Brainwave actuated apparatus

Abstract

A brainwave actuated apparatus has a brainwave sensor for outputting a brainwave signal, an effector responsive to an input signal, and a controller operatively connected to an output of said brainwave sensor and a control input to said effector. The controller is adapted to determine characteristics of a brainwave signal output by said brainwave sensor and based on said characteristics, derive a control signal to output to said effector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A brainwave actuated apparatus, comprising:
 a brainwave sensor for outputting brainwave signals;   an effector responsive to an input signal to provide stimulus to a user;   a controller operatively connected to an output of the brainwave sensor to receive the brainwave signals and a control input to the effector, said controller adapted to:
 determine brainwave characteristics of the brainwave signal output by the brainwave sensor, the characteristics indicative of a brain state of the user; and 
 derive a control signal to provide stimulus by the effector based at least in part on the brain state, wherein the control signal is configured to provide the stimulus. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulus comprises electrical stimulus. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the effector comprises the brainwave sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further adapted to determine that the brain state of the user is a brain state indicative of pain. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein intensity of the stimulus is dependent upon a degree of pain. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further adapted to determine that the brain state of the user is a target brain state. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the electrical stimulus comprises electroanalgesic stimulation. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein intensity of the stimulus is dependent upon the control signal. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further adapted to provide stimulus to a third party using the control signal. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is at least one of a body-borne apparatus, a handheld apparatus, an apparatus worn on the body, an apparatus implanted partially on or in a body, an apparatus partially implanted and partially worn on a body, and a partially handheld apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . A method for providing brainwave actuated stimulus, the method comprising:
 sensing a brainwave signal using a brainwave sensor;   determining brainwave characteristics of the brainwave signal, the characteristics indicative of a brain state of a user; and   deriving a control signal to provide stimulus by an effector based at least in part on the brain state, wherein the control signal is configured to provide the electrical stimulation; and   providing the electrical stimulation using the effector.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the stimulus comprises electrical stimulation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , the method further comprising determining that the brain state of the user is a brain state indicative of pain. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein intensity of the stimulus is dependent upon a degree of pain. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , the method further comprising determining that the brain state of the user is a target brain state. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the electrical stimulation comprises electroanalgesic stimulation. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the electroanalgesic stimulation comprises transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein intensity of the stimulus is dependent upon the control signal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , the method further comprising providing stimulus to a third party using the control signal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the stimulus provided to the third party comprises at least one of electrical stimulus, audio signals, visual signals, thermal stimulation, and vibrotactile feedback.