US 6,425,764 B1 · Virtual reality immersion therapy for treating psychological, psychiatric, medical, educational and self-help problems

Abstract

A method of treating a psychological, psychiatric, or medical condition by choosing a psychological strategy for treating the condition, encoding electronic instructions for a virtual reality environment in such a way that the interactive virtual reality environment implements the psychological strategy, loading electronic instructions into a virtual reality technology unit (10, 22) equipped with a display (14, 40) for displaying the virtual reality environment and with a patient input device (14, 22, 32) for receiving responses to the environment from the patient, and instructing the human patient how and when to use the virtual reality technology unit to interact with the environment. The interactive environment contains instructions for a scoring procedure for quantitatively analyzing the medical condition of the patient, and/or counseling instructions or self-help instructions. The environment can be used in conjunction with a physical parameter measuring device (36) connected to the virtual reality technology unit (10). The process is comprehensive and takes place during immersion in fully interactive three-dimensional virtual reality environments utilizing computer generated graphics, images imported from photographs, and video for sensory stimulation. Immersion is achieved with goggles, a head-mounted-display, or other form of visual stimulation, such as surround projection screens or monitors or devices that permit the user to have a virtual experience. It includes the use of voice, music, and sound and other forms of physiological stimulation and feedback. Body sensors and devices such as a hand-held grip permit the user to interact with objects and navigate within the virtual environment.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A method for treating a psychological, psychiatric, or medical condition in a human patient, comprising:

(a) choosing a psychological strategy for treating said psychological, psychiatric, or medical condition;
(b) providing an interactive virtual reality environment;
(1) said interactive virtual reality environment comprising a technology unit arranged to display to said human patient a plurality of virtual reality environments;
(2) said technology unit having an input for receiving feedback responses to said interactive virtual reality environment from said human patient;
(3) said technology unit arranged to change said virtual reality environment in response to said feedback responses from said human patient;
(c) selecting said virtual reality environment to correspond to said psychological strategy;
(d) encoding electronic instructions for said interactive virtual reality environment;
(e) loading said electronic into said virtual reality technology unit;
and
(f) instructing said human patient how and when to use said virtual reality technology unit so as to experience said interactive virtual reality environment and how and when to provide feedback responses to said technology unit for changing said virtual reality environment so as to treat said psychological, psychiatric, or medical condition.

7 more elements

A method of treating a psychological, psychiatric, or medical condition in a human patient comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of sets of instructions or steps for treating said psychological, psychiatric, or medical condition;
(b) choosing one of said sets of instructions or steps which is appropriate for treating said psychological, psychiatric, or medical condition of said human patient;
(c) providing a virtual reality technology unit arranged to provide an interactive virtual reality environment;
(1) said virtual reality reality technology unit being equipped with a display means;
(2) said virtual reality technology unit also being equipped with an input means for receiving responses to said interactive virtual reality environment from said human patient;
(d) providing a set of encoded electronic instructions for said virtual reality environment;
(e) embedding said one set of instructions or steps in said encoded set of electronic instructions for said interactive virtual reality environment;
(f) loading said set of electronic instructions into said virtual reality technology unit for displaying said interactive virtual reality environment;
and
(g) instructing said human patient how and when to use said virtual reality technology unit to display said interactive virtual reality environment and how to provide responses to said virtual reality environment.

7 more elements

A method for treating a psychological, psychiatric, or medical condition in a human patient comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of sets of counseling directions for treating said psychological, psychiatric, or medical condition;
(b) choosing one of said sets of counseling directions for treating said psychological, psychiatric, or medical condition of said human patient;
(c) providing a virtual reality technology unit arranged to provide an interactive virtual reality environment;
(1) said virtual reality technology unit being equipped with a display means;
(2) said virtual reality technology unit also being equipped with an input means for receiving responses to said interactive virtual reality environment from said human patient;
(d) providing a set of encoded electronic instructions for said virtual reality environment;
(e) embedding said one set of counseling directions in said set of encoded electronic instructions for said interactive virtual reality environment;
(f) loading said set of electronic instructions into said virtual reality technology unit for displaying said interactive virtual reality environment;
and
(g) instructing said human patient how and when to use said virtual reality technology unit to display said interactive virtual reality environment and how to provide responses to said virtual reality environment.

7 more elements

A method of evaluating a psychological, psychiatric, or medical condition in a human patient, comprising:

(a) providing a virtual reality technology unit;
(b) said virtual reality technology unit being equipped with the following:
(1) a display means for displaying a virtual reality environment;
(2) an input means for receiving responses to said virtual reality environment from said human patient;
and
(3) a scoring means for quantitatively analyzing said psychological, psychiatric, or medical condition of said patient;
(c) providing a set of encoded electronic instructions for causing said virtual reality environment to provide, on said display means, graphical representations of an environment which affects said psychological, psychiatric, or medical condition of said human patient;
(d) delivering said electronic instructions to said virtual reality environment;
and
(e) instructing said human patient how and when to use said virtual reality technology unit to interact with said virtual reality environment by providing responses to said graphical representations.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Virtual reality immersion therapy for treating psychological, psychiatric, medical, educational and self-help problems

Life of this patent

Virtual reality immersion therapy for treating psychological, psychiatric, medical, educational and self-help problems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31