Portable video oculography system with integral light stimulus system

• US 20070121068A1
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spryson Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Neuro Kinetics, Inc. (Neurolign Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Joos, Thomas, Moore, Steven, Schroeder, John, Wuyts, Floris, MacDougall, Hamish, Kiderman, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 7,448,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/221
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement

Abstract

A goggle based light-weight VOG system includes at least one digital camera connected to and powered by a laptop computer through a firewire connection together with an integral visual light stimulus source. The digital camera may digitally center the pupil in both the X and Y directions. A calibration mechanism may be incorporated onto the goggle base. An EOG system may also be incorporated directly into the goggle. The VOG system may track and record 3-D movement of the eye, track pupil dilation, head position and goggle slippage. An animated eye display provides data in a more meaningful fashion. The VOG system is a modular design whereby the same goggle frame or base is used to build a variety of digital camera VOG systems.

Claims

1. A video oculography system comprising:

a light-weight head mounted base adapted to be attached to a patient'"'"'s head;

at least one camera attached to the base;

a controller coupled to the at least one camera, the controller providing power and control signals to each camera and receiving and storing data signals there from;

at least one camera light source attached to the base, wherein each camera light source is associated with one camera attached to the base and is configured to illuminate the patient'"'"'s eye sufficient for the camera to obtain an image of the patient'"'"'s eye; and

at least one visual stimulus light source attached to the base and distinct from the at least one camera light source, wherein each visual light source is configured to selectively supply a visual stimulus to a patients eye that is distinct from the camera light source.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the light weight head mounted base is a pair of goggles.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the goggles provide an occluded environment for the patient'"'"'s eyes.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein at least two visual stimulus light sources are provided for each patient'"'"'s eye.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the camera light sources and the visual stimulus light sources are formed in an annular array for at least one of the patient'"'"'s eyes.

6. The system of claim 1 further including a laser attached to the base, wherein the laser is visible to the clinician while the patient is wearing the head mounted base.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the camera light sources have a light wavelength that is distinct from the light wavelength of the visual stimulus light sources.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the camera light sources are infrared light sources.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the camera light sources are formed from a plurality of infrared LEDs and the visual stimulus light sources are formed from a plurality of visible light LEDs.

10. The system of claim 1 each visual stimulus light source includes a fiber optic light.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein fiber optic light is centered on the camera.

12. A video oculography system comprising:

a light-weight head mounted base adapted to be attached to a patient'"'"'s head forming an occluded environment for at least one of the patient'"'"'s eyes;

at least one camera attached to the base directed at the patient'"'"'s eye in an occluded environment;

a controller coupled to the at least one camera, the controller providing power and control signals to each camera and receiving and storing data signals there from; and

a plurality of visible light sources directed at the patients eye in the occluded environment, wherein the light sources are configured for variable intensity.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the array of light sources is an annular array of LED light elements.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the array of light sources include individual light elements of a first wavelength of light and other individual light elements at least of a second wavelength of light distinct from the first wavelength.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the array of light sources further include a pair of infrared LED elements and a pair of visible light LED elements facing the patient.

16. The system of claim 12 further including a laser attached to the base, wherein the laser is visible to the clinician while the patient is wearing the head mounted base.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the annular array of light elements includes at least one visual stimulus light source configured to selectively supply a visual stimulus to a patients eye.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the annular array of light elements includes at least one camera light source configured to illuminate the patient'"'"'s eye sufficient for the camera to obtain an image of the patient'"'"'s eye.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the at least one camera light source includes at least one infrared light element.

17. A modular video oculography system comprising:

a light-weight head mounted base adapted to be attached to a patient'"'"'s head;

a plurality of cameras, each selectively attached to the base, wherein the plurality of cameras may be selectively attached to the base to form one of an occluded monocular system and an occluded binocular system;

a controller providing power and control signals to each camera attached to the base and receiving and storing data signals there from; and

an array of light elements associated with each camera.