US 12,005,021 B2
Haptic actuators and their methods of use
Matthew J. Smith, Somerville, MA (US); David Cohen-Tanugi, Somerville, MA (US); Kristen Warren, Cambridge, MA (US); and Robert Balke, Winchester, MA (US)
Assigned to EMBR Labs IP LLC, Boston, MA (US)
Filed by EMBR Labs IP LLC, Boston, MA (US)
Filed on Sep. 12, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/129,182.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/571,311, filed on Oct. 12, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2019/0110950 A1, Apr. 18, 2019
Int. Cl. A61H 23/00 (2006.01); A61F 7/00 (2006.01); A61H 23/02 (2006.01); G06F 1/16 (2006.01); G06F 3/01 (2006.01); G06F 3/0346 (2013.01); G16H 20/30 (2018.01); G16H 40/63 (2018.01); G16H 40/67 (2018.01); G16H 50/20 (2018.01); A61F 7/02 (2006.01)
CPC A61H 23/02 (2013.01) [A61F 7/00 (2013.01); A61F 7/007 (2013.01); G06F 1/163 (2013.01); G06F 3/011 (2013.01); G06F 3/016 (2013.01); G06F 3/017 (2013.01); G06F 3/0346 (2013.01); G16H 20/30 (2018.01); G16H 40/63 (2018.01); G16H 40/67 (2018.01); G16H 50/20 (2018.01); A61F 2007/0009 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0019 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0029 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0035 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0039 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0044 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0093 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0228 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0233 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0234 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0236 (2013.01); A61H 2201/02 (2013.01); A61H 2201/501 (2013.01); A61H 2230/655 (2013.01); G06F 2203/011 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a haptic actuator, the method comprising:
activating the haptic actuator multiple times to provide thermal and/or physical sensations to a user to provide symptom relief as perceived by the user for a thermal dysregulation condition of the user, wherein the haptic actuator includes a thermoelectric material configured to be worn on the user, wherein the thermal and/or physical sensations include at least one thermal pulse applied by the thermoelectric material, wherein the at least one thermal pulse has one or more operating parameters;
confirming that an activation of the multiple activations of the haptic actuator was associated with the thermal dysregulation condition; and
upon confirming the activation of the haptic actuator was associated with the thermal dysregulation condition, recording information related to the activation of the haptic actuator to create an event log associated with the thermal dysregulation condition, wherein the information includes at least a timestamp of the activation of the haptic actuator, and wherein the information further includes the one or more operating parameters of the at least one thermal pulse.