Treatment of Phantom Limb Syndrome and Other Sequelae of Physical Injury

Abstract

Methods, systems and devices that provide a therapeutic solution to alleviate the pain and discomfort of phantom limb syndrome are disclosed. The methods and systems of the present invention generally comprise capturing data from recording devices operably coupled to a processor and/or computing device, the recording devices configured to capture data associated with intact portions of a missing limb, one or more intact limbs and/or portions of the environment surrounding the missing limb, identifying the data captured, generating a three-dimensional virtual image of the missing limb and the surrounding environment from the data captured, and displaying the three-dimensional virtual image and the portions of the surrounding environment to the amputee such that the missing limb appears intact. The present invention advantageously provides a therapeutic and more immediate solution to alleviate the pain and discomfort from phantom limb syndrome.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating phantom limb syndrome in an amputee, the method comprising:
 capturing data from an imaging device operably coupled to a computing device and a display, the imaging device capturing the data associated with at least one of intact portions of a missing limb, one or more intact limbs, and portions of an environment surrounding the missing limb;   analyzing the data captured;   generating a three-dimensional virtual image of the missing limb from the data captured;   displaying, at the outset of treatment, the three-dimensional virtual image to the amputee such that the missing limb appears intact; and   decreasing at least one dimension of the three-dimensional virtual image over a period of time so that the three-dimensional virtual image appears to shrink.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising measuring nerve impulses and determining from the nerve impulses how much to shrink the three-dimensional virtual image of the missing limb. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display is a flexible display, wearable augmented reality glasses, augmented reality contacts, an LED display, an auto-stereoscopic display, a hologram, or a projector and screen. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising altering the three-dimensional virtual image of the missing limb over a period of time so that the three-dimensional virtual image appears to fade. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising comparing the three-dimensional virtual image of the missing limb to visual data from one or more databases to identify a personally identifying mark on the missing limb or the one or more intact limbs. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising incorporating the personally identifying mark into the three-dimensional virtual image of the missing limb. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising removing or fading, in whole or in part, the personally identifying mark from the three-dimensional virtual image of the missing limb. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising supplementing the three-dimensional virtual image with virtual body modifications. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating the three-dimensional virtual image from media data showing the amputee before the amputee had the missing limb amputated. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more intact limbs comprise at least two limbs from other people, and generating the three-dimensional virtual image of the missing limb comprises averaging the at least two limbs from the other people. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 attaching electrodes above an amputation site or another site on the amputee’s body, wherein the electrodes intercept electrical signals from nerve endings above the amputation site; and   moving the three-dimensional virtual image of the missing limb in real or near-real time based on an interpretation of the electrical signals.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 operably connecting one or more motion sensing devices to the display, the one or more motion sensing devices detecting and recognizing one or more gestures; and   stimulating the three-dimensional virtual image of the missing limb such that the stimulation is transmitted to the amputee’s brain and the amputee feels the stimulation.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising mapping and integrating virtual biologically-accurate or responsive nerve system data into the three-dimensional virtual image. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data captured from the imaging device includes at least one of the portions of the environment surrounding the missing limb. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the three-dimensional virtual image of the missing limb comprises generating a virtual environment, and displaying the three-dimensional virtual image comprises displaying the virtual environment. 
     
     
         16 . A method of training a brain of a child born missing a body part, the method comprising:
 capturing data from an imaging device operably coupled to a computing device and a display, the imaging device capturing the data associated with at least one of a missing body part, an attachment point of a missing body part, one or more intact body parts, and portions of an environment surrounding the missing body part;   analyzing the data captured;   generating a three-dimensional virtual image approximating the missing body part from the data captured;   outputting the three-dimensional virtual image on the display causing the virtual image to be visible to the child;   measuring neural signals at a specified place on the child’s body; and   moving the three-dimensional virtual image approximating the missing body part in response to the measured neural signals.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , where the three-dimensional virtual image approximating the missing body part is an image of the missing body part. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , where the three-dimensional virtual image approximating the missing body part is a prosthetic replacement for the missing body part. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , where the three-dimensional virtual image approximating the missing body part grows over time as the child grows. 
     
     
         20 . A method of determining a desired prosthetic for a missing body part of a user, the method comprising:
 capturing data from an imaging device operably coupled to a computing device and a display, the imaging device capturing the data associated with at least one of intact portions of a missing body part, an attachment point of a missing body part, one or more intact body parts and portions of an environment surrounding the missing body part;   analyzing the data captured;   generating, from the data captured, a three-dimensional virtual image approximating a prosthetic device to replace the missing body part; and   outputting the three-dimensional virtual image on the display visible to the user.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising measuring neural signals at a specified place on the user’s body and moving the three-dimensional virtual image of the prosthetic device in response to the measured neural signals. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising alternating, by the user, the prosthetic device approximated from a choice of a plurality of prosthetic replacements.