Computer-aided drug-abuse detection

• US 4,715,386 A
• Filed: 03/14/1986
• Issued: 12/29/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Westerman Research Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: National Patent Analytical Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Martin, Peter G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hanley, John C.
• Application Number:
  US06/839,614
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 128/733, 128/630, 364/417
• US Class Current: 600/546
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/297 for electrooculography [EOG]: for electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4845 Toxicology, e.g. by detection of alcohol, drug or toxic products A61B5/4848 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4863 Measuring or inducing nystagmus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/916 Electronic or computer, internal or network, circuit

Abstract

The invention contemplates computer-aided analysis of recorded electronystagmograph data for a subject who is suspected of drug ingestion. The reference base for the analysis is predetermined by first entering into computer storage digital data that are characteristic of each of a selected plurality of component features of time-varying fluctuations in electronystamograph waveforms for each of a plurality of different ingested drugs, wherein the selected component features exist within a standardized set of at-rest conditions of electronystagmograph measurements. The plurality of component features is selected such that each of the drugs is characteristically identifiable by the presence of its singular combination of said component features. The subject'"'"'s time-varying fluctuations in electronystagmograph waveforms are non-invasively measured and digitally recorded, for each of the at-rest conditions of the standardized set; and the subject'"'"'s digitally recorded waveform is compared with the digitally stored reference data for each of the component features to ascertain the existence vel non of any correlation therebetween, thereby enabling determination as to whether a particular drug-identifying combination of the component features exists.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the non-invasive determination whether or not a subject has ingested a particular suspected single drug, said apparatus comprising:

(a) plural electodes adapted for placement in the temple region of the subject'"'"'s head, and ENG means connected to said electrodes for producing an electronystagmograph waveform for the subject;

(b) said ENG means including an amplifier and analog-to-digital converter means for converting said waveform into a digitally recorded waveform for digital processing;

(c) a digital computer with digital-storage means, wherein said storage means contains digitally stored reference data uniquely characterizing each of a plurality of waveform-component features for said single drug; and

(d) means coacting with said computer for comparing the subject'"'"'s digitally recorded waveform for possible correlation with the digitally stored reference data for each of said component features.

2. Apparatus for the non-invasive detection of drug ingestion by a subject, said apparatus comprising:

(a) plural electrodes adapted for placement in the temple region of the subject'"'"'s head, and ENG means connected to said electrodes for producing an electronystagmograph waveform for the subject;

(b) said ENG means including an amplifier and analog-to-digital converter means for converting said waveform into a digitally recorded waveform for digital processing;

(c) a digital computer with digital-storage means, wherein said storage means contains stored reference data uniquely characterizing each of a plurality of waveform-component features for each of a plurality of different ingested drugs;

(d) means coacting with said computer for comparing, for possible correlation, the subject'"'"'s digitally recorded waveform with the digitally stored reference data for each of said component features, whereby specific identification of one or more of said different drugs may be made from evaluation of one or more such correlations; and

(e) means for indicating the drug or drugs for which such correlation is found.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which said indicating means includes means indicating the extent of correlation.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the recorded waveform includes the waveform for a calibration run, said stored reference data being standardized to a predetermined norm, and said (d) means further coacting with said computer for converting the subject'"'"'s calibration-run data to the scale of said predetermined norm preparatory to comparing the subject'"'"'s digitally recorded waveform with the digitally stored reference data.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which the calibration run is for eyes open with tasking.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the at-rest conditions of said standardized set include (i) eyes closed right, (ii) eyes closed left, (iii) PAN right, and (iv) PAN left.

7. A non-invasive method of using a digital computer to detect drug ingestion by a subject, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) entering into computer storage digital reference data that are characteristic of each of a selected plurality of component features of time-varying fluctuations in an electronystagmograph waveform for each of a plurality of different ingested drugs, wherein the selected component features exist within a standardized set of at-rest conditions of electronystagmograph waveforms, the plurality of component features being selected such that each of the drugs is characteristically identifiable by the presence of its singular combination of said component features;

(b) non-invasively measuring the subject'"'"'s waveform, by digitally recording time-varying fluctuations in the electronystagmograph waveform, for each of the at-rest conditions of said standardized set; and

(c) comparing the subject'"'"'s digitally recorded waveform with the digitally stored reference data for each of said component features to ascertain whether there exists any correlation therebetween, thereby determining the presence or absence in the subject'"'"'s waveform of a particular drug-identifying combination of said component features.

