System and method for determining visual alertness

• US 6,849,050 B1
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Department of The Army (Government of the United States of America), United States Army (U.S. Department Of Defense)
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Russo, Michael B., Santiago, Saul
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US10/136,625
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 600/558, 340/573.1, 340/575, 340/576, 351/200, 351/222, 351/224, 351/237, 180/272
• US Class Current: 600/558
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/024 for determining the visual field, e.g. perimeter types
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4884 inducing physiological or psychological stress, e.g. applications for stress testing

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method is characterized by presenting a first pattern of light during a first interval of time: recording a first-pattern response set; presenting a second pattern of light during a second interval of time; recording a second-pattern response set; and assessing visual alertness in response to the first-pattern response set and the second-pattern response set. In one embodiment, a related system includes but is not limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting the foregoing-referenced method embodiment; the circuitry and/or programming can be virtually any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware configured to effect the foregoing-referenced method embodiment depending upon the design choices of the system designer.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

presenting a first pattern of light during a first interval of time;

recording a first pattern response set including recording at least one response of a test subject, where the at least one response identifies at least one location in a visual field where at least one flash of light occurred;

presenting a second pattern of light during a second interval of time;

recording a second-pattern response set; and

assessing visual alertness in response to the first-pattern response set and the second-pattern response set.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said recording at least one response of a test subject, where the at least one response identifies at least one location in a visual field where at least one flash of light occurred comprises:

recording at least one response of a test subject, where the at least one response identifies at least the center, left, right, top, or bottom of the visual field.

3. A method comprising:

presenting a first pattern of light during a first interval of time;

recording a first-pattern response set;

presenting a second pattern of light during a second interval of time;

recording a second-pattern response set including recording at least one response of a test subject, where the at least one response identifies at least one location in a visual field where at least one flash of light occurred;

assessing visual alertness in response to the first-pattern response set and the second-pattern response set.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said recording at least one response of a test subject, where the at least one response identifies at least one location in a visual field where at least one flash of light occurred comprises:

recording at least one response of a test subject, where the at least one response identifies at least the center, left, right, top, or bottom of the visual field.

5. A method comprising:

presenting a first pattern of light during a first interval of time;

recording a first-pattern response set;

presenting a second pattern of light during a second interval of time;

recording a second-pattern response set; and

assessing visual alertness in response to the first-pattern response set and the second pattern response set;

wherein said assessing visual alertness in response to the first-pattern response set and the second-pattern response set comprises;

assigning a measure of visual alertness in response to a relative difference between the first-pattern response set and the second-pattern response set.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first pattern of light comprises:

at least two sub-patterns of light.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first interval of time comprises:

at least two subintervals of time.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said presenting a first pattern of light during a first interval of time comprises:

presenting at least one flash of light in a periphery of a visual field.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said presenting at least one flash of light in a periphery of a visual field comprises:

presenting at least a first flash of light at a first visual field angle; and

presenting at least a second flash of light at a second visual field angle.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein said presenting at least one flash of light in a periphery of a visual field comprises:

activating at least one electric lamp positioned in the periphery of the visual field.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein said activating at least one electric lamp positioned in the periphery of the visual field comprises:

said activating an electric lamp affixed to a mechanical device in the periphery of the visual field.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the second pattern of light comprises:

at least two sub-patterns of light.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the second interval of time comprises:

at least two sub-intervals of time.

14. The method of claim 5, whereinsaid presenting a second pattern of light during a second interval of time comprises:

presenting the second pattern of light substantially similar to the first pattern of light.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said presenting the second pattern of light substantially similar to the first pattern of light comprises:

presenting at least one flash of light at a visual field angle substantially similar to a visual field angle at which at least one flash of light was original in the first pattern of light.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said presenting at least one flash of light at a visual field angle substantially similar to a visual field angle at which at least one flash of light was original in the first pattern of light comprises:

presenting at least a first and a second flash of light at a first and a second angle substantially similar to a first and a second angle at which first and second flashes of light were original in the first pattern of light.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said presenting the second pattern of light substantially similar to the first pattern of light comprises:

activating at least one electric lamp positioned in the periphery of the visual field.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said activating at least one electric lamp positioned in the periphery of the visual field comprises:

activating at least one electric lamp affixed to a mechanical device in the periphery of the visual field.

19. The method of claim 5, wherein said assigning a measure of visual alertness in response to a relative difference between the first-pattern response set and the second-pattern response set comprises:

recalling one or more responses to one or more first-pattern flashes of light;

recalling one or more responses to one or more second-pattern flashes of light, where the one or more second-pattern flashes of light were presented at one or more visual field angles substantially similar to one or more visual field angles at which the one or more first-pattern flashes of light were original;

comparing the responses to the one or more second-pattern flashes of light against the responses to the one or more first-pattern flashes of light; and

assigning a measure of visual alertness in response to said comparing.

20. A system comprising:

means for presenting a first pattern of light during a first interval of time;

means for recording a first-Pattern response set including;

means for recording at least one response of a test subject, where the at least one response identifies at least one location in a visual field where at least one flash of light occurred;

means for presenting a second pattern of light during a second interval of time;

means for recording a second-pattern response set; and

means for assessing visual alertness in response to the first-pattern response set and the second-pattern response set.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said means for recording at least one response of a test subject, where the at least one response identifies at least one location in a visual field where at least one flash of light occurred comprises:

means for recording at least one response of a test subject, where the at least one response identifies at least the center, left, right, top, or bottom of the visual field.

