Head-stabilized medical apparatus, system and methodology
First Claim
1. A method utilizing plural vestibular-parameter data communication devices for assisting in the computer-aided, substantially real-time diagnoses and treatments of vestibular disorders comprising selecting for use plural ones of such devices, anchoring selected devices to a head-wearable frame structure in conditions thereon of relative positional stability both with respect to the frame structure and with respect to one another, each such selected device being adapted to engage in at least one of the activities including (a) delivering to, and (b) receiving from, a subject'"'"'s head vestibular-relevant parameter data, securing the frame structure, bearing the anchored devices, to the head of a subject in a manner causing the secured frame structure to operate as a unit with the subject'"'"'s head, and establishing operative data-flow connections between the devices and a computing structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Structure and methodology involving mountable and head-wearable frame structure which is positionally stabilized, during use, relative a human subject'"'"'s head, and which carries a selection of positionally anchored data sensors, and stimuli deliverers, that are relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of vestibular disorders. Special configurations are provided for two types of stimulators, one for sound application and air-pressure modification, and the other for the introduction of fluids to the ear. Stabilization enables tight and accurate correlation of data which is quickly analyzable by a connected, properly algorithmed computer, which can also be used for feedback control in a designed “expert” system. The invention enables, among other things, practical and significant differentiation between physiological and pathological nystagmus.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method utilizing plural vestibular-parameter data communication devices for assisting in the computer-aided, substantially real-time diagnoses and treatments of vestibular disorders comprising
selecting for use plural ones of such devices, anchoring selected devices to a head-wearable frame structure in conditions thereon of relative positional stability both with respect to the frame structure and with respect to one another, each such selected device being adapted to engage in at least one of the activities including (a) delivering to, and (b) receiving from, a subject'"'"'s head vestibular-relevant parameter data, securing the frame structure, bearing the anchored devices, to the head of a subject in a manner causing the secured frame structure to operate as a unit with the subject'"'"'s head, and establishing operative data-flow connections between the devices and a computing structure.
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3. A method for preparing nystagmus-activity data for useful analysis regarding the desired diagnosis and prospective treatment of a subject'"'"'s related vestibular disorder comprising
collecting from a subject data relative to the subject'"'"'s observable nystagmus behavior, acquiring, during said collecting, acceleration data generated by accompanying subject movement, and utilizing such acquired acceleration data, differentiating physiologic and pathologic components of the collected nystagmus data, thus to isolate these two components recognizably from one another, and following said differentiating, making available the recognizably isolated pathologic component for use respecting the desired diagnosis and prospective treatment.
Specification