Visual function testing with virtual retinal display

• US 6,386,706 B1
• Filed: 12/20/1999
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Massengill Family Trust
• Original Assignee: Virtual-Eye.Com, Inc.
• Inventors: Wroblewski, Dariusz, Massengill, R. Kemp, McClure, Richard J., Braeuning, Johannes
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US09/467,360
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 351/205, 351/208, 351/209, 351/210, 351/221, 351/222, 351/223, 351/224, 351/226, 351/239, 351/246, 351/237, 351/243, 345/7, 345/8
• US Class Current: 351/237
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/024 for determining the visual field, e.g. perimeter types
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7267 involving training the classification device
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0136 with a single image source for both eyes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for testing and quantifying visual field and other visual function information in a head-mounted virtual reality environment, utilizing a directed image formation device for scanning of an image onto the retina of the test subject. A method and an apparatus are also provided for utilizing a central neural network and a central data bank to perform automatic interpretation of the visual function test parameters obtained in a plurality of visual field testing systems, for a plurality of patients, with control and response signals being transmitted via the Internet. The data produced by the testing systems are automatically analyzed and compared with patterns on which the neural network was previously trained, and clinical diagnoses for pathological conditions are thereby suggested to the respective clinician for each patient.

Claims

1. A visual function testing apparatus, comprising:

a light source, said light source being modulated to create an image;

a scanning system, said scanning system being adapted to scan said image from said light source onto a retina of an eye of a patient;

a gaze sensing device adapted to sense the orientation of an eye of a patient and to generate a gaze orientation signal;

a response sensing device adapted to sense a patient'"'"'s response to said image and to generate a response signal; and

a computer, said computer being connected to said light source to modulate said light source to create said image, said computer being connected to said gaze sensing device to receive said gaze orientation signal, said computer being connected to said response sensing device to receive said response signal, and said computer being programmed to interpret said gaze orientation signal and said response signal to evaluate at least one visual function of the patient.

2. A visual function testing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said scanning device is mountable to the head of a patient.

3. A visual function testing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer is programmed to vary at least one characteristic of said image.

4. A visual function testing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said response sensing device comprises a switch manipulated by the patient.

5. A visual function testing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said response sensing device comprises a motion detector.

6. A visual function testing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said response sensing device comprises a sound detector.

7. A visual function testing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said response sensing device comprises a gaze sensor.

8. A visual function testing apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an optical system for directing said image from said scanning system onto the retina of an eye of a patient.

9. A visual function testing apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a redirection element for redirecting said image onto the retina of an eye of a patient.

10. A visual function testing apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said redirection element comprises a Fresnel optical element.

11. A visual function testing apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said Fresnel optical element comprises a Fresnel mirror.

12. A visual function testing apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said Fresnel optical element comprises a Fresnel lens.

13. A visual function testing apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a beam splitter adapted to split said image from said light source to create a separate image for scanning onto each eye of a patient.

14. A visual function testing apparatus as recited in claim 1, where said computer is programmed to analyze said signals to recognize faulty data on said visual function of the patient.

15. A visual function testing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer is programmed to shift said image to a desired location relative to said gaze orientation of the patient.

16. A visual function testing apparatus, comprising:

a light source, said light source being modulated to create an image;

a scanning system mountable to the head of a patient, said scanning system being adapted to scan said image from said light source onto a retina of an eye of a patient;

a beam splitter adapted to split said image from said light source to create a separate image for scanning onto each eye of a patient;

two redirection elements for redirecting said separate images onto the retinae of the eyes of a patient;

a gaze sensing device adapted to sense the orientation of each eye of a patient and to generate a gaze orientation signal;

a response sensing device adapted to sense a patient'"'"'s response to said images and to generate a response signal; and

a computer, said computer being connected to said light source to modulate said light source to create said image, said computer being connected to said gaze sensing device to receive said gaze orientation signal, said computer being connected to said response sensing device to receive said response signal, and said computer being programmed to interpret said gaze orientation signal and said response signal to evaluate at least one visual function of the patient.

