Method, Apparatus and Computer Program Product For Assessment of Attentional Impairments
First Claim
1. A method for assessing individuals for disorders associated with attentional impairments of the individuals, said method comprising:
- a) placing at least one electrode at a respective cranial site on an individual;
b) obtaining digitized EEG data at epochs of alpha frequency, said EEG data collected from at least one sequence of a first cognitive task period, a rest period, and a second cognitive task period, wherein;
the individual performs predetermined tasks during said first and second cognitive task periods, and the individual rests during said rest period;
c) processing said EEG data to determine electrophysical power (pW) for a sequence of alpha powers (α
1, α
2, . . . α
k) obtained from at least one said first cognitive task period, said reset period, and said second cognitive task period;
d) calculating an Alpha Blockade Index (ABI) for said determined alpha powers (α
1, α
2, . . . α
k); and
e) comparing said ABI to a control group database to provide the assessment of individual.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and computer useable medium that provides, among other things, a standardized test protocol for screening and evaluation of attentional impairment using EEG data. Further, the method, apparatus, and computer program product enhances existing psychological, behavioral, and physiological EEG data acquisition systems by introducing a sequential stochastic model procedure, and an intelligent data interpretation component capable of assessing EEG inconsistencies associated attentional impairments. Potential users of this product will be any person or organization that diagnoses or treats persons with attentional or cognitive impairments. The method can be used for initial screening and diagnosis of disorders associated with impaired attention, such as ADHD, as well as for treatment and evaluation of the effects of treatments, such as medication or additional therapies.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for assessing individuals for disorders associated with attentional impairments of the individuals, said method comprising:
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a) placing at least one electrode at a respective cranial site on an individual; b) obtaining digitized EEG data at epochs of alpha frequency, said EEG data collected from at least one sequence of a first cognitive task period, a rest period, and a second cognitive task period, wherein;
the individual performs predetermined tasks during said first and second cognitive task periods, and the individual rests during said rest period;c) processing said EEG data to determine electrophysical power (pW) for a sequence of alpha powers (α
1, α
2, . . . α
k) obtained from at least one said first cognitive task period, said reset period, and said second cognitive task period;d) calculating an Alpha Blockade Index (ABI) for said determined alpha powers (α
1, α
2, . . . α
k); and
e) comparing said ABI to a control group database to provide the assessment of individual. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11)
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8. A method for assessing individuals for disorders associated with attentional impairments of the individuals, said method comprising:
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a) assigning an individual a probability of attentional impairment for demographic assessment; b) assigning an individual a probability of attentional impairment for psychometric assessment; c) assigning an individual a probability of attentional impairment for Consistency Index; d) assigning an individual a probability of attentional impairment for Alpha Blockade Index (ABI); e) calculating conditional probabilities of assigned attentional impairment for at least one of steps (a) through (d), whereby said calculated conditional probability account for an assigned probability of an alternative step, and wherein said conditional probabilities providing an overall probability or range of probability for the individual; and f) comparing said overall conditional probability or range of conditional probability to a control group database to provide the assessment of the individual. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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13. A method for assessing the treatment that individuals receive for disorders associated with attentional impairments of the individuals, said method comprising:
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a) assigning an individual a probability of attentional impairment for Consistency Index; b) assigning an individual a probability of attentional impairment for Alpha Blockade Index (ABI); c) calculating conditional probabilities of assigned attentional impairment for at least one of steps (a) through (b), whereby said calculated conditional probability account for an assigned probability of an alternative step, and wherein said conditional probabilities providing an overall probability or range of probability for the individual; and d) repeat steps (a) through (c) a desired number of times over a select duration to compare the success or efficacy of treatment. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. An apparatus for assessing individuals for disorders associated with attentional impairments of the individuals, said apparatus comprising:
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an EEG device having at least one electrode adaptive for attachment at a respective cranial site on an individual, said EEG device obtaining digitized EEG data at epochs of a plurality of frequency bands, said EEG data collected from a first cognitive task period, a rest period, and a second cognitive task period, wherein;
the individual performs predetermined tasks during said first and second cognitive task periods, and the individual rests during said rest period;a processor programmed to; a) processing said EEG data to determine electrophysical power (pW) for a sequence of alpha powers (α
1, α
2, . . . α
k) obtained from at least one said first cognitive task period, said reset period, and said second cognitive task period;b) calculating an Alpha Blockade Index (ABI) for said determined alpha powers (α
1, α
2, . . . α
k); andc) comparing said ABI to a control group database to provide the assessment of individual. - View Dependent Claims (12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 26)
