Reflex tester and method for measurement of range of motion and peripheral vision

• US 6,371,931 B1
• Filed: 01/27/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GUILLEN, FRANK AND ESPERANZA GUILLEN
• Original Assignee: Diego Guillen
• Inventors: Guillen, Diego
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARMOR II, CHARLES ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/492,855
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 600/587, 600/595, 273/445, 273/446, 434/258, 351/203
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/162 Testing reaction times
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0053 Apparatus generating random stimulus signals for reaction-time training involving a substantial physical effort
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0096 Reaction time games testing reaction time A61B5/162; reaction time training A63B69/0053; time registering, indicating or recording in connection with sports or games G07C1/22

Abstract

A response measuring system for measuring the time required for a user or patient to respond to a prompting event includes a controller or computer connected to a plurality of annunciator driving outputs and a plurality of sensor input receivers. The controller also includes a timer responsive to both annunciator driving outputs and sensor input receivers; a controller memory stores response times. The annunciators can be lights or tactile vibrating stimulators for cuing or prompting the user into responding. The sensors, in general terms, sense the user'"'"'s response and the timer is used to measure the interval required for the user to respond. The system includes a support member or housing for carrying and positioning the sensors and annunciators for a given experiment. In a first embodiment of the reflex measuring system of the present invention, a housing includes a first and second areas adapted to receive left and right hands with subareas designated for each finger, each with a vibrotactile stimulator, a button actuated microswitch (or reset button) and, preferably, just beyond each finger subarea, a light emitting diode (LED) visibly positioned for indicating which finger is to be flexed in responding to the stimulus. The stimulus is either actuation of the selected LED light source, actuation of the selected vibrotactile stimulator, or both. Once the user sees the LED or feels the vibrotactile stimulator actuated under a selected finger, the user immediately depresses the appropriate reset button. The controller then senses the amount of time elapsed between actuation of the selected light indicator (or vibrotactile annunciator) and sensing of the user'"'"'s correct response. After test completion, the reaction times may be plotted to show the results.

Claims

1. A response measuring system for measuring the time required for a user to respond to a prompting event, comprising:

a controller;

said controller including first and second annunciator driving outputs, first and second sensor input receivers, a timer responsive to said annunciator driving outputs and said sensor input receivers and a memory responsive to said sensor input receivers;

a first annunciator responsive to said controller first annunciator driving output;

a second annunciator responsive to said controller second annunciator driving output;

a first sensor connected to a sensor input signal generator generating a first sensor input signal transmitted to said controller first sensor input receiver;

a second sensor connected to a sensor input signal generator generating a second sensor input signal transmitted to said controller second sensor input receiver;

a support member carrying said first annunciator, said second annunciator, said first sensor and said second sensor, wherein said annunciators are positioned to be perceivable by the user;

said controller timer being configured to measure time elapsed between actuation of said first annunciator and generation of said first sensor input signal, and generate a response time signal from said elapsed time;

wherein said memory is configured to store said elapsed time; and

wherein said support member includes a housing with a first area configured to receive a first hand with fingers and thumb pressed against the first area.

2. The response measuring system of claim 1, wherein said support member includes a housing with a second area configured to receive a second hand opposite said first hand, with fingers and thumb pressed against the second area.

3. A response measuring system for measuring the time required for a user to respond to a prompting event, comprising:

a controller;

said controller including first and second annunciator driving outputs, first and second sensor input receivers;

a timer responsive to said annunciator driving outputs and said sensor input receivers and a memory responsive to said sensor input receivers;

a first annunciator responsive to said controller first annunciator driving output;

a second annunciator responsive to said controller second annunciator driving output;

a first sensor connected to a sensor input signal generator generating a first sensor input signal transmitted to said controller first sensor input receiver;

a second sensor connected to a sensor input signal generator generating a second sensor input signal transmitted to said controller second sensor input receiver;

a support member carrying said first annunciator, said second annunciator, said first sensor and said second sensor, wherein said annunciators are positioned to be perceivable by the user;

said controller timer being configured to measure time elapsed between actuation of said first annunciator and generation of said first sensor input signal, and generate a response time signal from said elapsed time;

wherein said memory is configured to store said elapsed time;

wherein said support member includes a housing configured as a partial spherical interior surface;

said annunciators and sensors being arranged on said partial spherical interior surface.

