EQUIPMENT TO ELICIT FRISSONS OR AESTHETIC CHILLS, THROUGH THE MULTISENSORIAL AND MULTIMODAL STIMULATION; WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF RELIEVING CHRONIC PAINS AND THE METHOD TO USE IT

Abstract

Equipment for self-care of patients with chronic pain, through inducing, intensifying and maintaining their own frissons and where multisensory and multimodal stimuli are used to achieve it; musical, visual, aromatic and vibrotactile and cold are applied on the cutaneous surface of the spine. In addition, the method for using them through perceptual learning is presented. The equipment consists of a computer and a computer system with a music and video player, lighting, presentation of aromas and a closed hydraulic circuit with a hydraulic actuator.

Claims

1. A method of self-care for the treatment of patients of chronic pains through the induction of their own frissons or aesthetic chills, with traditional sensory stimuli, comprising the following steps: Evaluate the patient, through psychometric, sensory and physiological tests, the psychological constructs, anxiety and fear, as well as the mood caused by the experience of pain, Evaluate by means of a self-report the physical capabilities of the patient, To show the patient with the instruments to measure blood pressure, heart rate and electrical conductance of the skin, informing them about the physiological parameters that should be achieved, To show the patient the stimuli he will receive, according to their intensity, density, duration, volume and frequency according to his emotional state, To show the patient a work station with a computer and its corresponding monitor, speakers and/or hearing aids and the way of reproducing multimedia files through which the audiovisual stimuli will be presented, To exhibit to the patient the closed hydraulic circuit of the present invention, by means of which the tactile, vibrotactic and cold stimuli will be presented to him, Have an operational computer program that provides services for the automatic execution of application programs, as well as to act as the environment of the application in which the program is executed, Induce frissons in the patient their own frissons by means of the sensory traditional stimuli, in order to alter the behavior, the functionality of the senses, the reflexes and/or their physiological parameters, To show the patient the stimuli in with multisensory way; where different techniques are used to provide a set of sensations and specific stimuli, to the patient, To show the stimuli to the patient in a multimodal way, where sensations from different sensory sources are integrated, Synchronize the presentation of the stimuli, in relation to time and movement, as a function of the rhythm of the music, Obtain a self-evaluation of the patient's about his physiological parameters; blood pressure, heart rate and electrical conductance, in addition to a self-report on his physical abilities,

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the assessment of pain and physical capabilities of the patient, comprises the intensity, character, location, irradiation, time, associated factors, implications and meaning.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensory evaluation contemplates invoking, provoking, measuring, analyzing and interpreting the reactions to the characteristics possessed by the different types of stimuli, to which the patient is subjected.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation of the anxiety and/or fear construct is carried out through, although not in an excluding manner, the following cognitive skis: divided attention, selective attention, sustained attention, numerical reasoning, visual exploration, flexibility, inhibition, spatial memory, contextual memory, short-term memory, working memory, visuospatial memory, short-term visual memory, auditory perception, spatial perception, visual perception, planning, reasoning, problem solving, speed reaction time and processing speed.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the various stimuli are chemical, electrochemical, physical, biological, physiological, vibratory, pressure and tension, movement, temperature, liquid, gaseous, light, sound, structural, psychological, emotional, sensory, external, internal, conditioned, unconditioned, motivational or subliminal.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the musical stimuli comprise classical music, opera, film music, ballads and melancholic melodies, military marches, bossa-nova, sweeps of scale and appogments, and where the sound comes from the speakers that are in the work station (FIG. 2) and (202).

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the visual stimuli comprise images patient's of relatives, of nature; landscapes, rivers, seas, waves, forests and gardens, and where the images come from the monitor that Is in the work station (FIG. 2) (211).

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the closed hydraulic circuit (FIG. 4) comprises 3 hydraulic pumps, a peristaltic one (401) and 2 diaphragm (403) and (404), hoses and connections, 1 hydraulic actuator (500), 1 cooler (406), 1 temperature sensor (408), 1 thermostat (407) and 3 solenoid valves normally closed; one of them of 3 ways (401) and 2 positions and 2 of 2 ways and 2 positions (413) and (414).

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the closed hydraulic circuit is deployed around the torso of the patient in bandolier, from shoulder to opposite hip (FIG. 1A) and (FIG. 18) and where the 3 pumps, the cooler, the temperature sensor, the thermostat and the 3-way solenoid valve are in a container (102), while part of the tube (405), the actuator (FIG. 5) and (600) and the 2-way solenoids valves are rubbing the area of the skin that covers the upper part of the spine and in which the flexible tube is supported to the skin by means of double suction cups (101), loose so as to maintain the vibration of the tube.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the Peltier plate moduler (FIG. 4) and (406), with fans in each one of them and water blocks, has a temperature sensor at the inlet (408), whose readings can be seen on the screen of the PC and also has a digital thermostat STC-1000 (407), which is powered by the 220V home electrical power network and which is regulated in an independent way, and depending of that adjustment it will activate/deactivate the set of 3 Peltier cells and their respective fans and where the Peltier cells and fans are fed from a power source of 12V and 40 A.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the peristaltic pump (402) and the actuator of the hydraulic circuit (FIG. 5) and (500), cause a turbulent flow and vibrations that are transmitted to the walls of the tubes and in that way they can present the vibrotactile stimuli to the area of the skin that covers the upper part of the spine.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the operation of the hydraulic circuit that allows the presentation of tactile, vibro-tactile and cold stimuli that are controlled through a computer system on the computer of the work station.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the hydraulic circuit that allows the application of tactile, vibrotactile and cold stimuli can be operated randomly from the PC in terms of time and velocity of the peristaltic pump.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the hydraulic circuit comprises 2 parallel half-circuits FIG. 4, (409) and (410), functionally separated by the closed 3-way solenoid valve and wherein the operation of the first half-circuit (410) is controlled by an Arduino Nano microcontroller (AD), loaded with a program and wherein said microcontroller simultaneously controls the opening of the three-way solenoid valve and the activation of the 2 microdiaphragm solenoid pumps, by means of a 5V relay module and three channels, through an Android USB cable from the PC.

15. The method according to claim 8, wherein the discharge of the two diaphragm pumps is done by two independent tubes (FIG. 4) (417) and (418) which are then joined with a third (419). that connects to the discharge tube of the peristaltic pump and where the fluid that both microdiaphragm pumps drive through the tube (420), towards the cooler, is made to the rhythm of the music of the computer's multimedia player, just like the operation of the two LED lamps in the work station (FIG. 2) and (210).

16. The method according to claim 8, wherein the functionality of this semicircuit (410) is given by a sound sensor, capable of detecting audible signals and convert them into voltage signals, which are read by the analog input of the microcontroller and where the program code_musical_source or loaded in it, performs an analysis of these signals by separating the high and low frequencies to activate the microdiaphragm pumps (outputs D12 and D13) and wherein the microdiaphragm pumps are controlled through a cable USB Android and a relay module of 3 channels (one per valve) through the PC and where the diaphragm pumps of the hydraulic semicircuit (403) and (404) respectively, and the LED lamps work with at least 2 instruments that have different sound frequency.

17. The method according to claim 8, wherein the second semicircuit has two modes of operation, in the first (409) the flow has a unidirectional direction and in the second it works alternately in a bidirectional way (409) and (409A), due to the forward and backward movement of the stepper motor of the peristaltic pump, within a limited range, given by the lengths of the cylinder and pistons of the actuator.

18. The method according to claim 8, wherein in the first working mode the three-way micro mini-valve (401), shared by the half-circuits (409) and (410), opens to the second half-circuit (409).), while activating the peristaltic pump, which is fed through the tube (413) and discharges its flow into the tube (420) that connects to the tube (419) from the 2 diaphragm pumps, while the valve 3-way solenoid continues open and the peristaltic pump is working, the flow recirculates into the 2nd semi-circuit to the Peltier plate cooler and with the hydraulic actuator open in that direction (FIG. 5) and (523).

19. The method according to claim 8, wherein the functionality of this first working mode of the 2nd hydraulic half-circuit (409), is given by the Wemos D1 mini card, above mentioned that is responsible for controlling both the activation/deactivation of the peristaltic pump, as well as its rotation speed, execution times, cycle restart times and the option to select movements, speeds and random times and where this is done through the PC through a USB Android connection to the Wemos D1 mini card and where by the pin D3 the card sends the necessary pulses directly to the DAT input of the driver and where the activation/deactivation is also carried out, by means of a relay of a channel, which controls the opening of the solenoid valve towards the peristaltic pump.

20. The method according to claim 8, wherein the 2nd mode of operation of the 2nd semicircuit (409) (409A) is intended to make a slight caress on the skin covering the upper part of the spine and that is achieved through the work of an actuator (FIG. 5) and (500), the 3-way solenoid valve and two positions and the 2-way and two positions solenoid valves, with the forward/reverse work of the stepper motor of the peristaltic pump.

21. The method according to claim 8, wherein the stepper motor functionality, which works bidirectionally at a predetermined distance, is given by the Wemos D1 mini card, above mentioned, that controls the peristaltic pump and simultaneously also the activation/deactivation of the mini micro solenoid valve of three ways and of the two solenoid valves of two ways, by means of a module of relays of 5V and 4 channels, through an USB cable Android from the PC.

22. The method according to claim 8, wherein the hydraulic actuator FIG. 6, (500) consists of a cylinder (501) partially lined in faux fur fabric (502) that touches the skin, and that starting from a central position (503) and with a ring internal to the center (606), moves longitudinally and alternately in both directions and in the same distance (504) or (505), on a pair of plungers that are fixed and are hollow, water circulates inside it (507) and (608), and ending in ringed nozzles pointing in opposite directions (609) and (510), towards both ends of the cylinder and discharging into the hydraulic circuit tubes (511) and (512) and wherein the actuator is alternately powered by water driven by the two solenoid valves, two-way and two positions (413) and (414), located on the sides of the cylinder and wherein on the outside of each of the plunger, at equal distance from their narrow ends, are located two rings (515) and (516) that act as stops and can brake the advance of the cylinder to both sides and where each of both plungers have two inner rings (517) and (518) threaded ends on the outside to screw two tube connectors (19) and (620) that trap a mesh (521) and (622).

23. The method according to claim 8, wherein by geometry the inner rings of the plungers (517) and (518), as well as the mesh (621) and (522), are intended to generate turbulent flows and wherein the distance traveled by the actuator in either direction must be equal to the angular distance traveled by the motor step by step in the corresponding displacements.

24. The method according to claim 1 wherein the odorants of this invention are presented through an essential oil diffuser (FIG. 3) and (301) which is connected to a power source (302) and wherein the diffuser comprises a box with two orifices which comprises two containers (303) and (304), comprising 2 resistances, one in each, (305) and (306) and cotton soaked in oil (307) and (308)) and where the oil is released, through the holes of the box, when the resistances heats up, a process that is controlled from the PC by the computational system and wherein a Wemos D1 mini card is used to control the diffusers which is responsible for activating/deactivating them, either individually, in one container, or in parallel with two containers, which is done from the PC through a two-channel relay module (309) to allow the passage of the 24 V of an electric strip that in turn comes from the source of power.

Description

FIGURES

[0182] FIG. 1 shows a patient in a therapy session to alleviate chronic pain by inducing, intensifying and maintaining their own frissons, by presenting multisensory and multimodal stimuli. Musical, visual, tactile and olfactory and that are elicit by actuators of a workstation with a PC and a monitor, an operating system, a multimedia program, an hydraulic circuit and an actuator controlled by a computer program.

[0183] FIG. 2 (2.sup.a and 2B), shows the way to place the hydraulic circuit in the back of the patient in order to apply the tactile stimuli, vibrotactiles and cold, on the surface of the skin and muscles that cover the upper part of the spine.

[0184] FIG. 3 shows a diffuser of essential oils, which has 2 circular containers, one for each oil, embedded in a textile fiber, together with a resistance, all inside a box with a straight parallelepiped shape and two holes in its upper face.

[0185] FIG. 4 shows the hydraulic circuit that allows to apply the tactile, vibro-tactile and cold stimuli and whose operation is controlled through a computer system through a PC and that comprises 3 hydraulic pumps, hoses and connections, 1 actuator, 1 cooler, 1 T sensor, 1 thermostat, one 3-way valve and 2 positions and another two 2 two-way and two positions all normally closed.

[0186] FIG. 5 shows an actuator that allows to apply tactile stimuli, caresses, on the cutaneous surface covering the upper part of the patient's spine, which is complemented by two, 2-way valves and 2 positions; one on each side of the actuator.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0187] The objective of this invention is to provide the equipment and the method to use it for the self-care of patients with chronic pain through frisson induction by means of actuators, including a hydraulic circuit with an actuator. Special mention within the stimuli used in this invention is occupied by music, since it has been shown to be the most efficient way of presenting sensory stimuli to elicit frissons and for this reason some of the tactile and visual stimuli have been synchronized with the music (multimodal stimulation).

[0188] FIGS. 1A and 18 show how to use the hydraulic circuit (400), in shoulder strap, with the head in (421) and the flexible tube (405), surrounding the patient's back and allowing to elicit the stimuli and vibrotactiles of this invention. In the back of the patient the flexible tube FIG. 1B is attached to the skin by means of double suction cups (101), loose to maintain the vibration of the tube. The container on the patient's back (102) of FIG. 1B comprises part of the hydraulic circuit: the hydraulic pump, a 3-way valve, a temperature sensor and a cooler. The actuator (500) is located skimming the skin covering the upper part of the spine.

[0189] On the other hand, FIG. 2 shows the necessary hardware to elicit the necessary audiovisual stimuli to enhance the cold and vibrotactile stimuli caused by the hydraulic circuit described above. Hardware elements could be important to use virtual reality (VR) technology, but not having it, does not prevent the patient from experiencing the benefits of this invention.

[0190] Okechukwu O. et al (2011), define virtual reality technology (VR), as very interactive and based on a multimedia computing environment in which users participate in a world generated by computers. Virtual technology (VT) is the simulation of an imaginary environment in 3 dimensions that provides visual interactive experiences in real time, sounds, tactile sensations and other forms of feedback and is the technology necessary to implement VR. However, budgetary, technical or other constraints make it advisable to use this technology according to the preferences of the patients. Virtual reality systems can be classified into 3 types; a) non-immersive, b) semi-immersive and c) totally immersive.

[0191] Virtual reality seeks to simulate sophisticated three-dimensional spaces, however for the purposes of the present invention, the non-immersive approach offers a virtual world, through a simple window on the desktop of the PC, on a high-resolution monitor. The non-immersive devices are lower cost and quickly accepted by users and can be improved with future investments.

[0192] There are several studies in which the use of virtual realty in rehabilitation in general and in the management of pain through the distraction techniques provided by VR has been studied. As an example, Shahrbanian S. et al (2012) made an extensive literature review and experiments to determine the effectiveness of this type of treatment in pain management. The authors concluded that the distraction techniques allowed by VR were a promising way to alleviate chronic pain in non-pharmacological treatments. The components to generate a virtual reality are divided into two types of components; hardware and software.

Hardware Components

[0193] Hardware comprises 5 subcomponents: work stations, accelerated processing cards, tracking systems and peripheral input and output devices: [0194] Work stations: nowadays have a great development, especially in terms of CPU, graphics, memory capacity and are optimized for the visualization and manipulation of different types of information. The greater the RAM memory, the greater the efficiency of the computer. [0195] Cards of accelerated processing: They allow to update the presentation of the peripheral devices of exit with new sensorial information, such as the graphics cards and of 3D sound. [0196] Monitoring systems: These systems determine the position and orientation of the user in the virtual environment and are divided into mechanical, electromagnetic, ultrasonic and infrared technology. [0197] Peripherals of sensory output: These devices are used to present a virtual world to the user and basically comprises, the monitor, glasses or virtual reality helmets and hearing aids for 3D audio. [0198] Input peripherals: They are used to interact with the virtual environment and with the objects inside it, such as the keyboard, the mouse and others.

