Virtual reality biofeedback systems and methods

Abstract

A biofeedback virtual reality (VR) system and methods are provided for improving, optimizing, or minimizing the physiological or psychological effects of a medical condition, such as a physiological or psychological condition of a patient. The biofeedback VR System monitors one or more physiological parameters while presenting an immersive VR environment. The system and method comprise a closed-loop biofeedback system where a user (i.e., patient) observes a VR Experience provided by the VR System. The VR System monitors one or more physiological parameters while guiding the user to an improved (or optimized) physiological state through improvement of one or more of the physiological parameters. In some embodiments, a social experience is included in the VR where the user engages with one or more other users in the VR Experience.

1 . A virtual reality biofeedback system for treatment of a patient in need thereof, the system comprising:
 a virtual reality computing and display system comprising:
 a virtual reality software system, which provides a virtual reality experience to the patient, 
 a computing system having components for implementing and processing the virtual reality software system, 
 a display system in communication with the computing system, for displaying the virtual reality experience, which is transmitted to the patient via the display system, and 
 a controller in communication with the computer system; and 
   one or more physiological sensors for positioning on a patient body, each sensor, individually monitoring at least one physiological signal from the patient body to produce physiological data, the physiological signal being transmitted to the computing and display system, wherein   the virtual reality system varies the virtual reality experience of the patient in response to the received physiological signal of the patient in a biofeedback loop.   
     
     
         2 . The virtual reality biofeedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the biofeedback loop comprises:
 (i) the system receives a physiological signal from the patient and alters the virtual reality experience, 
 (ii) in real-time, the patient is instructed to control one or more conditions in the virtual reality experience while controlling or altering one or more physiological signals, 
 (iii) the virtual reality system responds to the altered physiological signal of the patient, and further alters the virtual reality experience provided to the patient, and 
 (iv) the patient responds to the altered virtual reality experience by controlling one or more conditions in the virtual reality experience while controlling or altering one or more physiological signals, as instructed by the virtual reality experience, the altered physiological signals being transmitted to tire computing system, in a biofeedback loop until a set time or goal for the virtual reality experience is met. 
 
     
     
         3 . The virtual reality biofeedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the virtual reality software system provides two or more virtual reality experiences to the patient, the two or more virtual reality experiences being provided in the same virtual reality session, where the virtual reality system varies the virtual reality experience of tire patient in response to the received physiological signal of the patient in a biofeedback loop, for each individual virtual reality experience. 
     
     
         4 . The virtual reality biofeedback system according to  claim 3  wherein the patient is instructed to control one or more conditions in the virtual reality experience while controlling or altering a physiological state which is further monitored and received by the computing system, where the control one or altered physiological state for each of the two or more virtual reality experiences is the same or different. 
     
     
         5 . The virtual reality biofeedback system according to  claim 1 , wherein the patient is provided two or more virtual reality experiences in the same virtual reality session, and each of the two or more virtual reality experience provided to the patient comprises different, individual virtual reality experiences, and wherein the patient is instructed to control one or more conditions in each virtual reality experience while controlling or altering one or more physiological signals, where the physiological signals in each virtual reality experience are different. 
     
     
         6 . The virtual reality biofeedback system according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more physical sensors for monitoring one or more positions of a patient body, each physical sensor, individually, being capable of monitoring at least one physical signal from the patient body to produce physical data on the patient, and wherein the physical signals are incorporated into the virtual reality experience. 
     
     
         7 . The virtual reality biofeedback system according to  claim 6 , wherein the physical signals are incorporated into the biofeedback loop and the patient is instructed to respond to the altered virtual reality experience by controlling one or more conditions in the virtual reality experience while controlling or altering one or more physical signals, as instructed by the virtual reality experience, the altered physical signals being transmitted to the computing system, in the biofeedback loop until a set time or goal for the virtual reality experience is met. 
     
     
         8 . The virtual reality biofeedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the virtual reality experience comprises one or both of a physiological exercise and a psychological exercise, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The virtual reality biofeedback system according to  claim 1 , wherein the virtual reality biofeedback system is used for treatment of chronic pain in a patient or management of chronic pain symptoms. 
     
     
         10 . The virtual reality biofeedback system according to  claim 9 , wherein the biofeedback loop monitors one or more of heart rate, breathing, brain waves and pulse, and the virtual reality system varies the virtual reality experience of tie patient in response to the received physiological signals of the patient including one or more of heart rate, breathing, brain waves and pulse of the patient in the biofeedback loop. 
     
     
         11 . The virtual reality biofeedback system according to  claim 1  further comprising a virtual reality social experience, wherein the virtual reality computing and display system further comprises software, computing and display systems for connecting the patient with one or more other users on-line for a shared virtual reality experience. 
     
     
         12 . The virtual reality biofeedback system according to  claim 11 , wherein the shared virtual reality experience allows the patient and the one or more other users to communicate by one or both of communicating with each other directly through audio or video or communicating indirectly with each other through scores, leaderboards, messages, or physiological signals. 
     
     
         13 . A method of treating a patient using a virtual reality experience, the method comprising:
 providing a virtual reality system, the system comprising a virtual reality computing and display system, which provides one or more virtual reality experiences to a patient, each individual virtual reality experience having one or more conditions that can be controlled or altered by the patient;   providing one or more physiological sensors for positioning on a patient body, each sensor, individually being capable of monitoring at least one physiological signal from the patient body to produce physiological data;   transmitting live virtual reality experience to the patient;   monitoring the one or more physiological signals from the patient body;   transmitting one or more physiological signals to the to the computing system, the computing system converting the physiological signals to physiological data and altering the virtual reality experience in response to the physiological data; and   varying the virtual reality experience of the patient in response to the received physiological data of the patient in a biofeedback loop until a set time or goal for each individual virtual reality experience is met.   
     
     
         14 . The method of treating a patient according to  claim 13 , wherein the biofeedback loop comprises:
 altering the virtual reality experience in response to the physiological data;   transmitting the altered virtual reality experience to the patient;   instructing the patient to control one or more conditions in the virtual reality experience while controlling or altering one or more physiological signals;   altering the virtual reality system in response to the altered physiological data of the patient, and further altering the virtual reality experience provided to the patient, and   instructing the patient to respond to the altered virtual reality experience by controlling one or more conditions in the virtual reality experience while controlling or altering one or more physiological signals, as instructed by the virtual reality experience, the altered physiological signals being transmitted to the computing system, in the biofeedback loop until a set time or goal for the virtual reality experience is met.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising providing one or more physical sensors for monitoring one or more positions of a patient body, each physical sensor, individually, being capable of monitoring at least one physical signal from the patient body to produce physical data on the patient, and wherein the physical signals are incorporated into the virtual reality experience. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the virtual reality experience comprises a plurality of individual virtual reality experiences, where each virtual reality experience is varied in response to received physiological data of the patient in a biofeedback loop until a set time or goal for each individual virtual reality experience is met. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the virtual reality experience further comprises providing a virtual reality social experience, which provides for connecting the patient with one or more other users on-line for a shared virtual reality experience.