Vibroacoustic therapy device
AssigneeVibroacoustix LLC
InventorsLouisa C. P. Firethorne, Rowan Helios Firethorne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vibroacoustic therapy device uses a vibrational sound source to resonate with a body like a musical instrument that includes a person. The device is tuned to determine a fundamental resonant frequency with the body in connection with it. Then, applying vibroacoustic energy at different frequencies, the apparatus creates sensations of vibrational patterns within the body, comprised of areas of high vibration and relative stillness. The apparatus allows a person to physically feel modal vibrations within their own body. The vibroacoustic sensations are pleasant and may ease pain, enhance calm, and increase relaxation.
Claims20
A vibroacoustic therapy apparatus comprising:
- a platform having a curved plan shape, configured to support a human body and to vibrate in response to applied vibroacoustic waves, such that the platform passes vibrations into the human body,
- wherein at least part of the vibroacoustic therapy apparatus including the platform is configured to form, together with the human body, a vibratory system of resonance;
- a plurality of tactile transducers affixed to the platform, wherein the tactile transducers are configured to induce vibrations in the platform at frequencies that resonate with the vibratory system of resonance;
- wherein the tactile transducers are configured to create internal areas of increased vibratory sensation within the human body to produce cymatic sensations when the apparatus is in operation.
A method for tuning or calibrating a vibroacoustic therapy apparatus, the method comprising:
- either:
- determining an initial mass of a vibratory system of the vibroacoustic therapy apparatus, wherein the vibratory system includes a platform configured to support a human body and to vibrate in response to applied vibroacoustic waves;
- determining an updated mass of the vibratory system including a human body on the platform;
- and
- calculating an adjusted resonance based on the updated mass of the vibratory system including the human body;
- or:
- arranging a person in a desired position on the platform of the vibroacoustic therapy apparatus so that the vibratory system includes the human body on the platform;
- generating a sweep of frequencies via a tactile transducer affixed to the platform;
- sensing a response to the sweep of frequencies;
- and
- analyzing the sensed response to the sweep of frequencies to determine a fundamental frequency of the vibratory system.
- and:
- calculating additional frequencies to produce cymatic sensations in the human body based on the adjusted resonance and/or the fundamental frequency, including modes of the adjusted resonance or fundamental frequency.
A method for producing cymatic resonance in a human body, the method comprising:
- arranging the human body on a vibroacoustic therapy apparatus, the vibroacoustic therapy apparatus comprising:
- a platform having a curved plan shape, configured to support the human body and to freely vibrate in response to applied vibroacoustic waves, such that the platform passes vibrations into the human body,
- wherein at least part of the vibroacoustic therapy apparatus including the platform is configured to form, together with the human body, a vibratory system of resonance;
- and
- a plurality of tactile transducers affixed to the platform, wherein the tactile transducers are configured to induce vibrations in the platform at frequencies that resonate with the vibratory system of resonance;
- causing the tactile transducers to vibrate;
- controlling the tactile transducers to apply vibroacoustic energy at frequencies that resonate with the vibratory system of resonance, and to create internal areas of increased vibratory sensation within the human body that produce cymatic sensations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.