EVOKED RESPONSE TESTING SYSTEM FOR NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS

• US 20140128763A1
• Filed: 01/10/2014
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neuronetrix Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Neuronetrix Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Fadem, Kalford C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,675,292 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/378 Visual stimuli
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/38 Acoustic or auditory stimuli
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head

Abstract

A dyslexia screening system suitable for clinical use includes an integrated headset that efficiently and conveniently performs an auditory evoked response (ERP) test by positioning electrodes about the ears of the subject. An integral control module automatically performs the test, providing simplified controls and indications to the clinician. A number of screening tests that are stored in the headset are periodically uploaded for billing, remote analysis and result reporting. A paradigm that characterizes testing performed for a subject along with the patient identification and/or patient demographics are stored in an associated fashion for later fusion and analyses with similar but not necessarily identically constructed ERP tests.

Claims

1. A method of using an Evoked Response Potential (ERP) testing system to administer a test on a test subject, wherein the ERP testing system comprises a headset and a control module, the method comprising:

(a) positioning the headset on the head of the test subject, wherein the headset comprises;

(i) a signal electrode,

(ii) a reference electrode, and

(iii) a stimulus producer;

(b) providing the test subject with access to one or more buttons on the control module, wherein the control module further comprises;

(i) a memory, wherein the memory stores a plurality of evoked response testing protocols including instructions for the stimulus producer, and

(ii) a controller operably configured to actuate one of the plurality of evoked response testing protocols stored in the memory, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate a plurality of control administration parameters to the headset for performing an evoked response test;

(c) executing a selected one of the stored evoked response testing protocols though the headset via the controller;

(d) receiving manual inputs from the test subject via the one or more buttons on the control module; and

(e) recording data in the memory based on the manual inputs received from the test subject.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control module further comprises an integral power supply, the method further comprising providing power to the controller from the power supply.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the control module further comprises an integral display, the method further comprising presenting subject matter on the display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of executing a selected one of the stored evoked response testing protocols though the headset via the controller comprises selectively activating the stimulus producer, wherein the act of receiving manual inputs from the test subject comprises receiving one or more manual inputs in response to one or more stimuli from the stimulus producer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of receiving manual inputs from the test subject comprises receiving a manual input to initiate the execution of the selected one of the stored evoked response testing protocols.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulus producer is operable to provide a visual stimulus to the test subject, wherein the act of executing a selected one of the stored evoked response testing protocols comprises providing a visual stimulus to the test subject via the stimulus producer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulus producer is operable to provide an auditory stimulus to the test subject, wherein the act of executing a selected one of the stored evoked response testing protocols comprises providing an auditory stimulus to the test subject via the stimulus producer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the auditory stimulus is selected from a set of auditory stimulus files having characteristics that vary based on one or more of acoustic frequency, time duration, stimuli sequence, or time warp, wherein time warp denotes a selected sound stimulus having a lengthened duration and an unchanged pitch or changed pitch with unchanged duration.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of control administration parameters are selected from a group consisting of a stimuli start time, a stimuli selection, a stimuli sequence, a failure determination, and sample mode.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling the control module with a remote storage system.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting control administration parameters from the remote storage system to the control module.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting data recorded in the memory from the control module to the remote storage system.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising using the remote storage system to perform ERP diagnostic analyses on the data transmitted from the control module to the remote storage system.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores a paradigm logic library containing a plurality of testing paradigms, wherein the memory further stores a stimulus library containing a plurality of stimuli, wherein the act of executing a selected one of the stored evoked response testing protocols comprises:

(i) accessing a selected testing paradigm contained in the paradigm logic library stored in the memory,

(ii) accessing stimuli specified by the selected testing paradigm contained in the stimulus library stored in the memory,

(iii) calculating sequence and interstimulus delays between selected stimuli in accordance with the selected testing paradigm, and

(iv) outputting a testing stream to the headset.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) detecting an artifact in data associated with manual inputs received from the test subject;

(b) accessing an epoch grouping of stimuli associated with the artifact; and

(c) replaying the associated epoch grouping.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the recorded data based on a predetermined neurological diagnosis associated with the test subject.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the act of processing the recorded data based on a predetermined neurological diagnosis associated with the test subject comprises refining a selected evoked response testing protocol.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to perform a test of the headset, the method further comprising performing a test of the headset before performing the act of executing a selected one of the stored evoked response testing protocols.

19. A method of using an Evoked Response Potential (ERP) testing system to administer a test on a test subject, wherein the ERP testing system comprises a headset and a control module, the method comprising:

(a) positioning the headset on the head of the test subject, wherein the headset comprises;

(i) a signal electrode,

(ii) a reference electrode, and

(iii) a stimulus producer;

(b) placing a handheld control module in a hand of the test subject, wherein the control module further comprises;

(i) a memory, wherein the memory stores a plurality of evoked response testing protocols including instructions for the stimulus producer, and

(ii) a controller operably configured to actuate one of the plurality of evoked response testing protocols stored in the memory, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate a plurality of control administration parameters to the headset for performing an evoked response test;

(c) performing an ERP test, wherein the act of performing an ERP test comprises executing a selected one of the stored evoked response testing protocols though the headset via the controller;

(d) receiving results of the ERP test, wherein the act of receiving results of the ERP test comprises receiving manual inputs from the test subject via the one or more buttons on the control module; and

(e) recording the ERP test results in the memory.

20. A method of using an Evoked Response Potential (ERP) testing system to administer a test on a human child, wherein the ERP testing system comprises a headset and a control module, the method comprising:

(a) positioning the headset on the head of the child, wherein the headset comprises;

(i) a signal electrode,

(ii) a reference electrode, and

(iii) a stimulus producer;

(b) placing a handheld control module in a hand of the child, wherein the control module further comprises;

(i) a memory, wherein the memory stores a plurality of evoked response testing protocols including instructions for the stimulus producer, and p2 (ii) a controller operably configured to actuate one of the plurality of evoked response testing protocols stored in the memory, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate a plurality of control administration parameters to the headset for performing an evoked response test;

(c) performing an ERP test, wherein the act of performing an ERP test comprises executing a selected one of the stored evoked response testing protocols though the headset via the controller;

(d) receiving results of the ERP test, wherein the act of receiving results of the ERP test comprises receiving manual inputs from the child via the one or more buttons on the control module during the act of performing an ERP test; and

(e) recording the ERP test results in the memory.