17. A method for analyzing at least one visual function of a patient, said method comprising:

providing a light source connected to a computer;

mounting a display device to the head of a patient, said display device including an image scanning system and a gaze sensing device, said display device being connected to said computer;

modulating said light source with said computer to generate an image;

scanning said image from said light source onto a retina of an eye of the patient, with said scanning system;

sensing the orientation of the eye of the patient and generating a gaze orientation signal;

sensing the patient'"'"'s response to said image and generating a response signal; and

interpreting said gaze orientation signal and said response signal with said computer to evaluate at least one visual function of the patient.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising splitting said image from said light source with a beam splitter, to create a separate image for scanning onto each eye of the patient.

19. A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising analyzing said signals with said computer to recognize faulty data on said visual function of the patient.

20. A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising shifting said image to a desired location relative to said gaze orientation of the patient.

21. A multiple site visual field testing system, comprising:

a plurality of virtual retinal display devices, each said display device being constructed and positioned to project an image onto the retina of at least one eye of the respective patient;

a plurality of response sensing devices, each said response sensing device being adapted to sense a respective patient'"'"'s response to a visual stimulus and to generate a response signal;

a plurality of local signal processing systems, each said local processing system being connected to a respective said display device to generate said image, each said local processing system being connected to a respective said response sensing device to receive said response signal;

a central processing system connectable to said plurality of local signal processing systems for controlling generation of said images, and for receipt of said response signals from said plurality of local processing systems;

a neural network for automatic interpretation of said response signals; and

a central data repository for collection of data from said response signals, and for repetitive training of said neural network.

22. A visual field testing system as recited in claim 21, wherein each said virtual retinal display device is mounted in a substantially motionless relationship to the head of a patient, while allowing the head to move.

23. A visual field testing apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said central processing system is connectable to said plurality of local signal processing systems via the Internet.

24. A method for automatically analyzing the visual fields of a plurality of patients, comprising:

providing a virtual retinal display device, a response sensing device, and a local signal processing device for each of a plurality of patients;

displaying an image on at least one retina of each patient;

sensing each patient'"'"'s response to said image and generating a response signal for each patient;

controlling generation of each said image and receiving each said response signal with a central processing system; and

analyzing at least one characteristic of the visual field of each patient with a central neural network.

25. A method as recited in claim 24, further comprising connecting said central processing system to each said virtual retinal display device, response sensing device, and local signal processing device via the Internet, for controlling the generation of each said image and receiving each said response signal.

26. A visual field testing apparatus, comprising:

a light source, said light source being modulated to create an image;

a scanning system, said scanning system being adapted to scan said image from said light source onto a retina of an eye of a patient, said image being enhanced by color selection;

a gaze sensing device adapted to sense the orientation of an eye of a patient and to generate a gaze orientation signal;

a response sensing device adapted to sense a patient'"'"'s response to said image and to generate a response signal; and

a computer, said computer being connected to said light source to modulate said light source to create said image, said computer being connected to said gaze sensing device to receive said gaze orientation signal, said computer being connected to said response sensing device to receive said response signal, and said computer being programmed to interpret said gaze orientation signal and said response signal to evaluate at least one visual function of the patient.

27. A visual field testing apparatus as recited in claim 26, wherein:

said image further includes a background upon which a test stimulus is displayed;

said test stimulus exhibits a first color; and

said background exhibits a second color different from said first color.

28. A visual field testing apparatus as recited in claim 27, wherein said first color is blue and said second color is yellow.

29. A method for measuring at least one characteristic of the visual field of a patient, comprising:

mounting a virtual retinal display apparatus in a substantially motionless relationship to the head of a patient, while allowing the head to move, said virtual retinal display apparatus including at least one sensing device, said virtual retinal display apparatus being connected to a computer;

displaying an image generated by said computer, said image being projected onto the retina of at least one eye of the patient, said image including a test stimulus;

enhancing the visibility of said test stimulus by color selection;

sensing the orientation of at least one eye of the patient and generating a gaze orientation signal;

sensing the patient'"'"'s response to said image and generating a response signal;

receiving said gaze orientation signal and said response signal with said computer and calculating at least one characteristic of the visual field of the patient.

30. A method as recited in claim 29, further comprising:

displaying said test stimulus on a background; and

enhancing said visibility of said test stimulus by displaying said test stimulus in a first color and displaying said background in a second color different from said first color.

31. A method as recited in claim 30, further comprising:

displaying said test stimulus in blue; and

displaying said background in yellow.