Method for automated mass screening for visual dysfunction in children

• US 6,808,267 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Childsplay Vision Systems, Mary O'Neil
• Original Assignee: Childsplay Vision Systems
• Inventors: OʼNeil, James W., Tirendi, Richard S., Tardibuono, Charles D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SANDERS JR, JOHN R
• Application Number:
  US10/274,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20040076942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 351/200, 351/201, 351/222, 351/223, 351/237, 351/239-243, 351/246, 345/700, 345/705, 345/707, 345/709, 463/1, 463/23, 434/350, 600/558
• US Class Current: 351/246
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F

Abstract

A method for automatically screening for visual dysfunctions in preliterate or pre-school test subjects incorporates collecting personal profile and background information and transferring the information to a local storage system. The information is retrieved into a PC system and a test procedure is initiated with a test subject by establishing an exclusive dialog between the test subject and the PC system. The test procedure is in the form of a game selectively attractive and readily understood by preliterate or school-age test subjects. The test results are printed for presentation to the test subject and are also transmitted together with the background information to an off-site repository for storage with test results and information of other test subjects. An epidemiological analysis is made of the stored test results and information in accordance with a predetermined analysis protocol. A report is generated representing the results of the analysis.

Claims

1. A method for automatically screening for visual dysfunctions in pre-literate or school-age test subjects comprising:

(a) providing the test subject with eye glasses;

(b) initiating a selected standardized test procedure, incorporating an interactive video game readily comprehensible by pre-literate and school-age test subjects, with said test subject by, establishing an exclusive dialog between said test subject and a PC system;

(c) collecting test results in said PC system and creating a test record incorporating test results;

(d) printing said test results for presentation to said test subject;

(e) transmitting said test results to an off-site repository for storage with test results of other test subjects;

(f) generating an epidemiological analysis of said stored test results together with the test results of other test subjects in accordance with a selected analysis protocol chosen by a communicating investigator; and

(g) printing a report representing said analysis.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said test procedure is first directed to testing visual acuity.

3. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said test procedure is first directed to testing visual acuity and then directed to testing stereopsis.

4. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said test procedure is first directed to testing visual acuity and stereopsis and then directed to testing binocularity.

5. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said test procedure is first directed to testing visual acuity and then directed to testing color vision.

6. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said selected test procedure includes a demonstration phase for instructing the test subject on the manner in which the interactive video game is played.

7. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said selected test procedure includes a comprehension phase to ascertain the comprehension of the interactive video game by the test subject.

8. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said selected test procedure includes a reinforcement phase incorporating a retesting procedure to confirm a previously completed test phase.

9. A method for automatically screening for visual dysfunctions in pre-literate or school-age test subjects comprising:

(a) collecting personal profile and background information of a test subject;

(b) transferring said information to a local storage system;

(c) retrieving said information from said local storage system into a PC system for use in testing said test subject;

(d) providing the test subject with eye glasses;

(e) initiating a selected standardized test procedure, incorporating an interactive video game readily comprehensible by pre-literate and school-age test subjects, with said test subject by establishing an exclusive dialog between said test subject and said PC system;

(f) collecting test results in said PC system and creating a test record incorporating said test results and said information;

(g) printing said test results for presentation to said test subject;

(h) transmitting said test results and information to an off-site repository for storage with test results and information of other test subjects;

(i) generating an epidemiological analysis of said stored test results and information by analyzing the test results and information together with the test results and information of other test subjects in accordance with a selected analysis protocol chosen by a communicating investigator; and

(j) printing a report representing said analysis.

10. The method set forth in claim 9 wherein said test procedure is first directed to testing visual acuity.

11. The method set forth in claim 9 wherein said test procedure is first directed to testing visual acuity and then directed to testing stereopsis.

12. The method set forth in claim 9 wherein said test procedure is first directed to testing visual acuity and stereopsis and then directed to testing binocularity.

13. The method set forth in claim 9 wherein said test procedure is first directed to testing visual acuity and then directed to testing color vision.

14. The method set forth in claim 9 wherein said selected test procedure includes a demonstration phase for instructing the test subject on the manner in which the interactive video game is played.

15. The method set forth in claim 9 wherein said selected test procedure includes a comprehension phase to ascertain the comprehension of the interactive video game by the test subject.

16. The method set forth in claim 9 wherein said selected test procedure includes a reinforcement phase incorporating a retesting procedure to confirm a previously completed test phase.

