Incapacity monitor

• US 8,311,284 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optalert Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Optalert Pty Limited
• Inventors: Johns, Murray
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter, Aaron W
• Application Number:
  US12/281,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20090034796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,085 Days
• Field of Search: 382/104, 382/107, 382/117, 348/143, 348/148, 340/575, 340/576
• US Class Current: 382/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/22 Motor vehicles operators, e.g. drivers, pilots, captains
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1103 Detecting eye twinkling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/163 by tracking eye movement, gaze, or pupil change
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4809 Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6821 Eye
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes

Abstract

A method of monitoring incapacity of a subject which includes the steps of continuously monitoring eye and eyelid movement of at least one eye of the subject; analyzing eye and eyelid movements to obtain measures of ocular quiescence and the duration of an interval of no eye or eyelid movement; and if the duration of ocular quiescence exceeds a predetermined value providing a potential incapacity warning and requesting a response within a predetermined period, and applying an emergency procedure if no response is made within a predetermined interval.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring incapacity of a machine or vehicle operator which includes:

a) spectacles to be worn by an operator incorporating at least an infra red emitter mounted on a lower spectacle frame and at least one infra red detector also mounted on the lower spectacle frame below one eye, to measure one or more of eye and eyelid movements including saccades and blinks in at least one eye of the operator;

b) storage means to continuously record the measurements;

c) a data processor to analyze said eye or eyelid movements to obtain a measure of the period of ocular quiescence of greater than 4 seconds;

d) an alarm means triggered by said measurement reaching a predetermined value;

e) an actuation means to respond to the alarm; and

f) means to activate an emergency procedure if the alarm is not responded to within about 2 seconds.

2. An incapacity monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 for use in trains, in which the emergency procedure activates the vehicle braking system.