Method of Precision Eye-Tracking Through Use of Iris Edge Based Landmarks in Eye Geometry

• US 20100092049A1
• Filed: 04/08/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spryson Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Neuro Kinetics, Inc. (Neurolign Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schroeder, John Howison, Kiderman, Alexander D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,655,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor

Abstract

In the field of eye tracking, greater accuracy or resolution in monitoring movement of the eye can be gained by digitizing the eye, and tracking the movement of a landmark with fixed size and a fixed location relative to the eye'"'"'s local coordinate system. The edge of the iris can be used as such a fixed landmark. Through the location and or establishment of at least a portion of the outer edge of the iris and/or an iris center point, both large and small scale eye movements, including but not limited to micro-tremors, can be traced with a higher degree of accuracy. This will aid in the diagnosis of diseases, assessing state of consciousness, and defining brainstem death.

Claims

1. A method of identifying at least one landmark in the eye comprising the steps of:

digitizing an image of the eye; and

identifying at least a portion of the edge of the iris from the digitized image of the eye.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of calculating a geometric center of the iris based upon the edge of the iris.

3. A method of eye tracking comprising the steps of:

digitizing an image of the eye;

identifying at least a portion of the edge of the iris from the digitized image of the eye;

establishing at least one fixed landmark based upon the identified portion of the edge of the iris; and

tracking the movement of the at least one landmark over time.

4. The method of claim 3 further including the steps of calculating a geometric center of the iris based upon the identified edge of the iris, wherein the geometric center of the iris is one said landmark.