG. 1 is sequentially provided to the user 102 one by one from the stimulus generation device 105. Further, the electroencephalogram signal 103 mainly generated from the frontal lobe 101 is taken into the electroencephalogram detection device 108. In the electroencephalogram detection device 108, the electroencephalogram signal 103 is amplified. The amplified brain wave signal 103 is taken into the automatic stimulus selection device 106, and the α-wave distribution amount S is obtained.
The α-wave distribution amount S is represented, for example, by so-called topographic mapping or the like, in which the spectrum of the brain wave signal 103 is estimated (FFT, AR method, or the like), and the power spectrum value of the wave of 9 to 12 Hz is displayed for each color. It is known that the α-wave distribution amount S in the frontal lobe increases as the degree of relaxation increases.
Note that the present invention is not limited to the use of α waves, and may use any of θ waves and β waves or a combination of two or more as necessary. Further, the part of the brain of interest is not limited to the frontal lobe, but includes any part.
The α-wave distribution amount S is calculated by the automatic stimulus selection device 106, and when the type of stimulus to be given is specified by the processing described later, the stimulus stimulus drive signal 107 is stimulated based on the stimulus intensity set in the manual stimulus condition 302. Output to the generator 105.
According to the relaxation apparatus of the present embodiment, the detected brain wave corresponds to the degree of relaxation, so that the stimulus selection device can be driven according to the state of the brain wave.
[0010]
A control method for a relaxation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
(1) First, in the process 201 shown in FIG. 2, the manual stimulus condition adjusting device 302 sets the conditions of each stimulus tI (time to give each stimulus) and pi (strength of each stimulus: amplitude at low frequency, If it is magnetic, set the magnetic flux density.
(2) Next, in the process 202, since it is unknown which stimulus the user 102 needs, the stimulus driving device 107 generates the stimulus drive signal 107 so that the prepared stimulus si is given by the stimulus generation device 105 in one way. . As a method of giving a stimulus, for example, a method of giving one by one in the order set in the manual stimulus condition adjusting device 302 can be considered.
If the stimulus 104 is given only in the prescribed order, the α-wave distribution Si may be changed due to the influence of the previous stimulus. For example, if a magnetic stimulus is always given after a sound, you may get used to that order.
Therefore, randomness may be given to the way of giving the stimulus 104.
An example of giving randomness to the permutation is to use a built-in function for generating random numbers. The brain wave signal 103 emitted from the frontal lobe 101 by the user 102 given the stimulus 104 is detected by the brain wave detection device 108,
(3) In the automatic stimulus selection device 106, the α-wave distribution amount Si (%) corresponding to each of the stimuli is extracted, and the time change rate of the α-wave distribution amount S (from the Si in the current control cycle to the previous control (Si minus the period) 周期 Si is determined. From among the stimuli, the one that maximizes △ Si is selected, and the stimulus is continuously given (203).
Next, it is determined whether or not the end time set in the manual stimulation condition adjusting apparatus has reached a preset end time (204). If the end time is reached, the processing is ended (206). Otherwise, the α-wave time change rate △ Si is determined. . (205) When △ S is non-negative, the same stimulus as above is kept applied (return to process 203).
(4) In process 205, when the α-wave time rate of change △ S is negative, it is determined that the user is accustomed to being given the same stimulus, and the type of stimulus is changed (return to process 202). .
The above processing is repeated until the use time te preset in the manual stimulus condition adjusting device 302 elapses (204).
According to this embodiment, the user can always relax by selecting a stimulus that maximizes the time change rate △ Si of the α-wave distribution. It is known that α waves are distributed in brain waves during relaxation.
[0011]
A relaxation device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The automatic stimulus condition adjusting device 109 shown in FIG. 3 automatically adjusts the intensity pi of the stimulus by the following process based on the change ΔSi of the α-wave distribution obtained by the automatic stimulus selecting device 106. A stimulus condition adjusting device 109 is provided.
According to this embodiment, by providing a device for adjusting the condition of the stimulus according to the α-wave, a relaxation device that generates a stimulus (not only a type but also a strength) as required can be provided. .
[0012]
A control method for a relaxation apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, (1) (process 401) The manual stimulus condition adjusting device 302 sets a condition ti of each stimulus, a time ti, a strength pi, and an increase / decrease Δpi of the pi.
(2) (Process 402) The stimulus generator 105 gives each of the stimuli based on the condition of each of the stimuli, and the brain wave signal 103 output from the frontal lobe 101 by the user 102 to which the stimulus is given is converted to the electroencephalogram. The automatic stimulus selection device 106 detects the α-wave distribution amount Si (%) corresponding to each stimulus,
(3) (Process 403) After the application of all the stimuli, the stimulus having the maximum time change rate ＳｉSi of the Si is selected by the stimulus selection device 106, and the stimulus generation device 105 selects the stimulus. Give
(4) (Process 404) It is determined whether or not the elapsed time from the start of operation has reached a predetermined set time te in the manual stimulus condition adjusting device 302, and if the te has been reached, the entire process is terminated (Process 404). 410),
(5) (Process 405) If the set time te has not been reached, the sign of the △ Si is determined. If △ Si is positive, the process returns to (3) (Process 403), and △ Si becomes negative. If the △ Si becomes negative,
(6) (Process 406) The user 102 is given a stimulus (pi + △ pi) stronger than the stimulus pi by the △ p,
(7) (Process 407) The sign of the △ Si is determined again, and if it is positive, the above (3) (Process 403) is performed.
(8) (Process 408) If negative, the user 102 is given a weak stimulus (pi- △ pi) by the aforementioned Δp,
(9) Also, (Process 409) The sign of △ Si is determined, and if it is positive, the process (3) (Process 403) is performed, and if negative, the process returns to the process (2) (Process 402).
According to this embodiment, the user can always be relaxed by providing a stimulus with such a strength that the α-wave increases. It is known that α waves are distributed in brain waves during relaxation.
[0013]
【The invention's effect】
According to the device described in claim 1, an electroencephalogram detection device that detects a user's electroencephalogram and an automatic stimulus selection device that evaluates the detected electroencephalogram signal and automatically selects a stimulus based on the evaluated electroencephalogram signal are provided. With the provision, the detected brain wave corresponds to the degree of relaxation, so that the stimulus selecting device can be driven according to the state of the brain wave.
According to the control method of the second aspect, the stimulus having the maximum time change rate of the α-wave distribution amount Si is selected in the automatic stimulus selection device, and the stimulus is generated by the stimulus generation device. The user can always relax by selecting a stimulus that increases.
According to the apparatus of the third aspect, by providing a device for adjusting the condition of the stimulus according to the α-wave, a relaxation device that generates a stimulus (not only a type but also a strength) as needed is provided. Can be.
According to the control method of the fourth aspect, since the stimulation is such that the α wave increases in intensity, the user can always relax.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of a relaxation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a control method of the relaxation apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of a relaxation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a control method of the relaxation device of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an example of a conventional invention.
FIG. 6 is another example of the conventional invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 Frontal lobe 102 in human brain 102 User 103 EEG signal 104 Stimulation 105 Stimulation device 106 Automatic stimulus selection device 107 Stimulation drive signal 108 EEG detection device 201 Start process 202 Process 203 (△ Si) max for giving stimulus si to n Process 204 for giving si End time determination process 205 ΔSi determination process 206 Termination process 301 Manual stimulus selection device 302 Manual stimulus condition adjustment device 401 Start process 402 Process for giving stimuli si to n 403 (△ Si) max is given as si Processing 404 End time determination processing 405 ΔSi determination processing 406 Processing 407 for providing a stimulus of intensity (pi + Δpi) ΔSi determination processing 408 Processing 409 for providing a stimulus of intensity (pi−Δpi) 409 ΔSi determination processing 410 Termination processing

