220 results about "Mimetic Muscles" patented technology

The present invention is a method and system for measuring human emotional response to visual stimulus, based on the person's facial expressions. Given a detected and tracked human face, it is accurately localized so that the facial features are correctly identified and localized. Face and facial features are localized using the geometrically specialized learning machines. Then the emotion-sensitive features, such as the shapes of the facial features or facial wrinkles, are extracted. The facial muscle actions are estimated using a learning machine trained on the emotion-sensitive features. The instantaneous facial muscle actions are projected to a point in affect space, using the relation between the facial muscle actions and the affective state (arousal, valence, and stance). The series of estimated emotional changes renders a trajectory in affect space, which is further analyzed in relation to the temporal changes in visual stimulus, to determine the response.

The present invention is a method and system to provide an automatic measurement of people's responses to dynamic digital media, based on changes in their facial expressions and attention to specific content. First, the method detects and tracks faces from the audience. It then localizes each of the faces and facial features to extract emotion-sensitive features of the face by applying emotion-sensitive feature filters, to determine the facial muscle actions of the face based on the extracted emotion-sensitive features. The changes in facial muscle actions are then converted to the changes in affective state, called an emotion trajectory. On the other hand, the method also estimates eye gaze based on extracted eye images and three-dimensional facial pose of the face based on localized facial images. The gaze direction of the person, is estimated based on the estimated eye gaze and the three-dimensional facial pose of the person. The gaze target on the media display is then estimated based on the estimated gaze direction and the position of the person. Finally, the response of the person to the dynamic digital media content is determined by analyzing the emotion trajectory in relation to the time and screen positions of the specific digital media sub-content that the person is watching.

A method and apparatus are provided by which eyelid diseases may be treated and eyelid hygiene may be performed. In particular, the method and apparatus stimulate eyelid muscles and facial muscles, allowing stimulation of glandular eyelid components that allow optimization of the tear film and the ocular surface. In this manner, the symptoms associated with ocular irritation or with eyelid disorders may be treated by maintaining proper tear film composition.

A method of assessing an individual through facial muscle activity and expressions includes receiving a visual recording stored on a computer-readable medium of an individual's non-verbal responses to a stimulus, the non-verbal response comprising facial expressions of the individual. The recording is accessed to automatically detect and record expressional repositioning of each of a plurality of selected facial features by conducting a computerized comparison of the facial position of each selected facial feature through sequential facial images. The contemporaneously detected and recorded expressional repositionings are automatically coded to an action unit, a combination of action units, and / or at least one emotion. The action unit, combination of action units, and / or at least one emotion are analyzed to assess one or more characteristics of the individual to develop a profile of the individual's personality in relation to the objective for which the individual is being assessed.

An electrode assembly adapted to be attached to the skin over selected facial muscle groups picks up signals to be analyzed by an anesthesia adequacy monitor that measures the level of awareness of a living animal, typically a human being. The electrode assembly also includes a stimulator that stimulates a facial nerve to determine the level of paralysis, or neuro muscular block, of the facial muscles. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the electrode assembly by printing a pattern of electrically conductive material through a silk-screen or an ink type process onto a flexible layer, and then coating the result with a non-conducting adhesive except at points corresponding to sensing points for the desired muscle groups. Finally, a method for using such sensing and stimulating devices is shown in determining and maintaining an appropriate level of patient awareness, muscle paralysis, and analgesia under anesthesia.

A system and method for animating facial motion comprises an animation processor adapted to generate three-dimensional graphical images and having a user interface and a facial performance processing system operative with the animation processor to generate a three-dimensional digital model of an actor's face and overlay a virtual muscle structure onto the digital model. The virtual muscle structure includes plural muscle vectors that each respectively define a plurality of vertices along a surface of the digital model in a direction corresponding to actual facial muscles. The facial performance processing system is responsive to an input reflecting selective actuation of at least one of the plural muscle vectors to thereby reposition corresponding ones of the plurality of vertices and re-generate the digital model in a manner that simulates facial motion. The muscle vectors further include an origin point defining a rigid connection of the muscle vector with an underlying structure corresponding to actual cranial tissue, an insertion point defining a connection of the muscle vector with an overlying surface corresponding to actual skin, and interconnection points with other ones of the plural muscle vectors.

A patient interface device includes a support member, a sealing assembly attached to the support member, and a pair of contacting members. The contacting members are coupled to the support member on each side of the sealing assembly. The contacting members are each configured and arranged to contact the user over a limited contacting region, which corresponds to a junction of the orbicularis oris facial muscle, the zygomaticus facial muscle, and the risorius facial muscle.

The invention concerns a method for performing an electric inhibition of the facial muscles for purely aesthetic purposes, using a device comprising a support at the head of a user (1), two contact electrodes (2), an electronic circuit (3) for generating low-voltage electric pulses at said electrodes (2), a direct current electric power supply (4) and means for fixing and locking (7) said components on the head. The invention is characterized in that it includes the following steps: placing the electrodes (2) on either side of the upper part of the nose, at the glabella; passing the electric pulses via the electrodes (2) through the pyramidal muscle of the nose so as to cause said pyramidal muscle of the nose to relax and hence its antagonist muscle, the forehead muscle and the double eyebrow muscle.