8. The method of claim 7, in which the at-rest conditions of said standardized set include (i) eyes closed right, (ii) eyes closed left, (iii) PAN right, and (iv) PAN left.

9. The method of claim 7, in which the stored digital reference data are standardized to a predetermined norm of waveform calibration reference, and in which a non-invasive measurement is digitally recorded in a calibration run for eyes open, with tasking, and in which the waveform for the calibration run is used to convert to said predetermined norm the measurements of step (b) for use in making the comparisons of step (c).

10. The method of claim 7, in which the computer-storage entries of step (a) are part of an on-going data-base accumulation for each of the plurality of ingested drugs, and in which, after determining the presence of a particular drug-identifying combination of said component features, the subject'"'"'s digitally recorded data for his drug-identifying combination of component features are entered into computer storage as an accretion to the data base.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of different ingested drugs of step (a) includes at least one from the group consisting of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, an opiate, and a hallucinogen.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein component features of step (a) comprise activity close to the baseline, whereby the group comprising opiates, cocaine and hallucinogens may be segregated from other drug groups.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the recorded waveform is analyzed for the presence of a 5-6 Hz "buzz" activity, whereby a hallucinogen condition is identified by the presence of said "buzz" activity, and an opiate or cocaine condition is indicated by the absence of said "buzz" activity.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the recorded waveform is analyzed for the presence of flat spots with small rapid movements therebetween, whereby an opiate condition is identified by said presence of flat spots with small rapid movements therebetween.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the recorded waveform is analyzed for the presence of bimodal (combined low- and mid-frequency ripples), whereby a cocaine condition is identified.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein component features of step (a) comprise plural nystagmus events, whereby pathology, alcohol and marijuana may be segregated from other drug groups.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the recorded waveform is analyzed for plural nystagmus events having the following characteristics:

mostly "heads",

mostly with a period of 0.5 to 3 seconds,

mostly in the PAN position,

slow-phase returning consistently toward the baseline,

tendency to exponential decay in the slow phase,

tendency toward noise in the slow phase, and

waveform "leaning" in the direction of the head, whereby an alcohol condition is identified.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the recorded waveform is analyzed for plural saccades having the following characteristics:

mixed "heads" and "tails",

mostly with a period of 0.5 to 5 seconds,

new saccades often interrupting the slow phase of the previous saccade,

slow phase often not returning to the baseline,

tendency to a straight-line slow phase,

tendency toward no noise in the slow phase, and

waveform having "mountainous shapes" or not "leaning" in either direction, whereby a marijuana condition is identified.

19. The method of claim 16, in which the nystagmus events are characterized by a plurality of slow-phase data points and in which the leaning ratio is greater than unity in the PAN-right position and less than unity in the PAN-left position, whereby an alcohol-indicative condition is probable.

20. The method of claim 19, in which the number of slow-phase data points is at least substantially 280, and in which the leaning ratio is greater than 1.045 in the PAN-right position, and less than 0.895 in the PAN-left position, whereby to achieve at least substantially a 90 percent probability of alcohol-identifying accuracy.

21. The method of claim 7, wherein component features of step (a) comprise plural large pendula movements away from the baseline, whereby amphetamines, tranquilizers and barbiturates may be segregated from other drug groups.

22. The method of claim 21, in which the recorded waveform is analyzed for the presence of plural triangular movements, whereby a tranquiziler condition is identified.

23. The method of claim 22, in which the recorded waveform is additionally analyzed for the absence of mid- or high-frequency noise superposed on low-frequency activity, whereby greater assurance is had as to absence of a barbiturate condition.

24. The method of claim 21, in which the recorded waveform is analyzed for the presence of mid- or high-frequency noise superposed on low-frequency activity, whereby a barbiturate condition is identified.

25. The method of claim 24, in which the recorded waveform is additionally analyzed for the absence of triangular movements, whereby greater assurance is had as to absence of a tranquilizer condition.