# US 2025/0143597 A1 · Apparatus, method and system for providing tactile medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0143597 A1 - Document ID: US20250143597A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/282,298 - Filed: 2023-05-26 - Published: 2025-05-08 - Earliest claimed: 2022-05-30 - Assignees: Seoul National University R&Db Foundation - Applicants: Seoul National University R&Db Foundation - Inventors: Hyoung KIM; Seong Hwan HWANG - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250143597A1 ## CPC - A61B 5/055: involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging - A61B 5/0042: {for the brain} - A61B 5/742: {using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339)} - A61B 5/7455: {characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation} - G01R 33/4806: {Functional imaging of brain activation} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract An apparatus for providing a tactile medium according to an embodiment includes a tactile medium unit configured to receive a plurality of tactile media capable of stimulating tactile sensation of a subject, a medium driving unit configured to move the plurality of tactile media so as to provide a specific tactile medium among the plurality of tactile media, and a drive controller configured to drive the medium driving unit so as to provide the specific tactile medium to the subject. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for providing a tactile medium, the apparatus comprising: a tactile medium unit configured to receive a plurality of tactile media capable of stimulating tactile sensation of a subject; a medium driving unit configured to move the plurality of tactile media so as to provide a specific tactile medium among the plurality of tactile media; and a drive controller configured to drive the medium driving unit so as to provide the specific tactile medium to the subject. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the medium driving unit moves the plurality of tactile media using an air actuator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the medium driving unit further comprises a rail, wherein the plurality of tactile media are formed in a cubic block and fixed to the rail, respectively, and the air actuator converts a pressure energy of compressed air into a mechanical energy to cause the rail to be linearly moved or rotationally moved, thereby moving the tactile media. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, the medium driving unit further comprises an air compressor configured to compress air and air valves configured to control air flow from the air compressor to the air actuator, wherein the drive controller is configured to control a sequence in which the air valves are sequentially opened to move teeth of pistons of the air actuator back and forth. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a medium providing unit which comprises a medium providing case having a finger insert hole for providing a specific tactile medium moved by the medium driving unit to the subject. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the medium providing unit further comprises a medium contact detection sensor configured to detect a point in time when a finger touches the specific tactile medium moved by the medium driving unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the medium contact detection sensor comprises a laser transmission element and a laser reception element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A system for providing a tactile medium, the system comprising: the apparatus of claim 6; and a position adjustment table on which the apparatus for providing a tactile medium is placed, and having adjustable height and angle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising: a visual presentation device configured to present a visual pattern on a screen; and magnetic resonance imaging equipment configured to take images of a brain using a magnetic field generated by a magnetic force, wherein, when contact with a specific tactile medium is detected by the apparatus of a visual pattern presented by the visual presentation device, the magnetic resonance imaging equipment records a point in time of contact with the specific tactile medium in the brain image scanned by the magnetic resonance imaging equipment. ### Claim 10 A method for providing a tactile medium comprising: receiving a plurality of tactile media capable of stimulating tactile sensation of a subject; moving the plurality of tactile media so as to provide a specific tactile medium among the plurality of tactile media; and providing the specific tactile medium to the subject. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the moving comprises moving the plurality of tactile media using an air actuator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method for of claim 11, wherein the moving further comprises moving the plurality of tactile media using a rail; wherein the plurality of tactile media are formed in a cubic block and fixed to the rail, respectively, and the air actuator converts a pressure energy of compressed air into a mechanical energy to cause the rail to be linearly moved or rotationally moved, thereby moving the tactile media. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein, in the moving, the plurality of tactile media are moved by further using an air compressor configured to compress air and air valves configured to control air flow from the air compressor to the air actuator, and in the moving, a sequence in which the air valves are sequentially opened is controlled to move teeth of pistons of the air actuator back and forth. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising detecting whether a finger of the subject comes into contact with the specific tactile medium. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising, when it is detected that the finger has come into contact with the specific tactile medium in the detecting, recording a point in time of contact with the specific tactile medium in the brain image scanned by the magnetic resonance imaging equipment. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: presenting a visual pattern on a screen; and when it is detected that the finger has come into contact with the specific tactile medium in the detecting according to the visual pattern presented in the presenting, recording a point in time of contact with the specific tactile medium in the scanned brain image using magnetic resonance imaging equipment.