APPARATUS, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR NON-INVASIVE OCULAR ASSESSMENT OF NEUROLOGICAL FUNCTION

• US 20110058144A1
• Filed: 11/11/2010
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eye Marker Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eye Marker Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Odom, James Vernon, Molnar, Lance, Linberg, John V.
• Application Number:
  US12/944,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20110058144A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/12 for looking at the eye fundus, e.g. ophthalmoscopes A61B3/13 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/145 by video means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/163 by tracking eye movement, gaze, or pupil change

Abstract

A portable, non-invasive binocular scanning apparatus for rapid assessment of neurological function in cases of potential trauma, disease, and/or exposure to chemical treat agents. The scanning apparatus may utilize a combination of light sources for the measurement and assessment of pupillary response, retinal imagery, and/or other ophthalmologic biomarkers. The scanning apparatus can detect and assess a wide range of neurological and physiological conditions by obtaining pertinent measurements from the retina and pupil in real time.

Claims

1. A binocular pupillary response scanning apparatus comprising:

one or more visible light sources operable to illuminate a first eye and a second eye simultaneously or separately;

one or more infrared light sources for continuously illuminating the first eye and the second eye;

one or more imaging devices for detecting reflected infrared light from the first eye and the second eye;

a converter for converting the reflected infrared light into electrical image signals; and

a signal transmitter for transmitting the electrical image signals.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more processors for processing the electrical image signals.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more memories for storing the electrical image signals.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more interfaces for transmitting the electric image signals to one or more processors for analysis.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a light-blocking enclosure with an open end for receiving the first eye and the second eye.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a light-blocking divider positioned within the light-blocking enclosure for isolating the first eye from the second eye.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more imaging devices are charge-coupled device cameras.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more visible light sources emit visible light of variable intensities.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more infrared light sources emit light between approximately 700 to approximately 1,000 nm.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more infrared light sources emit light between approximately 780 to approximately 860 nm.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a retinal scanning apparatus comprising one or more light sources corresponding to the first eye;

one or more light sources corresponding to a second eye;

one or more imaging devices for capturing a retinal image of the first eye during illumination of the first eye with the one or more light sources; and

one or more imaging devices for simultaneously capturing a retinal image of the second eye during illumination of the second eye with the one or more light sources.

13. A method for binocular diagnosis comprising:

providing a binocular scanning apparatus comprising;

one or more visible light sources;

one or more infrared light sources; and

one or more imaging devices;

illuminating a first eye and a second eye with infrared light from the one or more infrared light sources;

capturing at least one image with the one or more imaging devices;

illuminating the first eye with visible light from the one or more visible light sources for a predetermined duration;

ceasing illuminating the first eye with visible light for a predetermined duration;

capturing at least one image with the one or more imaging devices;

illuminating the second eye with visible light from the one or more visible light sources for a predetermined duration;

ceasing illuminating the second eye with visible light; and

capturing at least one image with the one or more imaging devices.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising comparing pupillary response of the first eye to pupillary response of the second eye in the captured images.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising formulating a diagnosis based on the comparing step.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising repeating the illuminating and capturing steps for a predetermined number of cycles.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising varying the intensity of the visible light between cycles.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising establishing a dark field condition around the first eye and the second eye during the illuminating and capturing steps.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising processing the captured images to determine pupillary response measurements.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the pupillary response measurements are selected from the group consisting of pupil reaction/redilation latency, pupil reaction duration, pupil reaction rate, maximal pupil area change, percentage of maximal pupil area change, rebound percentage during redilation, and combinations thereof.