22. A system comprising:

means for presenting a first pattem of light during a first interval of time;

means for recording a first-pattern response set including;

means for presenting a second pattern of light during a second interval of time;

means for recording a second-pattern response set;

wherein said means for recording a second-pattern response set comprises;

means for recording at least one response of a test subject, where the at least one response identifies at least one location in a visual field where at least one flash of light occurred; and

means for assessing visual alertness in response to the first-pattern response set and the second-pattern response set.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said means for recording at least one response of a test subject, where the at least one response identifies at least one location in a visual field where at least one flash of light occurred comprises:

means for recording at least one response of a test subject, where the at least one response identifies at least the center, left, right, top, or bottom of the visual field.

24. A system comprising:

means for presenting a first pattern of light during a first interval of time;

means for recording a first-pattern response set;

means for presenting a second pattern of light during a second interval of time;

means for recording a second-pattern response set; and

means for assessing visual alertness in response to the first-patter response set and the second-pattern response set;

wherein said means for assessing visual alertness in response to the first-pattern response set and the second-pattern response set comprises;

means for assigning a measure of visual alertness in response to a relative difference between the first-pattern response set and the second-pattern response set.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the first pattern of light comprises:

at least two sub-patterns of light.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the first interval of time comprises:

at least two sub-intervals of time.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein said means for presenting a first pattern of light during a first interval of time comprises:

means for presenting at least one flash of light in a periphery of a visual field.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said means for presenting at least one flash of light in a periphery of a visual field comprises:

means for presenting at least a first flash of light at a first visual field angle; and

means for presenting at least a second flash of light at a second visual field angle.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein said means for presenting at least one flash of light in a periphery of a visual field comprises:

means for activating at least one electric lamp positioned in the periphery of the visual field.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said means for activating at least one electric lamp positioned in the periphery of the visual field comprises:

said means for activating an electric lamp affixed to a mechanical device in the periphery of the visual field.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein the second pattern of light comprises:

at least two sub-patterns of light.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein the second interval of time comprises:

at least two sub-intervals of time.

33. The system of claim 24, wherein said means for presenting a second pattern of light during a second interval of time comprises:

means for presenting the second pattern of light substantially similar to the first pattern of light.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said means for presenting the second pattern of light substantially similar to the first pattern of light comprises:

means for activating at least one electric lamp positioned in the periphery of the visual field.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said means for activating at least one electric lamp positioned in the periphery of the visual field comprises:

means for activating at least one electric lamp affixed to a mechanical device in the periphery of the visual field.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein said means for presenting the second pattern of light substantially similar to the first pattern of light comprises:

means for presenting at least one flash of light at a visual field angle substantially similar to a visual field angle at which at least one flash of light was original in the first pattern of light.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein said means for presenting at least one flash of light at a visual field angle substantially similar to a visual field angle at which at least one flash of light was original in the first pattern of light comprises:

means for presenting at least a first and a second flash of light at a first and a second angle substantially similar to a first and a second angle at which first and second flashes of light were original in the first pattern of light.

38. The system of claim 24, wherein said means for assigning a measure of visual alertness in response to a relative difference between the first-pattern response set and the second-pattern response set comprises:

means for recalling one or more responses to one or more first-pattern flashes of light;

means for recalling one or more responses to one or more second-pattern flashes of light, where the one or more second-pattern flashes of light were presented at one or more visual field angles substantially similar to one or more visual field angles at which the one or more first-pattern flashes of light were original;

means for comparing the responses to the one or more second-pattern flashes of light against the responses to the one or more first-pattern flashes of light; and

means for assigning a measure of visual alertness in response to said means for comparing.

39. An apparatus for assessing visual alertness comprising:

a display substrate;

a plurality of visually displayable members associated with said substrate;

said members positioned to be within the area of visual perception of a user;

a power source;

means for displaying at least one of said visually displayable members for a first predetermined length of time to generate a first pattern-response set of a user and for displaying at least one of said visually displayable members for a second predetermined length of time to generate a second pattern-response set of a user; and

a data processing system configured to compare said first-pattern response set against said second-pattern response set for assigning a measure of visual alertness based on said comparison.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said display substrate is configured in the shape of a semi-circle or oval radially disposed about a predetermined position for a user.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the visually displayable members are disposed at about 15-degree visual field angle intervals along the substrate relative to a frame of reference defined by an expected center position of a user'"'"'s head.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein a visually displayable member is positioned at the horizontal center of the substrate relative to the expected position of a user'"'"'s head.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the visually displayable members are disposed at non-uniform distances from the expected position of a user'"'"'s head.

44. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said substrate is configured to mimic an operator environment of a human operated mechanism.

45. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising an audio-visual system for recording a user'"'"'s responses for generating said first and second response-sets.

46. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising means for generating a first pattern of light and a second pattern of light, wherein said first pattern of light is used to generate said first pattern-response set and said second pattern of light is used to generate said second pattern-response set.