Alertness monitor
First Claim
1. An alertness monitoring system which includes:
- a) means to measure velocity and amplitude of eyelid and eye movement;
b) storage means to continuously record the measurements;
c) a data processor to calculate the blink amplitude to velocity ratio and/or the saccade amplitude to velocity ratio and compare the measurements against a predetermined scale, said scale being averaged measurements of the eye and eyelid movement parameters for a sample population measured against predetermined incremental blood alcohol levels;
d) a display for showing the alertness measurement based on the scale;
ore) an alarm means triggered by the scale reading reaching a predetermined limit based on the blood alcohol level scale.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An alertness monitoring system includes: means to measure velocity and amplitude of eyelid and eye movement; and storage means to continuously record the measurements. A data processor calculates the blink amplitude to velocity ratio and/or the saccade amplitude to velocity ratio and compares the measurements against a predetermined scale. The scale is derived from averaged measurements of the eye and eyelid movement parameters for a sample population measured against predetermined incremental blood alcohol levels. The output of the system can include a display for showing the alertness measurement based on the scale, or an alarm means triggered by the scale reading reaching a predetermined limit based an the blood alcohol level scale.
61 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An alertness monitoring system which includes:
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a) means to measure velocity and amplitude of eyelid and eye movement; b) storage means to continuously record the measurements; c) a data processor to calculate the blink amplitude to velocity ratio and/or the saccade amplitude to velocity ratio and compare the measurements against a predetermined scale, said scale being averaged measurements of the eye and eyelid movement parameters for a sample population measured against predetermined incremental blood alcohol levels; d) a display for showing the alertness measurement based on the scale;
ore) an alarm means triggered by the scale reading reaching a predetermined limit based on the blood alcohol level scale. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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- 4. A method of measuring alertness in which the eye movements of a subject are analyzed using reflected infrared light pulses to obtain measurements of the blink amplitude to velocity ratio and/or the saccade amplitude to velocity ratio averaged over predetermined periods of time and measuring the deviation of the average from a predetermined average for alert subjects.
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8. An alertness measuring system for a subject which includes:
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a) an infrared pulse emitter adapted to be located adjacent at least one eye of a subject; b) at least one reflected light detector located adjacent said emitter; c) means to transmit the detector signals; d) data processing means to receive die detector signals and to subtract a total level of light immediately before each pulse is transmitted from the combined level of the measured reflectance after the pulse to provide a reflectance measurement; e) said data processing means analyzing said reflectance measurement to calculate the blink amplitude to velocity ratio and/or the saccade amplitude to velocity ratio and compare the measurements against a predetermined scale. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An alertness monitoring system which includes:
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a) means to measure eyelid and eye movement; b) storage means to continuously record the measurements; c) a data processor in which the recorded measurements are analyzed to obtain measures of the blink amplitude to velocity ratio and/or the saccade amplitude to velocity ratio and measuring the deviation from a predetermined average for alert subjects; d) a display for showing the analyzed measurements;
ore) an alarm means triggered when a predetermined measurement threshold is crossed. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method of measuring alertness, the method comprising:
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measuring velocity and amplitude of eyelid and eye movement of a subject; calculating an eyelid movement amplitude to velocity ratio and/or an eye movement amplitude to velocity ratio; calculating an average of one or both ratios over at least one predetermined period of time; and determining a deviation of the calculated averages from predetermined averages for alert subjects; and triggering an alarm if the deviation of the determined average from a predetermined average reaches or exceeds a predetermined limit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification