Automatic operant conditioning system especially for scoliosis

Claim 1

A portable apparatus for the treatment of a patient having a posture characterized by idiopathic scoliosis, said apparatus to be worn by the patient and utilizing biofeedback to improve the posture of the patient, the apparatus comprising: (a) a first cable which is expandable and contractable and is adapted to be removably positioned around the chest of the patient to measure respiration (RES); (b) a second cable which is expandable and contractable and is adapted to be removably positioned longitudinally around the trunk of the patient to measure the greater circumference of the trunk; (c) first and second transducer means connected to said first and second cables respectively to measure changes in the expansion and contraction of the respective cables and convert said chances into digital electrical signals; (d) a digital microcomputer connected to said transducer means to receive said digital signals and having digital programmed memory and additional digital memory; (e) a feedback stimulus means controlled by the microcomputer to stimulate the patient for reinforcement by applying a stimulus to the patient; (f) computation means to compute an actual effective spine length R during sample periods where R=T-K·RES, T being a spine length during proper posture of the patient and K being a coefficient of coupling between T and RES; and (g) control means to control said feedback stimulus means so that the stimulus is applied only if R<C where C is an adjustable criteria; (h) adjustment means to automatically adjust C based upon the prior history of R and C of the patient; (i) compliance means to determine if the apparatus is being worn by the patient; and (j) multiplexing means to sample data from said first and second transducer means and power saving means to control said multiplexing means so the multiplexing means samples data at a slower rate if the compliance means has determined that the apparatus is not being worn.