Telethermometric psychological evaluation by monitoring of changes in skin perfusion induced by the autonomic nervous system

• US 5,771,261 A
• Filed: 09/13/1995
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Anbar
• Original Assignee: Michael Anbar
• Inventors: Anbar, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): GUTIERREZ, DIEGO F
• Application Number:
  US08/527,522
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 374/45, 128/664, 128/736
• US Class Current: 374/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/164 Lie detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/168 Evaluating attention deficit, hyperactivity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4035 Evaluating the autonomic nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms

Abstract

The present invention comprises methods and apparatus for assessment of the effects mental stress involving the measurement of periodic changes in skin perfusion. Using a remotely mounted infrared camera, dynamic area telethermometry (DAT) measures the autonomic nervous activity by monitoring and quantitatively analyzing the modulation of cutaneous perfusion. When people gets "nervous" their sympathetics "act up" and they blush (vasodilates) or becomes pale (vasoconstricts). A DAT test of the face proves to be a superior "lie detector" test since emotional stress is reflected in an autonomic nervous response that can be measured remotely. DAT is much more sensitive than any visual assessment of skin color or than instrumental measurement of diaphoresis. Not only is it more reliable than currently used polygraph tests, but its non-contact administration is so simple and innocuous that it could be done without the subject'"'"'s awareness. Furthermore, the same device can be used to meet the needs of a variety of psychiatric and psychological evaluation problems, including depression, drug addiction and dementia, as well as psychological learning disabilities.

Claims

1. A non-contact method for detecting a response involving the autonomic nervous system caused by mental stress in humans comprising the steps of:

a) providing a means for measuring changes in periodic modulation of skin perfusion;

b) measuring said changes in periodic modulation of skin perfusion;

c) providing a means for detecting statistically significant changes in periodic modulation of skin perfusion;

d) detecting said statistically significant changes in periodic modulation of skin perfusion; and

e) identifying as a said response, each occurrence of said statistically significant changes in periodic modulation of skin perfusion.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said means for measuring said changes in periodic modulation of skin perfusion is a computerized infrared camera.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said changes in periodic modulation of skin perfusion are measured by measuring changes in periodic modulation of skin temperature.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said changes in periodic modulation of skin perfusion are measured by measuring changes in periodic modulation of spatial homogeneity of skin temperature.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said mental stress is associated with a dishonest statement by said humans.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said changes in periodic modulation of skin perfusion are measured by measuring changes in periodic modulation of skin temperature.

7. A method according to claim 5 wherein said changes in periodic modulation of skin perfusion are measured by measuring changes in periodic modulation of spatial homogeneity of skin temperature.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said response is diminished.