Claims (4)

A manual stimulus selection device for selecting at least two or more functions by manual input from among functions for providing a user with low-frequency, magnetic, vibration, heat, acupressure, sound, and light stimuli, and a condition for the selected stimulus. In a relaxation apparatus having a manual stimulus condition adjusting device that is manually set in advance and a stimulus generation device that generates a stimulus by a stimulus drive signal generated based on the stimulus condition, an electroencephalogram detection that detects an electroencephalogram of the user A relaxation device comprising: a device; and an automatic stimulus selection device that evaluates a detected brain wave signal and automatically selects a stimulus based on the evaluated brain wave signal. (1) The time ti and the intensity pi, which are the conditions of the respective stimuli, are set in the manual stimulus condition adjusting device
(2) The stimulus generator gives each of the stimuli according to the conditions of the stimuli, and a brain wave signal output from the frontal lobe by a user who has been given the stimulus is detected by the electroencephalogram detection device. In the stimulus selection device, the α-wave distribution amount Si (%) corresponding to each of the stimuli is extracted,
(3) After the application of all the stimuli, the automatic stimulus selecting device selects the stimulus having the maximum time change rate △ Si of the α-wave distribution Si, and provides the stimulus by the stimulus generating device. ,
(4) It is determined whether or not the elapsed time from the start of the operation has reached a predetermined set time te in the manual stimulus condition adjusting device, and if the set time te has been reached, the entire process is terminated;
(5) If the set time te has not been reached, it is determined whether the time change rate △ Si is positive. If the time change rate △ Si is positive, the process proceeds to the process (3). If negative, the process proceeds to the process (2). 2. The method of controlling a relaxation device according to claim 1, further comprising: 2. An automatic stimulus condition adjusting device that automatically adjusts the intensity pi of the stimulus among the stimulus conditions selected by the automatic stimulus selecting device based on the brain wave signal. Relaxation equipment. (1) In the manual stimulus condition adjusting device, a time ti, an intensity pi, and an increase / decrease Δpi of the pi, which are conditions of the respective stimuli, are set;
(2) The stimulus generator gives each of the stimuli according to the conditions of the stimuli, and a brain wave signal output from the frontal lobe by a user who has been given the stimulus is detected by the electroencephalogram detection device. In the stimulus selection device, the α-wave distribution amount Si (%) corresponding to each of the stimuli is extracted,
(3) After the application of all the stimuli, the automatic stimulus selecting device selects the stimulus having the maximum time change rate △ Si of the α-wave distribution Si, and provides the stimulus by the stimulus generating device. ,
(4) It is determined whether or not the elapsed time from the start of the operation has reached a predetermined set time te in the manual stimulus condition adjusting device, and if the set time te has been reached, the entire process is terminated;
(5) If the set time te has not been reached, the sign of the time change rate △ Si is determined. If the time change rate △ Si is positive, the process returns to the process (3).
(6) When the time rate of change △ Si becomes negative, a stimulus (pi + △ pi) stronger by △ p than the stimulus pi is given to the user,
(7) The sign of the time change rate △ Si is determined again, and if it is positive, the processing (3) is performed.
(8) If negative, give the user a stimulus (pi- △ pi) weak by the stimulus △ p,
(9) Further, the sign of the stimulus 判定 Si is determined, and if it is positive, the processing (3) is performed, and if it is negative, the processing returns to the processing (2) is performed. A method for controlling a relaxation device.

Images