Patent · US Expired

Patient-user interactive psychotherapy apparatus and method

US5619291A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
9References
14Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 1, 1995
Grant dateApr 8, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 1, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/16
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A patient-user interactive psychotherapy apparatus for use in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing treatment is disclosed. The psychotherapy apparatus includes a pair of visual displays, each for displaying an image having an emotional impact on a particular patient-user. The visual displays are positioned horizontally spaced from one another in the patient-user's field of view. The visual displays are each operable between two operational states including: a first operational state, wherein the image is highly, visually perceptible by the patient-user; and a second operational state, wherein the image is less visually perceptible by the patient-user. A pair of hand held switch inputs for switching between the two operational states of each visual display is also provided. In use, the patient-user alternately actuates the hand held switch inputs which causes the image to be alternately displayed as a highly, visually perceptible image in a back and forth manner on the two visual displays. The invention allows the patient-user to self-induce a comfortable rate and duration of saccadic eye movement as the patient visually tracks the highly, visually perceptible image display…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.