Noninvasive method for determining the presence of systemic hypertension in a subject

• US 20060253002A1
• Filed: 01/13/2006
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eye Marker Systems, Inc., West Virginia University Research Corporation (West Virginia University)
• Original Assignee: MD Bio Tech, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, James E., Odom, James Vernon, Molnar, Lance, Kolanko, Christopher J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,613,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/00 Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence; image processing per se G06T; details of algorithms for analysing medical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/02 specially adapted for a particular organ or body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0025 characterised by electronic signal processing, e.g. eye models
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1241 specially adapted for observation of ocular blood flow, e.g. by fluorescein angiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0082 adapted for particular medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A non-invasive method for determining and characterizing the presence of damage or abnormalities resulting from or concomitant with systemic hypertension in subject. This method is comprised of the acquisition of ocular image(s) and subsequent evaluation, classification and/or interpretation of these image(s). The ocular image(s) may be acquired by photography. Evaluation, classification, and/or interpretation may be automated or involve the active participation of a human. The ocular images may be classified into either a normal or clinical group or compared to an algorithm of hypertensive symptoms. The ocular images may, additionally, be processed and have the pertinent characteristics extracted to make the classification more exact.

Claims

1. A non-invasive method for diagnosing hypertension in a subject comprising:

a) acquiring one or more ocular images;

b) processing said ocular images;

c) extracting one or more ocular characteristics from said ocular images; and

d) classifying said ocular characteristics.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein any of steps a) through d) are performed using an automated device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said ocular images are acquired using photography.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said ocular images are electronically transmitted to a medical service provider or instrument for further analysis.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said ocular characteristics are classified as either normal or abnormal.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising classifying said ocular characteristics into a clinical classification.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said clinical classification is selected from the group consisting of Normotensive, Pre-Hypertensive, Stage 1 Hyertensive and Stage 2 Hypertensive.

8. A non-invasive method of determining the progression of hypertension in a subject comprising:

a) acquiring, processing and extracting a first ocular characteristic according to the method of claim 1;

b) acquiring, processing and extracting a second ocular characteristic according to the method of claim 1;

and

c) comparing the first ocular characteristic and the second ocular characteristic;

wherein the first ocular characteristic and the second ocular characteristic are acquired, processed and extracted sequentially over time and wherein differences in the ocular characteristics indicate the relative change in hypertension status in said subject.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising classifying said second ocular characteristic.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein any of steps a) through c) are performed using an automated device.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said ocular images are acquired using photography.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising classifying said second ocular characteristic into a clinical classification.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said clinical classification is selected from the group consisting of Normotensive, Pre-Hypertensive, Stage 1 Hypertensive and Stage 2 Hypertensive.

14. A non-invasive method of diagnosing hypertension in a subject comprising:

a) acquiring, processing and extracting one or more ocular characteristics according to the method of claim 1;

and

b) comparing said ocular characteristics to a database of standard ocular characteristics obtained from a non-hypertensive population;

wherein differences between the subject'"'"'s ocular characteristics and the database of standard ocular characteristics indicates an abnormality in the subject'"'"'s ocular characteristics.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising classifying said subject'"'"'s ocular characteristics.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein any of steps a) through b) are performed using an automated device.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said subject'"'"'s ocular images are acquired using photography.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising classifying said ocular characteristics into a clinical classification.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said clinical classification is selected from the group consisting of Normotensive, Pre-Hypertensive, Stage 1 Hypertensive and Stage 2 Hypertensive.