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22. An apparatus for assessing individuals for disorders associated with attentional impairments of the individuals, said apparatus comprising:
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a) means for assigning an individual a probability of attentional impairment for demographic assessment; b) means for assigning an individual a probability of attentional impairment for psychometric assessment; c) means for assigning an individual a probability of attentional impairment for Consistency Index; d) means for assigning an individual a probability of attentional impairment for Alpha Blockade Index (ABI); e) means for calculating conditional probabilities of assigned attentional impairment for at least one of steps (a) through (d), whereby said calculated conditional probability account for an assigned probability of an alternative step, and wherein said conditional probabilities providing an overall probability or range of probability for the individual; and
f) means for comparing said overall conditional probability or range of conditional probability to a control group database to provide the assessment of the individual. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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27. An apparatus for assessing the treatment that individuals receive for disorders associated with attentional impairments of the individuals, said apparatus comprising:
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a) means for assigning an individual a probability of attentional impairment for Consistency Index; b) means for assigning an individual a probability of attentional impairment for Alpha Blockade Index (ABI); c) means for calculating conditional probabilities of assigned attentional impairment for at least one of steps (a) through (b), whereby said calculated conditional probability account for an assigned probability of an alternative step, and wherein said conditional probabilities providing an overall probability or range of probability for the individual; and d) means for repeat steps (a) through (c) a desired number of times over a select duration to compare the success or efficacy of treatment. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A computer program product comprising computer useable medium having computer program logic for enabling at least one processor in a computer system to assess individuals for disorders associated with attentional impairments based on digitized EEG data, said digitized EEG data obtained at epochs of a plurality of frequency bands from an individual, said EEG data collected from a first cognitive task period, a rest period, and a second cognitive task period, wherein the individual performs predetermined tasks during said first and second cognitive task periods, and the individual rests during said rest period, said computer logic comprising:
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a) processing said EEG data to determine electrophysical power (pW) for a sequence of alpha powers (α
1, α
2, . . . α
k) obtained from at least one said first cognitive task period, said reset period, and said second cognitive task period;b) calculating an Alpha Blockade Index (ABI) for said determined alpha powers (α
1, α
2, . . . α
k); andc) comparing said ABI to a control group database to provide the assessment of individual.
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30. A computer program product comprising computer useable medium having computer program logic for enabling at least one processor in a computer system to assess individuals for disorders associated with attentional impairments based on digitized EEG data, said digitized EEG data obtained at epochs of a plurality of frequency bands from an individual, said EEG data collected from a first cognitive task period, a rest period, and a second cognitive task period, wherein the individual performs predetermined tasks during said first and second cognitive task periods, and the individual rests during said rest period, said computer logic comprising:
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a) assigning an individual a probability of attentional impairment for demographic assessment; b) assigning an individual a probability of attentional impairment for psychometric assessment; c) assigning an individual a probability of attentional impairment for Consistency Index; d) assigning an individual a probability of attentional impairment for Alpha Blockade Index (ABI); e) calculating conditional probabilities of assigned attentional impairment for at least one of steps (a) through (d), whereby said calculated conditional probability account for an assigned probability of an alternative step, and wherein said conditional probabilities providing an overall probability or range of probability for the individual; and f) comparing said overall conditional probability or range of conditional probability to a control group database to provide the assessment of the individual.
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31. A computer program product comprising computer useable medium having computer program logic for enabling at least one processor in a computer system to assess the treatment that individuals receive for disorders associated with attentional impairments based on digitized EEG data, said digitized EEG data obtained at epochs of a plurality of frequency bands from an individual, said EEG data collected from a first cognitive task period, a rest period, and a second cognitive task period, wherein the individual performs predetermined tasks during said first and second cognitive task periods, and the individual rests during said rest period, said computer logic comprising:
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a) assigning an individual a probability of attentional impairment for Consistency Index; b) assigning an individual a probability of attentional impairment for Alpha Blockade Index (ABI); c) calculating conditional probabilities of assigned attentional impairment for at least one of steps (a) through (b), whereby said calculated conditional probability account for an assigned probability of an alternative step, and wherein said conditional probabilities providing an overall probability or range of probability for the individual; and d) repeat steps (a) through (c) a desired number of times over a select duration to compare the success or efficacy of treatment.
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Specification