Optical monitor of anatomical movement and uses thereof

• US 6,352,517 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1999
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spectral Md Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rocky Mountain Biosystems, Inc.
• Inventors: Marchitto, Kevin Scott, Flock, Stephen Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US09/321,323
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 600/529, 600/534, 600/587, 600/558, 600/595
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and means for non-invasively measuring the real time movement of external or internal body parts, thereby improving the diagnosis of, for example, respiratory disease and the monitoring of therapy.

Claims

1. A method for measuring body movement of a tissue of interest, comprising the steps of:

emitting radiant energy to the surface of said tissue to form a spot;

detecting an image of the pattern of radiant energy reflected from said spot, wherein said pattern corresponds to the position of said spot relative to the source of said radiant energy; and

determining the change in said pattern with time, wherein the change in said pattern corresponds to the change of the position of said spot relative to said source of radiant energy, wherein said change of the position of said spot relative to said source of radiant energy indicates the body movement of said tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said radiant energy is produced by a source selected from the group consisting of a n incandescent light source, a fluorescent light source, a light-emitting diode, and a laser.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said reflected radiant energy is detected by a device selected from the group consisting of a position sensitive detector, a charge-coupled device and a photodiode detector.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said photodiode detector is accompanied by a reflective or transmissive mask.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said tissue is selected from the group consisting of chest wall, lung, thorax, abdomen and eyes.

6. An apparatus for detecting movement of an anatomical structure, comprising:

a source of radiant energy;

a means for projecting said radiant energy in a pattern over a region of interest in said anatomical structure;

an output optic for focusing said radiant energy onto said region of interest;

a means for detecting change in said pattern of radiant energy reflected from said region of interest; and

an imaging optic for focusing said reflected radiant energy onto said means of detection, wherein the distance between said region of interest and said output optic is determined by (i) the focal length of said imaging optic, (ii) the distance between said output optic and said imaging optic, and (iii) the position of the image of said pattern of radiant energy detected on said detector.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said source of radiant energy is selected from the group consisting of a n incandescent light source, a fluorescent light source, a light-emitting diode, and a laser.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said pattern is generated by a scanning device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said scanning device is selected from the group consisting of scanning mirrors and electro-optical devices.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said electrooptical device is a photoacoustic deflector.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said pattern generated is composed of single or multiple spots.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said detector for detecting the pattern change is selected from the group consisting of a position-sensitive detector, a charge-coupled device and a photodiode detector.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said photodiode detector is accompanied by a reflective or transmissive mask.

14. A method of monitoring sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in an individual, comprising the steps of:

attaching the apparatus of claim 6 to said individual; and

monitoring the movement of said individual by detecting the change in the pattern of radiant energy reflected from said individual, wherein said movement reversely corresponds to the possibility of having a sudden infant death in said individual.

15. A method of evaluating rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep in an individual in need of such evaluation, comprising the steps of:

attaching the apparatus of claim 6 to said individual; and

monitoring the movement in the eyelids of said individual by detecting the change in the pattern of radiant energy reflected from said eyelids, wherein said movement indicates the quality of REM sleep in said individual.