[0199] The monitor (211) should have a curved screen (not excluding), since it provides a visual experience with less distortion, more natural and that causes less eye fatigue in long sessions, than those of flat screen and with wide viewing angles. It should have a large screen (not excluding) and high resolution (not excluding), so that it is easier to work with graphics, video and multimedia.

[0200] Audio system: Unless you want to have a good sound, without using VR headsets, a good audio system (202) is required, which makes the therapies more immersive. A surround sound, greater clarity and deeper bass are the benefits of a good speaker system. For this purpose we must consider the cost, the frequency response, the power, the impedance, the sensitivity, the performance, the distortion and the directionality.

Software Components

[0201] The software comprises four subcomponents: 3D modeling, 3D graphics software, software to edit digital sounds and virtual simulation softwares: [0202] 3D modeling software, which allows you to build geometric objects in a virtual reality world and specify the properties of these objects. [0203] 2D graphic design software, to apply to the objects characteristics that improve the virtual details. [0204] Software to edit digital sounds, which allow to mix and edit the sounds that the objects emit within the virtual reality environment. [0205] VR simulation software that bring together all the components. [0206] Software de simulacin de la VR que unan todos los components.
Software Suitable for this Invention

[0207] For the requirements of this invention a system based on C++ programming language was developed by adapting programs from the Arduino library, which contains pieces of code made by third parties.

[0208] To load our programs in Arduino or in another compatible card, the IDE (Integrated Development Environment) was downloaded. The IDE is the official Arduino application that allows you to program and download the program to our cards. With these programs the connections between the microcontroller and the sensors and actuators for this invention were done; The diffuser and the hydraulic circuit work alone or in parallel and can be synchronized or not with the audio and video of the computer. The microcontroller can be powered through the USB connection or with an external power supply in the present case with a power source.

Musical and Visual Stimuli

[0209] According to the previous references, the musical and visual stimuli that most effectively awaken emotions are pieces of classical music, melancholic music and videos of landscapes and natural life (201) and (212), respectively. There are many databases of images and videos available in multimedia, free or paid, that have been standardized and classified by gender, author, era and others to be used in psychological or other applications. As an example there are WEB pages of music, opera and other genres and videos of natural landscapes, natural fractals and in general scenes of natural life (eg on www.youtube.com).

[0210] Multimedia is a technology that allows to integrate text, number, graphics, still or moving images, animation, sounds and videos and also allows navigation along different documents. It refers to any object or system that uses multiple means of physical or digital expression to present or communicate information. The multimedia presentations can be viewed or heard on a stage, transmitted or played locally by means of a multimedia player, as understood by this invention. A transmission can be live or recorded and with analog or digital technology and the digital can be downloaded or transmitted in streaming.

[0211] By means of an example for the present invention one can use, among others, Windows Media Player (latest version 12), which is available for Windows 7, 8 and 10.

[0212] For Mac, Windows Media components can be downloaded so that QuickTime can play Windows Media files. In addition you can use free VLC Media Player which is a free and open source multimedia player, multiplatform and a framework that plays most multimedia files, as well as DVD, Audio CD, VCD and various transmission protocols.

Olfactory Stimuli

[0213] The odorants of this invention are presented through an essential oil diffuser (301) which is connected to a power source (302). The diffuser comprises a box with two holes which comprises two containers (303) and (304) among which are 2 resistors (305) and (306), in oil soaked in a cotton (307) and (308). The oil is released through the holes in the box when the resistance is heated, a process that is controlled from the PC through the Computational System.

[0214] For the control of the diffusers, a Wemos D1 mini card is used, which is responsible for activating/deactivating it, either individually (one container) or in parallel (both containers.) This is done from the PC by means of a relay module. With two channels (309) to allow the passage of the 24 V of a strip that in turn comes from the power source.

Vibrotactils

[0215] To present the vibrotactile stimuli an hydraulic circuit is used, closed and parallel, (400) that allows to massage with strokes and caresses and also apply cold and vibrations, to the cutaneous surface of the upper part of the patients' spine. The vibrations are caused by the turbulent flow generated by the peristaltic pump and the actuator, and transmitted to the tubes.

