1. An image recognition method, comprising:
emitting light having a time variable intensity from a light-emitting unit to an object;
generating a reflected light image that corresponds to light components emitted by the light-emitting unit and reflected by the object by computing a difference between an amount of light received by a light-receiving unit when the light-emitting unit emits light and an amount of light received by the light-receiving unit when the light-emitting unit fails to emit light and that is formed of a spatial intensity distribution of reflected light from the object as a range image having a depth value that reflects a three-dimensional shape of the object;
obtaining a deformed image by deforming the range image in units of given data; and
recognizing three-dimensional motion of the object in the range image by comparing the deformed image with a new range image.
2. An image recognition method according to claim 1, wherein the deformed image is a rotated deformed image.
3. An image recognition method according to claim 1, wherein the deformed image is moved in parallel.
4. An image recognition method according to claim 1, wherein the deformed image is contracted by rotation.
5. An image recognition apparatus, comprising:
a light emitter to emit light having a time variable intensity to an object;
an image generation unit configured to generate a reflected light image that corresponds to light components emitted by the light emitter and reflected by the object by computing a difference between an amount of light received when the light-emitting unit emits light and an amount of light received when the light emitter fails to emit light and that is formed of a spatial intensity distribution of reflected light from the object as a range image having a depth value that reflects a three-dimensional shape of the object;
an image deformation unit configured to deform the range image in units of given data; and
a recognition unit configured to recognize three-dimensional motion of the object by comparing a deformed image obtained by said image deformation unit and a new range image generated by said image generation unit.
6. An image recognition apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the deformed image is a rotated deformed image.
7. An image recognition apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the deformed image is moved in parallel.
8. An image recognition apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the deformed image is contracted by rotation.
9. A computer readable medium storing a computer program which when executed by a computer causes the computer to perform a method comprising:
emitting light having a time variable intensity from a light emitter to an object;
generating a reflected light image that corresponds to light components emitted by the light-emitting unit and reflected by the object by computing a difference between an amount of light received when the light-emitting unit emits light and an amount of light received when the light-emitting unit does not emit light and that is formed of a spatial intensity distribution of reflected light from the object as a range image having a depth value that reflects a three-dimensional shape of the object;
deforming the range image in units of given data; and
recognizing the presenceabsence of three-dimensional motion of the object by comparing a deformed image obtained by deforming the range image and a newly generated range image.
10. A computer readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the deformed image is a rotated deformed image.
11. A computer readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the deformed image is moved in parallel.
12. A computer readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the deformed image is contracted by rotation.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for treating hypertension in a patient, comprising:
holding an external neurostimulator on a body surface of the patient using a bracing element configured to brace a portion of the body;
placing surface stimulation electrodes on the body, including placing at least one of the surface stimulation electrodes on an acupuncture point;
executing a stimulation algorithm to transcutaneously deliver neurostimulation from the external neural stimulator to the acupuncture point to treat hypertension, wherein the stimulation algorithm includes parameters selected to modulate cardiovascular function to treat hypertension; and
timing the delivery of the neurostimulation according to a programmed schedule using a clock of the external neurostimulator,
wherein placing the at least one of the surface stimulation electrodes on the acupuncture point comprises placing one or more of the surface stimulation electrodes on the GB-34 on the Gall Bladder Meridian.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the neurostimulation comprises delivering electrical neurostimulation pulses at a stimulation frequency between approximately 1 to 5 Hz.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein delivering the neurostimulation comprises delivering the electrical neurostimulation pulses for approximately 0.5 to 24 hours each day.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing a feedback control signal, and wherein executing the stimulation algorithm to transcutaneously deliver neurostimulation comprises using the feedback control signal to control delivery of the neurostimulation.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein sensing the feedback control signal comprising sensing the feedback control signal using an implantable medical device.
6. A method for treating hypertension in a patient, comprising:
holding an external neurostimulator on a body surface of the patient using a bracing element configured to brace a portion of the body;
placing surface stimulation electrodes on the body, including placing at least one of the surface stimulation electrodes on an acupuncture point;
executing a stimulation algorithm to transcutaneously deliver neurostimulation from the external neural stimulator to the acupuncture point to treat hypertension, wherein the stimulation algorithm includes parameters selected to modulate cardiovascular function to treat hypertension; and
timing the delivery of the neurostimulation according to a programmed schedule using a clock of the external neurostimulator,
wherein placing the at least one of the surface stimulation electrodes on the acupuncture point comprises placing one or more of the surface stimulation electrodes on the BL-14 and BL-16 on the Bladder Meridian.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein delivering the neurostimulation comprises delivering electrical neurostimulation pulses at a stimulation frequency between approximately 1 to 5 Hz.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein delivering the neurostimulation comprises delivering the electrical neurostimulation pulses for approximately 0.5 to 24 hours each day.
9. The method of claim 6, further comprising sensing a feedback control signal, and wherein executing the stimulation algorithm to transcutaneously deliver neurostimulation comprises using the feedback control signal to control delivery of the neurostimulation.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein sensing the feedback control signal comprising sensing the feedback control signal using an implantable medical device.
11. A method for treating hypertension in a patient, comprising:
holding an external neurostimulator on a body surface of the patient using a bracing element configured to brace a portion of the body;
placing surface stimulation electrodes on the body, including placing at least one of the surface stimulation electrodes on an acupuncture point;
executing a stimulation algorithm to transcutaneously deliver neurostimulation from the external neural stimulator to the acupuncture point to treat hypertension, wherein the stimulation algorithm includes parameters selected to modulate cardiovascular function to treat hypertension; and
timing the delivery of the neurostimulation according to a programmed schedule using a clock of the external neurostimulator,
wherein placing the at least one of the surface stimulation electrodes on the acupuncture point comprises placing one or more of the surface stimulation electrodes on the GV-11 on the Governing Vessel Meridian.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein delivering the neurostimulation comprises delivering electrical neurostimulation pulses at a stimulation frequency between approximately 1 to 5 Hz.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein delivering the neurostimulation comprises delivering the electrical neurostimulation pulses for approximately 0.5 to 24 hours each day.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising sensing a feedback control signal, and wherein executing the stimulation algorithm to transcutaneously deliver neurostimulation comprises using the feedback control signal to control delivery of the neurostimulation.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein sensing the feedback control signal comprising sensing the feedback control signal using an implantable medical device.