Neurocognitive and psychomotor performance assessment and rehabilitation system

• US 7,837,472 B1
• Filed: 12/27/2002
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Army Medical Research And Materiel Command, U.S. Government
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Reeves, Legal Representative, Winter, Kathryn P., Reeves, Dennis L., Friedl, Karl E., Elsmore, Timothy F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saadat; Cameron
• Application Number:
  US10/340,473
• Time in Patent Office: 2,888 Days
• Field of Search: 434/236, 434/238, 600/300
• US Class Current: 434/236
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/162 Testing reaction times
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4088 Diagnosing of monitoring cognitive diseases, e.g. Alzheimer, prion diseases or dementia
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A computerized Neuropsychological/NeuroCognitive and Psychomotor Performance Assessment and Rehabilitation system is designed for use on handheld computer systems. Components of the system include an executive program, test modules, interpretive and report modules, and supporting utilities. The system provides point-of-use interpretations and result reports. The system is designed for use in clinical settings, occupational medicine, and research. Medical applications include use as a diagnostic, evaluation, and treatment instrument. In industrial settings it can be used as a fitness/readiness for work assessment. The assessment and rehabilitation system also contains modules for use in forensic mental competency, mental and emotional status examinations.

Claims

1. An assessment and rehabilitation system for cognitive testing of a plurality of users, the system comprising:

a handheld computer comprising;

a CPU operating an executive program for controlling a plurality of modules comprising;

a plurality of test modules, each executing a specific individual test on the handheld computer to test a cognitive attribute of a user;

a plurality of test batteries each comprising one or more specified test modules, the specified test modules being selectively chosen for each test battery to test a respective cognitive attribute of one or more of the plurality of users, at least one test battery having at least two specified test modules for testing different cognitive attributes, wherein the plurality of test modules generate a test stimuli;

at least one registration module for registering each of the plurality of users;

a plurality of interpretive modules for interpreting results of the test batteries, wherein the interpretive modules compare the user'"'"'s current test performance with normative data, the user'"'"'s previous test results and passing criterion for each test module in order to determine the current test results for the test batteries; and

at least one report module for immediately generating a cognitive status report for reporting the test battery results as determined by the plurality of interpretive modules;

a screen for displaying test stimuli and test battery results; and

an input portion permitting each of the users to register with the at least one registration module, select one or more test batteries for administration by the executive program, and respond to the stimuli.

2. The assessment and rehabilitation system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of test modules comprises one or more of a code substitution module, a logical relations module, a mood scale module, a mathematical processing module, a matrix rotation module, a matching to sample module, a running memory module, a simple reaction time module, a sleep scale module, and a memory search module.

3. The assessment and rehabilitation system of claim 2, wherein at least one test battery is for testing readiness to stand duty of a user of the plurality of users.

4. The assessment and rehabilitation system of claim 3, wherein the at least one test battery is a NeuroCognitive test battery for one of diagnostic use and medical monitoring of recovery, the NeuroCognitive test battery comprising the sleep scale module, the mood scale module, the simple reaction time module, the code substitution module, the mathematical processing module, the matching to sample module, the logical relations module, the code substitution module and the memory search module.

5. The assessment and rehabilitation system of claim 3, wherein the at least one test battery is a commander test battery for providing a brief on-line assessment of a user of the plurality of users, the brief on-line assessment for testing the user'"'"'s ability to sustain levels of one or more of concentration, working memory and mental efficiency.

6. The assessment and rehabilitation system of claim 5, wherein the commander test battery comprises the sleep scale module, the simple reaction time module, and the running memory module.

7. The assessment and rehabilitation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one report module generates a cognitive status report for immediate feedback upon completion of at least a subset of the plurality of test modules.

8. The assessment and rehabilitation system of claim 1, further comprising a host computer for executing a plurality of component utilities, the component utilities comprising:

a plurality of communications and data archiving modules for retrieving data from the handheld computer, for archiving data, for assessing data quality, and for installing and managing test batteries on the handheld computer; and

a plurality of test battery authoring modules for configuring customized test batteries, the test batteries comprising at least one of the plurality of test modules.