[0216] The circuit comprises 3 pumps, one peristaltic (402) moved by a stepper motor (DC, 24 V and 0.6 A) and 2 microdiaphragm pumps (403) and (404), (DC 12V and 1.5 A), flexible tubes (405), Y connections, a cooler with Peltier plates (406), a thermostat (407) and a temperature sensor (408), a micro mini three-way valve, two positions (401), normally closed (DC 12V and 185 mA), and an hydraulic actuator (500), which has two 2-way valves, 2 positions, normally closed, at both sides of it (413) and (414).

[0217] In turn, the hydraulic circuit comprises two parallel hydraulic half-circuits (409) and (410), functionally separated by the normally closed three-way solenoid valve (401) and wherein the operation of the first half-circuit (410) is controlled by a Arduino Nano microcontroller (A0), loaded with a program. The microcontroller simultaneously controls the activation of the two microdiaphragm solenoid pumps (403) and (404) and the opening of the three-way valve (401), through a 5V relay module and three channels, through a USB cable Android from the PC.

[0218] In short the operation of the first hydraulic half circuit (410) comprises the micro mini three-way solenoid valve, normally closed (401), which upon opening allows the flow to simultaneously go to the two microdiaphragm pumps (403) and (404), located in parallel and fed through two independent tubes (415) and (416), respectively, and which are born from one in common (414), coming from the cooler through the 3-way valve. The discharge of the fluid is done by two independent tubes (417) and (418) that are then joined together with a third one (419) that connects with the discharge tube of the peristaltic pump (420) and wherein the fluid that both microdiaphragm pumps drives through the tube (419), towards the cooler (406), is done to the rhythm of the music of the computer's multimedia player.

[0219] The Peltier plate cooler, with fans for each of them and water blocks, has a temperature sensor at its inlet, the readings of which can be seen on the PC screen. It also has an STC-1000 Digital Thermostat that is powered by the 220V of the home electric network and that is regulated independently. As programmed in the thermostat, the set of 3 Peltier cells and their respective fans will be activated/deactivated. The set of Peltier cells and fans are powered from a power supply o 12V and 40 A.

[0220] The functionality of this semicircuit is given by a sound sensor, capable of detecting an audible signal and converting it into a voltage signal, which is read by the analog input of the microcontroller.

[0221] The program musical_source_code or loaded in the microcontroller, performs an analysis of these signals by separating the high and low frequencies to activate the microdiaphragm pumps (outputs D12 and D13). The microdiaphragm pumps are controlled through an Android USB cable and a three-channel relay module (one for the valve) from the PC.

[0222] On the other hand and additionally, sets of LEDs are activated, FIG. 2, (210) to accompany the sounds (outputs D12, D13, D4 and D9, D10 and D11). The activation signals of the pumps are received by the L298 driver, which is responsible for activating and deactivating the pumps, giving them power from the 12 V power source.

[0223] The hydraulic semicircuit and LED lighting (210) works with any 2 instruments that have different sound frequencies (e.g. drum and flute). In summary, the hydraulic circuit of this Invention is similar to the hydraulic circuit of a musical water source.

[0224] The second of the semicircuitos, has two modes of work, in the first (409) the flow has a unidirectional sense and in the second works alternately bidirectional (409) and (409A), due to the movement of advance and retraction of the engine step by step of the peristaltic pump, within a limited range, given by the lengths of its cylinder and plungers.

[0225] In the first mode of work, the micro mini three-way valve (401), shared by the half-circuits (409) and (410), opens to the second half-circuit (409), while the peristaltic pump is activated (402), which is fed through the tube (413) and discharges its flow in the tube (420) that connects to the tube (419) from the 2 diaphragm pumps (403) and (404). While the three-way solenoid valve (401) is still open and the peristaltic pump is working, the flow recirculates into the 2nd half-circuit to the Peltier plate cooler (406) and with the hydraulic actuator open in that direction FIG. 6, (623).