An electrode assembly adapted to be attached to the skin over selected facial muscle groups picks up signals to be analyzed by an anesthesia adequacy monitor that measures the level of awareness of a living animal, typically a human being. The electrode assembly also includes a stimulator that stimulates a facial nerve to determine the level of paralysis, or neuro muscular block, of the facial muscles. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the electrode assembly by printing a pattern of electrically conductive material through a silk-screen or an ink type process onto a flexible layer, and then coating the result with a non-conducting adhesive except at points corresponding to sensing points for the desired muscle groups. Finally, a method for using such sensing and stimulating devices is shown in determining and maintaining an appropriate level of patient awareness, muscle paralysis, and analgesia under anesthesia.

A motion tracking system enables faithful capture of subtle facial and eye motion using a surface electromyography (EMG) detection method to detect muscle movements and an electrooculogram (EOG) detection method to detect eye movements. Signals corresponding to the detected muscle and eye movements are used to control an animated character to exhibit the same movements performed by a performer. An embodiment of the motion tracking animation system comprises a plurality of pairs of EMG electrodes adapted to be affixed to a skin surface of a performer at plural locations corresponding to respective muscles, and a processor operatively coupled to the plurality of pairs of EMG electrodes. The processor includes programming instructions to perform the functions of acquiring EMG data from the plurality of pairs of EMG electrodes. The EMG data comprises electrical signals corresponding to muscle movements of the performer during a performance. The programming instructions further include processing the EMG data to provide a digital model of the muscle movements, and mapping the digital model onto an animated character. In another embodiment of the invention, a plurality of pairs of EOG electrodes are adapted to be affixed to the skin surface of the performer at locations adjacent to the performer's eyes. The processor is operatively coupled to the plurality of pairs of EOG electrodes and further includes programming instructions to perform the functions of acquiring EOG data from the plurality of pairs of EOG electrodes. The EOG data comprises electrical signals corresponding to eye movements of the performer during a performance. The programming instructions further provide processing of the EOG data and mapping of the processed EOG data onto the animated character. As a result, the animated character will exhibit the same muscle and eye movements as the performer.

One of a plurality of prepared given expressions is displayed on a screen. After the given expression is presented to the user, the position of a face feature point is detected from a face image of the user taken by a camera cartridge. Based on the detected position of the face feature point, the user's expression in the face image is expressed in accordance with the evaluation criteria corresponding to the given expression, and an image representing the evaluation result is displayed on the screen. Thus, the user can effectively train the mimetic muscles.

Method and apparatus for training facial muscles to reduce wrinkles employs a flexible stretchable membrane held in contact with the skin over a muscle group while manipulating a hand-held device with a motorized rotary brush over the membrane, so that the bristles stimulate and train the muscle group while the flexible membrane protects and stabilizes the skin.

The present invention relates to a composition consisting of a combination of peptides that regenerate the dermal matrix and a rapid acting muscle relaxant derived from the extract of the plant, Acemella oleracea. By limiting cutaneous deformation caused by the contraction of facial muscles the extract increases the efficiency of the peptides in reducing expression lines.

A face mask that delivers magneto-cymatic therapy to a person's face to treat wrinkles and to tone facial muscles. The device consists of a mask worn over the face. Housed within the mask is an array of small transducers delivering cymatic vibrations. At the center of each transducer is a strong permanent magnet which delivers the magnetic therapy. Both the cymatic vibrations and the magnetic field are delivered concurrently. In addition, the magnetic field serves as a conduit for the cymatic vibrations providing a magnetic inductive coupling with the cells in the facial tissue to assist in restoring the cells to their proper resonant frequency.

A soft, flexible, pliable one-piece isometric exercise mouth tool for conditioning facial muscles to be used for cosmetic and medical purposes. The isometric exercise mouth tool has a hollow body portion and a stem or handle for holding the body portion in the desired position. The body portion has ridges for positioning the lips thereon for various exercises. The exercises are performed by sucking on or compressing the body of the isometric exercise mouth tool or a combination thereof to exercise the muscles in the mouth, face and throat.

A method of assessing an individual through facial muscle activity and expressions includes receiving a visual recording stored on a computer-readable medium of an individual's non-verbal responses to a stimulus, the non-verbal response comprising facial expressions of the individual. The recording is accessed to automatically detect and record expressional repositioning of each of a plurality of selected facial features by conducting a computerized comparison of the facial position of each selected facial feature through sequential facial images. The contemporaneously detected and recorded expressional repositionings are automatically coded to an action unit, a combination of action units, and / or at least one emotion. The action unit, combination of action units, and / or at least one emotion are analyzed to assess one or more characteristics of the individual to develop a profile of the individual's personality in relation to the objective for which the individual is being assessed.