17. A method for automatically screening for visual dysfunctions in pre-literate or school-age test subjects comprising:

(a) providing the test subject with eye glasses;

(b) initiating a selected standardized test procedure, incorporating an interactive video game readily comprehensible by pre-literate and school-age test subjects, with said test subject by establishing an exclusive dialog between said test subject and a PC system;

(c) collecting test results in said PC system and creating a test record incorporating test results;

(d) printing said test results for presentation to said test subject;

(e) transmitting said test results to an off-site repository for storage with test results of other test subjects to enable epidemiological analysis of said stored test results.

18. A method for automatically screening for visual dysfunction in pre-literate or school-age test subjects comprising:

(a) collecting personal profile and background data relating to a test subject and entering the data into a PC system for selecting a standardized test procedure in response to said collected data, said test procedure incorporating an interactive video game comprehensible by said test subject to be played on said PC system;

(b) providing the test subject with eye glasses;

(c) establishing an exclusive dialog between said test subject and said test procedure on said PC system;

(d) collecting test results in said PC system and creating a test record incorporating said test results and said data; and

(e) transmitting said test results and data to an off-site repository for storage with test results and data of other test subjects.

19. A method for automatically screening for visual dysfunction in pre-literate or school-age test subjects comprising:

(a) collecting personal profile and background data relating to a test subject and entering the data into a PC system for selecting a standardized test procedure in response to said collected data, said test procedure incorporating an interactive video game comprehensible by said test subject to be played on said PC system;

(b) providing the test subject with eye glasses;

(c) establishing an exclusive dialog between said test subject and said test procedure on said PC system;

(d) modifying said video game in response to the test subject'"'"'s interaction with said video game;

(e) collecting test results in said PC system and creating a test record incorporating said test results and said data; and

(f) transmitting said test results and data to an off-site repository for storage with test results and data of other test subjects.

20. A method for automatically screening for visual dysfunctions in pre-literate or school-age test subjects comprising:

(a) collecting personal profile and background data relating to a test subject and entering the data into a PC system for selecting a test procedure in response to said collected data, said test procedure incorporating an interactive video game comprehensible by said test subject to be played on said PC system;

(b) establishing an exclusive dialog between said test subject and said test procedure on said PC system;

(c) initiating a visual acuity test with said test subject;

(d) terminating said test procedure in response to a failure of both of the test subject'"'"'s eyes to pass said visual acuity test;

(e) initiating a color vision test with said test subject in response to the failure of only one of the test subject'"'"'s eyes to pass said visual acuity test;

(f) initiating a stereopsis and a binocularity test in response to the passing of the visual acuity test by both eyes of said test subject;

(g) terminating said test procedure if said test subject suppresses either eye;

(h) initiating an eye alignment test in response to normal or double vision of the test subject;

(i) terminating said test procedure;

(j) collecting test results in said PC system and creating a test record incorporating said test results and said data; and

(k) transmitting said test results and data to an off-site repository for storage with test results and data of other test subjects.

21. The method of claim 20 including generating an epidemiological analysis of said stored test results and data by analyzing the test results and data together with the test results and data of other test subjects in accordance with a selected analysis protocol chosen by a communicating investigator.

22. The method of claim 20 including printing a report representing said analysis.

23. The method of claim 20 including printing said test results for presentation to said test subject.

24. A method for automatically screening for visual dysfunction in pre-literate or school-age test subjects comprising:

(a) collecting personal profile and background data relating to a test subject and entering the data into a PC system;

(b) providing the test subject with eye glasses;

(c) initiating an exclusive dialog between said test subject and said PC wherein said PC selects a standardized interactive video game readily comprehensible by said test subject based upon the data entered into said PC;

(d) selecting default response timing for the selected game;

(e) adjusting the response timing for the selected game in accordance with the response times of the test subject;

(f) collecting test results in said PC system and creating a test record incorporating test results; and

(g) transmitting said test results to an off-site repository for storage with test results of other test subjects to enable epidemiological analysis of said stored test results.

25. The method of claim 24 including the step of printing said test results for presentation to said test subject.

26. The method of claim 24 including the steps of printing said test results for presentation to said test subject;

generating an epidemiological analysis of said stored test results and information by analyzing the test results and information together with the test results and information of other subjects in accordance with a selected analysis protocol by a communicating investigator and printing a report representing said analysis.