[0226] The functionality of this working mode of the second hydraulic semicircuit (409) is given by the Wemos D1 mini Card, mentioned above, which is responsible for controlling both the activation/deactivation of the peristaltic pump (402), as well as the speed of rotation of the same, the execution times of the same, the cycle restart times and the option to select random movements, speeds and times. This is done from the PC through an Android USB connection to the Wemos D1 mini card. By pin D3 the card sends the necessary pulses directly to the DAT Input of the driver (Kamoer). The activation/deactivation is also carried out by means of a one-channel relay, which controls the opening of the solenoid valve towards the peristaltic pump.

[0227] From the pin D6 of the Wemos Card, the activation/deactivation is carried out by means of a relay, to allow the passage of the 24 V necessary for the supply of the driver (Kamoer) of the peristaltic pump. The 24 V comes from the power source 24V, 10 A, which shares the voltage with the diffuser system by means of a power strip. One of the protoboard of the driver allows to have more feeds of 5 v and their respective earths (GND) to power the relay modules and share the GND lands with the driver (Kamoer) and the Wemos D1 mini card of the control of diffusers.

[0228] So that the patient does not have to operate the hydraulic circuit by default, in terms of motions and times, and above all to introduce uncertainty in the sensory experiences experienced, a randomization option was enabled in the execution program of this working mode (activate/deactivate in speed and time ranges). The randomness that the previously indicated variables, movement, velocities and times take, is obtained through a Random Value Generator Program that is in the Random library:

[0229] https:/www.arduino.cc/reference/en/language/functions/random-numbers/random

[0230] Because Arduino is unable to create a true random number, the randomSeed library allows you to place a variable, constant, or other control function within the random function, and generate random numbers:

[0231] https://www.arduino.cc/reference/en/language/functions/random-numbers/randomseed/

[0232] As an alternative there are different programs that generate random variables, as an example in the following link you can find a program developed in C++:

[0233] http://www.cplusplus.com/reference/cstdib/rand/

[0234] The 2nd mode of the 2nd semicircuit (409) is intended to make a slight caress on the skin covering the upper part of the spine and is achieved through the work of an actuator (500), the 3-way solenoid valve and two positions (401) the two 2-way valves and 2 positions (413) and (414) and the stepper motor work of the peristaltic pump (402). The functionality of the stepper motor, which operates bi-directionally at a predetermined distance, is given by the Wemos D1 mini Card, mentioned above, which is responsible for controlling the peristaltic pump (402) and simultaneously activating/deactivating the mini micro three-way solenoid valve and the two 2 ways solenoid valves, using a 5V and 4-channel relay module, via an Android USB cable from the PC.

[0235] The hydraulic actuator FIG. 5, (500) consists of a cylinder (501) partially lined in a fabric with hairs (502), which starting from a central position (603) and with an inner ring at the center (506), moves longitudinally and alternately in both directions and in the same distance (504) or (505), on a pair of plungers that are fixed and hollow, water circulates inside them (507) and (608), and ending in nozzles rings that point in opposite way (609) and (610), to both directions of the cylinder and discharging into the tubes of the hydraulic circuit (611) and (612) and wherein the actuator is alternately fed by water driven by the two solenoid valves, 2 ways and two positions (413) and (414), located on both of the cylinder. On the outside of each of the plungers and at the same distance from its narrow ends are located two rings (515) and 516) that can stop the advance of the cylinder towards both sides and where each of both pistons have at their distal ends two inner rings (517) and (618) and grooves on the outside to screw two tube connectors (519) and (520) that catch a mesh (521) and (522). The inner rings as well as the mesh are intended to generate turbulent flows and the distance traveled by the actuator in either direction must be equal to the angular distance that the motor travels step by step in the corresponding displacements.

[0236] The cycle is initiated when the 3-way solenoid valve (401) opens, the peristaltic pump (402) is activated, one of the two-way valves is opened (413) or (414) and drives the fluid to any of the nozzles (509) or (510), while it flows to the second nozzle, dragging the inner ring of the cylinder (506) to the fluid passage. The cycle is repeated in the opposite direction with the advance/return of the stepper motor of the peristaltic pump and the alternating opening of the 2-way solenoid valves (413) and (414).

REFERENCES

[0237]

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