The embodiment described herein are related nanoemulsions comprising botulinum toxins. In one embodiment, the nanoemulsions are prepared by high pressure microfluidization and comprise a particle size distribution exclusively between 10 and 300 nm. The nanoemulsions contemplated by the present invention are useful for the cosmetic and medical treatment of muscular contracture states. For example, botulinum toxin may relax facial muscles such that skin wrinkles become smoother and less noticeable. Further, the present invention contemplates a cosmetic formulation that may be self-administered, for example, in the privacy of one's home and without medical supervision.

Method and apparatus for training facial muscles to reduce wrinkles employs a flexible stretchable membrane held in contact with the skin over a muscle group while manipulating a hand-held device with a motorized rotary brush over the membrane, so that the bristles stimulate and train the muscle group while the flexible membrane protects and stabilizes the skin.

The embodiment described herein are related nanoemulsions comprising botulinum toxins. In one embodiment, the nanoemulsions are prepared by high pressure microfluidization and comprise a particle size distribution exclusively between 10 and 300 nm. The nanoemulsions contemplated by the present invention are useful for the cosmetic and medical treatment of muscular contracture states. For example, botulinum toxin may relax facial muscles such that skin wrinkles become smoother and less noticeable. Further, the present invention contemplates a cosmetic formulation that may be self-administered, for example, in the privacy of one's home and without medical supervision.

A method of assessing an individual through facial muscle activity and expressions includes receiving a visual recording stored on a computer-readable medium of an individual's non-verbal responses to a stimulus, the non-verbal response comprising facial expressions of the individual. The recording is accessed to automatically detect and record expressional repositioning of each of a plurality of selected facial features by conducting a computerized comparison of the facial position of each selected facial feature through sequential facial images. The contemporaneously detected and recorded expressional repositionings are automatically coded to an action unit, a combination of action units, and / or at least one emotion. The action unit, combination of action units, and / or at least one emotion are analyzed to assess one or more characteristics of the individual to develop a profile of the individual's personality in relation to the objective for which the individual is being assessed.

A method and system for training a patient to improve swallowing, for retraining jaw muscles and for holding or keeping the jaw in a correct bite position. All of this in-turn causing an improvement in posture. The system includes a combination of exercise and oral apparatus pieces or mouth-guards to retrain and balance the facial muscles and to develop a correct swallow. The mouth-guards of the present invention can improve biomechanical imbalance, posture and in turn athletic performance. A particular embodiment of an oral apparatus of the present invention includes top and bottom troughs for receiving top and bottom teeth into the apparatus. The troughs can be adapted to hold the upper canine teeth lower than the central and lateral incisor teeth and hold the upper teeth outside the lower teeth from the incisors to the molars. The apparatus can be pre-fabricated or custom made for a particular patient. Using heat moldable thermoplastics, some embodiments of the device can be formed in the patient's mouth after heating in hot water.

A patient interface device includes a support member, a sealing assembly attached to the support member, and a pair of contacting members. The contacting members are coupled to the support member on each side of the sealing assembly. The contacting members are each configured and arranged to contact the user over a limited contacting region, which corresponds to a junction of the oribicularis oris facial muscle, the zygomaticus facial muscle, and the risorius facial muscle.

A facial muscle exercising device is designed for insertion between the lips of a person's mouth. The facial muscle exercising device is comprised of a pair of lip-engaging members disposed in longitudinal separation from each other. Each of these lip-engaging members has a convex outwardly curved side with a concave groove defined therein. A pair of the elongated, coaxially aligned telescopically engaged spreader members are urged apart by an axially compressible coil spring having opposing ends and disposed in coaxial alignment with the telescoping spreader members. A guide rod is provided and is anchored to one of the lip-engaging members. The free end of the guide rod extends through a guide passage in the other lip-engaging member. The guide rod is aligned parallel to the coaxial, telescoping spreader members.

The embodiment of the application provides a method and device for processing a virtual image. The method comprises the following steps: determining a first video containing a first virtual image video according to the facial muscle data of a first initiator, wherein the facial muscle data is used for driving the first virtual image to move; and uploading the first video to a server side to ensure that an audience client acquires the first video. According to the method and device provided by the embodiment of the application, the facial expression and action of the first virtual image can be consistent with the facial expression and action of the first initiator, and thus the first virtual image can be more lifelike and the user experience can be better.

The embodiment described herein are related nanoemulsions comprising botulinum toxins. In one embodiment, the nanoemulsions are prepared by high pressure microfluidization and comprise a particle size distribution exclusively between 10 and 300 nm. The nanoemulsions contemplated by the present invention are useful for the cosmetic and medical treatment of muscular contracture states. For example, botulinum toxin may relax facial muscles such that skin wrinkles become smoother and less noticeable. Further, the present invention contemplates a cosmetic formulation that may be self-administered, for example, in the privacy of one's home and without medical supervision.

The present invention relates to a ball-like exercise device adapted for insertion in the mouth and to be used for exercising, strengthening and / or toning facial and / or jaw muscles.