Image-based system to observe and document eye responses having a reflective protractor for measurement of stimulus position

• US 20070236663A1
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visionetx Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AcuNetx, Inc.
• Inventors: Waldorf, Ronald, Mauch, Barbara
• Granted Patent: US 7,338,166 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/112 for measuring diameter of pupils
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

The image-based system is used to observe and document eye responses which can be used to implement the procedures defined in the Standardized Field Sobriety Test as well as the Drug Recognition Expert Program. These eye responses include pupil movement, as well as pupil size and responses, for either one or both eyes simultaneously. The system includes a headset against which the subject places their face. The faceplate has an opening through which illumination devices transmit beams of infrared light to illuminate the subject'"'"'s eyes. A reflective protractor, having a scale imprinted thereon, is mounted on the headset above the eye opening and facing the test administrator to provide an image of the stimulus target that is used by the test administrator. Two imaging devices are mounted on the headset opposite the eye opening to generate images of the subject'"'"'s illuminated eyes. The generated images are transmitted to an image recording device for storage and an image display device for display to a test administrator.

Claims

1. An image-based system to observe and document eye responses, comprising:

a frame;

a faceplate attached to said frame, shaped to substantially conform to a subject'"'"'s face and having at least one opening oriented opposite a subject'"'"'s eyes when said subject places their face against said face plate;

at least one illumination device attached to said frame and aligned with said eye opening to illuminate a subject'"'"'s eyes when said subject places their face against said faceplate;

at least one imaging device attached to said frame and aligned with said eye openings to generate an image of a subject'"'"'s eyes when said subject places their face against said faceplate; and

a reflective protractor attached to said frame and aligned with said eye opening facing said at least one imaging device to display an image of the position of a stimulus target used by a test administrator.

2. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 1 wherein said reflective protractor comprises:

a reflective surface extending substantially horizontally along an edge of said eye opening; and

a scale imprinted on said reflective surface for enabling measurement of a position of said image of said stimulus target.

3. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 1 further comprising:

an image recording device connected to said at least one imaging device for recording images generated by said at least one imaging device.

4. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 3 wherein said image recording device comprises:

a digital data recording device for storing image data from the class of digital recording devices including;

video tape recorder, DVD recorder, computer system, and data memory device.

5. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 1 further comprising:

an image display device connected to at least one of said at least one imaging device and said image recording device for displaying said image of a subject'"'"'s eyes when said subject places their face against said faceplate.

6. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 1 further comprising:

a power source for providing power to said at least one illumination device and said at least one imaging device.

7. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 1 further comprising:

a handle attached to said frame for enabling a user to position said faceplate against said subject'"'"'s face.

8. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 7 wherein said handle includes a compartment for housing a power source for providing power to said at least one illumination device and said at least one imaging device.

9. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 1 wherein said at least one illumination device comprises:

infrared source for illuminating said subject'"'"'s eyes with light in the infrared spectrum.

10. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 1 further comprising:

a data processing system, connected to at least one of said at least one imaging device and said image recording device, for processing said image of a subject'"'"'s eyes when said subject places their face against said faceplate to measure said subject'"'"'s eye gaze tracking and eye behavior in response to tracking a stimulus target.

11. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 1 further comprising:

a hood attached to said frame for enclosing said headset from said at least one imaging device to said faceplate to reduce the presence of ambient light within a volume enclosed by said hood.

12. An image-based system to observe and document eye responses, comprising:

a frame;

a faceplate attached to said frame, shaped to substantially conform to a subject'"'"'s face and having at least one opening oriented opposite a subject'"'"'s eyes when said subject places their face against said face plate;

at least one infrared light emitting diode illumination device attached to said frame and aligned with said at least one eye opening to illuminate a subject'"'"'s eyes when said subject places their face against said faceplate;

a reflective protractor attached to said frame and aligned with said eye opening facing away from said subject to display an image of the position of a stimulus target used by a test administrator;

at least one camera attached to said frame and aligned with said at least one eye opening to generate an image of a subject'"'"'s eyes when said subject places their face against said faceplate and said image of the position of a stimulus target used by a test administrator, and

an image display device connected to said camera for displaying said image of a subject'"'"'s eyes when said subject places their face against said faceplate and said image of the position of a stimulus target used by a test administrator.

13. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 12 wherein said reflective protractor comprises:

a reflective surface extending substantially horizontally along an edge of said eye opening; and

a scale imprinted on said reflective surface for enabling measurement of a position of said image of said stimulus target.

14. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 12 further comprising:

an image recording device connected to said at least one imaging device for recording images generated by said at least one imaging device.

15. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 12 further comprising:

a power source for providing power to said at least one illumination device and said at least one imaging device.

16. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 12 further comprising:

a handle attached to said frame for enabling a user to position said faceplate against said subject'"'"'s face.

17. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 16 wherein said handle includes a compartment for housing a power source for providing power to said at least one illumination device and said at least one imaging device.

18. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 12 further comprising:

a chin rest attached to said frame to align said subject'"'"'s face with said at least one eye opening.

19. The image-based system to observe and document eye responses of claim 12 further comprising:

a hood attached to said frame for enclosing said headset from said at least one camera to said faceplate to reduce the presence of ambient light within a volume enclosed by said hood.