Standardized medical cognitive assessment tool

• US 20040167380A1
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neuro TRAX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Neuro TRAX Corporation
• Inventors: Simon, Ely
• Granted Patent: US 7,347,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/162 Testing reaction times
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/168 Evaluating attention deficit, hyperactivity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4088 Diagnosing of monitoring cognitive diseases, e.g. Alzheimer, prion diseases or dementia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A testing system and method for evaluation of neurological function are provided. Specifically, the system and method can be used to differentiate between normal and pathological function for motor skills, logic, reasoning, coordination, verbal function, memory, and various other skills. In addition, it is designed to provide a package to a clinician, including a recommended battery of tests and a results report. The system and method described herein is designed to reduce bias due to the human nature of the tester, while still maintaining versatility, individualized attention and depth of analysis in testing.

Claims

1. A system for cognitive testing, the system comprising:

a battery of tests for measuring a neurological parameter;

an interface allowing a clinician to access said battery of tests and administer said battery of tests to a subject, said subject generating data in response to said administered battery of tests;

a processor for processing said generated data; and

a report generated by said processor and based on said generated data, wherein said report is available to the clinician allowing the clinician to diagnose a medical condition and optionally determine a treatment plan.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said neurological parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

memory, attention, concentration, hand-eye coordination, information processing speed, visual spatial perception, verbal ability, and executive function.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface is a web-based interface, such as the Internet.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the battery of tests comprises at least one test having various levels of testing, the test comprising:

an interface for providing stimuli to and collecting responses from said subject;

a processor for processing said stimuli and said responses, the processor comprises;

a receiver for receiving said responses and for providing feedback through said interface;

a calculator for calculating a performance parameter based on said responses;

a level determinator, for determining an optimal level of testing based on said calculation, said optional level of testing including introducing a new battery of tests;

an automatic adjustor for adjusting said system to test at said determined level; and

a scorer for determining scoring information based on said responses and said level adjustments; and

a display, for displaying said scoring information.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a database of normal and pathological normalized indices collected from selected populations, wherein said generated data are compared to said normal and pathological normalized indices so as to determine the pathological state of the subject.

6. A system for evaluating a cognitive skill of a subject, the system having various levels of testing, the system comprising:

an interface for providing stimuli to and collecting responses from said subject;

a processor for processing said stimuli and said responses, the processor comprises;

a receiver for receiving said responses and for providing feedback through said interface;

a calculator for calculating a performance parameter based on said responses;

a level determinator, for determining an optimal level of testing based on said calculation, said optional level of testing including introducing a new battery of tests;

an automatic adjustor for adjusting said system to test at said determined level; and

a scorer for determining scoring information based on said responses and said level adjustments; and

a display, for displaying said scoring information.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said interface is a display monitor.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said processor is a computer based chip.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said display is an assessment report.

10. A diagnostic tool for determining a pathological state of a subject, the diagnostic tool comprising:

a testing system for providing stimuli and receiving responses from the subject;

a processor for processing said responses into normalized subject indices for selected cognitive skills; and

a database of normal and pathological normalized indices collected from selected populations, wherein said normalized subject indices are compared to said normal and pathological normalized indices so as to determine the pathological state of the subject.

11. The diagnostic tool of claim 10, wherein said pathological state is dementia.

12. The diagnostic tool of claim 11, wherein said pathological state is Alzheimer'"'"'s disease.

13. The diagnostic tool of claim 10, wherein said cognitive skills are selected from the group consisting of memory, attention, concentration, hand-eye coordination, information processing speed, visual spatial perception, verbal ability, and executive function.

14. A computer-based testing system, said system comprising:

a stimulus for evoking a response from a tested subject, said stimulus being relatively large so as to enable a mildly visually impaired individual to see the stimulus; and

an interface for responding to said stimulus, said interface requiring minimal mental, visual, and motor ability.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said stimulus is a word.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said stimulus is a shape.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the interface is a keyboard.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the interface is a mouse.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the interface is a joystick.

20. A method for cognitive testing, the method comprising:

retrieving a battery of tests through an interface;

administering said battery of tests to a subject;

collecting data from the subject in response to said battery of tests;

processing said collected data so as to generate a report;

accessing said report; and

providing a diagnosis based on said report.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said retrieving and said accessing are done over the Internet.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said processing comprises:

providing a first performance measure from a first test, said providing comprises;

measuring a first parameter based on responses to said first test;

measuring a second parameter based on responses to said first test;

combining said first and second parameters to produce a raw performance measure; and

normalizing said raw performance measure relative to a known scale;

providing a second performance measure from a second test wherein said second test is designed to measure a similar cognitive skill as said first test, said providing comprises;

measuring a first parameter based on responses to said second test;

measuring a second parameter based on responses to said second test;

combining said first and second parameters to produce a raw performance measure; and

normalizing said raw performance measure relative to a known scale; and

combining said first performance measure and said second performance measure so as to provide an index score, said index score.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said providing is done by comparing said collected data to data stored in a database.

24. A method for evaluating a cognitive skill of a subject, the method comprising:

familiarizing the subject with a testing system, said familiarizing comprises;

providing a stimulus to the subject;

receiving a response to said stimulus from said subject;

determining accuracy of said response; and

providing information about said accuracy to the subject;

providing dynamically adjustable stimuli from said testing system to the subject;

receiving testing responses to said stimuli; and

evaluating said testing responses.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

using said responses to determine appropriateness of said testing system for said subject.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said determining accuracy includes determining correctness.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said determining accuracy includes determining timing.

28. A method for distinguishing between normal and pathological aging, the method comprising:

providing a battery of tests wherein responses to stimuli are collected;

compiling an index score based on said collected responses; and

comparing said index score to a performance database.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

providing a second battery of tests wherein responses to stimuli are collected; and

compiling a second index score based on said collected responses;

compiling a composite score based on said index score and said second index score.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein said index score is a memory score.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein said index score is presented to a clinician as a report.

32. A method for providing an index score to a clinician, the method comprising:

providing a first performance measure from a first test, said providing comprises;

measuring a first parameter based on responses to said first test;

measuring a second parameter based on responses to said first test;

combining said first and second parameters to produce a raw performance measure; and

normalizing said raw performance measure relative to a known scale;

providing a second performance measure from a second test wherein said second test is designed to measure a similar cognitive skill as said first test, said providing comprises;

measuring a first parameter based on responses to said second test;

measuring a second parameter based on responses to said second test;

combining said first and second parameters to produce a raw performance measure; and

normalizing said raw performance measure relative to a known scale; and

combining said first performance measure and said second performance measure so as to provide an index score.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

providing a second index score; and

combining said first and second index scores so as to provide a composite score.

34. A method for providing a diagnostic report to a clinician, the method comprising:

obtaining an index score for a cognitive skill;

graphing said index score in relation to a database of index scores from a population;

graphing said index score in relation to previously obtained index scores from the subject; and

presenting the graphed index scores in a report format to the clinician.