Method and apparatus for treatment of gait problems associated with parkinson's disease
OwnerThomas Riessinventor
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Abstract
A method for the treatment of gait problems associated with Parkinson's Disease in a subject involves the use of virtual cues which are delivered to the subject in a spatial orientation and at rate which enable the initiation and sustainment of ambulation, as well as the suppression of dyskinesia associated with medication. In one embodiment, a mulfiplexed head up display is used to provide the cues to the subject's field of vision without obscuring the real world. In another embodiment, light emitting diodes fastened to eye glasses are used to deliver the virtual cues to the subject's field of view.
Claims8
A method for the treatment of gait problems associated with Parkinson's Disease in a subject which comprises the steps of:
- a) providing an apparatus to be worn by the subject during treatment of gait problem associated with Parkingson's disease;
- which delivers optical images to the subject's view without disturbing the subject's visual perception of the subject's physical environment;
- b) delivering an initiating cue to the subject through the optical image apparatus to initiate ambulation when needed;
- and,
- c) delivering sustaining cues to the subject through the optical image apparatus as needed to sustain ambulation once initiated.
An apparatus for use in the treatment of gait problems associated with Parkinson's Disease in a subject which comprises:
- a) virtual reality headwear including means for providing video-based imagery to the subject's field of vision while allowing continued visual perception of the subject's physical environment;
- b) means for delivering a video-based gait initiating cue to the subject during treatment through the virtual reality headwear to initiate ambulation;
- and
- c) means for delivering a video-based gait sustaining cues to the subject during treatment through the virtual reality headwear to sustain ambulation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.