4. A response measuring system for measuring the time required for a user to respond to a prompting event, comprising:

a controller;

said controller including first and second annunciator driving outputs, first and second and third sensor input receivers;

a timer responsive to said annunciator driving outputs and said sensor input receivers and a memory responsive to said sensor input receivers;

a first annunciator responsive to said controller first annunciator driving output;

a second annunciator responsive to said controller second annunciator driving output;

a first sensor connected to a sensor input signal generator generating a first sensor input signal transmitted to said controller first sensor input receiver;

a second sensor connected to a sensor input signal generator generating a second sensor input signal transmitted to said controller second sensor input receiver;

a support member carrying said first annunciator, said second annunciator, said first sensor and said second sensor, wherein said annunciators are positioned to be perceivable by the user;

said controller timer being configured to measure time elapsed between actuation of said first annunciator and generation of said first sensor input signal, and generate a response time signal from said elapsed time;

wherein said memory is configured to store said elapsed time; and

wherein said support member includes a housing having a substantially hemispherical interior surface carrying said annunciators and sensors.

5. The response measuring system of claim 4, further including a central actuator button including a third sensor connected to a sensor input signal generator generating a third sensor input signal transmitted to said controller third sensor input receiver;

said central actuator button being disposed in the center of said substantially hemispherical interior surface;

said first annunciator and said first sensor being incorporated into a first lighted press button incorporating an electrical switch;

said second annunciator and said second sensor being incorporated into a second lighted press button incorporating an electrical switch; and

said first and second lighted press buttons being disposed on said substantially hemispherical interior surface;

said controller timer being configured to measure time elapsed between actuation of said first annunciator and generation of said third sensor input signal, and generate a response time signal from said elapsed time.

6. The response measuring system of claim 5, said central actuator button, said first lighted press button and said second lighted press button being disposed in a linear array aligned along a radial line within said substantially hemispherical interior surface.

7. The response measuring system of claim 6, further including third and fourth lighted press buttons disposed in a second linear array aligned along a second radial line within said substantially hemispherical interior surface and radially spaced from said first and second lighted press buttons.

8. The response measuring system of claim 7, said substantially hemispherical interior surface including a test position proximate the center of the hemisphere at a bottom edge;

and being situated to facilitate use by a standing user.

9. The response measuring system of claim 7, said substantially hemispherical interior surface test position including designated positions for left and right feet disposed directly in front of said central actuator button.

10. A response measuring system for measuring the time required for a user to respond to a prompting event, comprising:

a controller;

said controller including a plurality of annunciating member driving outputs, a plurality of sensing member input receivers, a timer responsive to said annunciating member driving outputs and said sensing member input receivers and a memory;

a plurality of annunciating members, wherein each annunciating member is independently controlled by said controller via a corresponding annunciating member driving output;

a plurality of sensing members, wherein each sensing member is independently connected to said controller via a corresponding sensing member input receiver to transmit a sensing input signal to said controller upon actuation of the sensing member by the user; and

a support member carrying said annunciating members and said sensing members, wherein said annunciating members are positioned to be perceivable by the user;

wherein said controller timer is configured to measure time elapsed between actuation of at least one annunciating member and transmission of at least one sensing input signal by at least one corresponding sensing member to generate a response time signal from the elapsed time;

wherein said memory is configured to receive the response time signal generated from said controller timer and store the elapsed time; and

wherein at least a portion of said sensing members are disposed on said support member so as to align with each finger and thumb of at least one hand of the user when placed upon said support member to thereby facilitate the actuation of a single sensing member by the user'"'"'s finger or thumb in response to actuation of a corresponding annunciating member.