Display enhanced testing for concussions and mild traumatic brain injury

• US 8,568,311 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emory University, Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Emory University, Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Wright, David W., LaPlaca, Michelle C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, Bill
• Assistant Examiner(s): JIAN, SHIRLEY XUEYING
• Application Number:
  US11/503,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20070027406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,637 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4076 Diagnosing or monitoring particular conditions of the nervous system A61B5/4821, A61B5/4824 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4088 Diagnosing of monitoring cognitive diseases, e.g. Alzheimer, prion diseases or dementia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• 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

Cognitive assessment systems and methods that provide an integrated solution for evaluating the presence or absence of cognitive impairment. The present invention is used to test cognitive functions of an individual including information processing speed, working memory, work list learning and recall, along with variations of these tasks. Immersive and non-immersive systems and methods are disclosed. Testing and results feedback using the present invention may be completed in real time, typically in less than 15 minutes.

Claims

1. A portable, field-usable immersive cognitive assessment system for testing a cognitive state of an individual by delivery of computer-generated neuropsychological testing, comprising:

portable headgear, comprising an audio output device and a video output device integrated into the headgear, configured to be worn by the individual to create an environment effective to minimize external audio and visual distractions during the testing, the audio output device providing audible sounds to the individual and including a noise reduction circuit, the video output device comprising a computer display screen mounted to the headgear effective to substantially cover the entire field of view of the individual when worn for administration of neuropsychological testing;

a response selection device that is configured to receive response selections input by the individual in response to a presented neuropsychological test; and

a portable computing device coupled to the headgear and the response selection device and including software that (a) presents a battery of predefined time-limited neuropsychological tests, each test requiring a predetermined response based on what is presented in the test to the individual via at least one of the audio and video output devices of the headgear, (b) receives response selections input by the individual via the response selection device in response to each test of the battery of presented neuropsychological tests, (c) determines a score from each test of the battery of presented neuropsychological tests, and (d) presents the score of the presented neuropsychological tests to a test administrator in real-time after administration of the battery of tests as a measure of a degree of cognitive impairment,

wherein the battery of predefined time-limited neuropsychological tests include questions selected from a question bank, the question bank being configured to be modified or enlarged to provide different versions of the predefined time-limited neuropsychological tests.

2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the predefined neuropsychological test comprises at least one cognitive function test that evaluates at least one of reaction time, processing speed, and working memory.

3. The system recited in claim 1, wherein a testing time required for the computing device to present the battery of time-limited neuropsychological tests to the individual and the response selection device to receive response selections input by the individual is 15 minutes or less.

4. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the battery of time-limited predefined neuropsychological tests comprises three tests that can be completed in approximately 15 minutes or less.

5. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the cognitive impairment includes cognitive impairment caused by mild traumatic brain injury to the individual.

6. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the cognitive impairment includes cognitive impairment caused by a neurodegenerative disorder.

7. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the cognitive impairment includes cognitive impairment caused by Alzheimer'"'"'s disease.

8. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises the response selection device.

9. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the computing device is wirelessly coupled to the headgear.

10. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the response selection device is wired to the computing device.

11. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises software comprising an autoscoring algorithm that generates the score.

12. The system recited in claim 1, further comprising a database coupled to the computing device for storing a databank of comparison data against which a particular test of an individual is compared.

13. The system recited in claim 12, wherein the databank of comparison data comprises pre-injury test data that is used for comparison with later tests.

14. The system recited in claim 13, wherein the pre-injury test data includes data selected from the group comprising:

history of head injury in the past, history of intracranial pathology, history of mental retardation, age, level of education.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the pre-injury test data includes pre-season neuropsychological testing.

16. The system recited in claim 12, wherein the databank of comparison data comprises baseline test data for similar subjects that is used for comparison with a test of a particular individual.

17. The system recited in claim 12, wherein the databank of comparison data is loaded onto the system prior to use, whereby real-time score results are provided from administration of a neuropsychological test compared to said comparison data.

18. The system recited in claim 12, wherein the computing device software grades test results and measures differences in scores of a particular test of an individual against the comparison data.

19. The system recited in claim 18, wherein the differences in scores are relative to baseline scores.

20. The system recited in claim 18, wherein the differences in scores are relative to data of other individuals.

21. The system recited in claim 1, wherein a test in the battery of tests is selected from the group comprising:

a choice reaction time test, a selective reminding test, a series of N-back tests, and a long term selective reminding test.

22. A method for assessing cognitive capabilities of an individual by delivery of a battery of computer-generated neuropsychological tests, comprising the steps of:

providing a portable, field-usable computing device for delivering a battery of time-limited computer-generated neuropsychological tests, each of which requires a predetermined response based on what is presented in a test to the individual by way of audible sounds, visual information, or both, and receiving responses to each test of the battery of tests by way of a response selection device actuated by the individual and that is coupled to the computing device;

placing portable headgear on the individual in a field environment and administering the neuropsychological test within an environment created by the headgear that is effective to minimize external audio and visual distractions during the test, the portable headgear comprising an audio output device and a video output device coupled to the portable computing device, the audio output device providing audible sounds to the individual and including a noise reduction circuit, the video output device comprising a computer display screen mounted to the headgear effective to substantially cover the entire field of view of the individual;

presenting a battery of time-limited predefined computer-generated neuropsychological tests to the individual via the headgear during a predetermined time period, the battery of predefined time-limited neuropsychological tests including questions selected from a question bank, the question bank being configured to be modified or enlarged to provide different versions of the predefined time-limited neuropsychological tests;

receiving response selections input by the individual via the response selection device in response to each one of the battery of presented neuropsychological tests;

processing via the computing device the response selections of the individual to determine a score from each of the presented neuropsychological tests that scores the cognitive functions of the individual and generates test results that are indicative of a cognitive state of the individual in real-time; and

presenting the test results to a test administrator in real-time after administration of the battery of tests as a measure of a degree of cognitive impairment.

23. The method recited in claim 22, wherein the predefined neuropsychological test comprises at least one cognitive function test that evaluates at least one of reaction time, processing speed, and working memory.

24. The method recited in claim 22, wherein the battery of time-limited predefined neuropsychological tests comprises a plurality of tests that can be presented during a predetermined time period of 15 minutes or less.

25. The method recited in claim 22, wherein the cognitive impairment includes cognitive impairment caused by mild traumatic brain injury to the individual.

26. The method recited in claim 22, wherein the cognitive impairment includes cognitive impairment caused by a neurodegenerative disorder.

27. The method recited in claim 22, wherein the cognitive impairment includes cognitive impairment caused by Alzheimer'"'"'s disease.

28. The method recited in claim 22, further comprising a database coupled to the computing device for storing a databank of comparison data against which a particular test of an individual is compared.

29. The method recited in claim 28, wherein the databank of comparison data comprises pre-injury test data that is used for comparison with later tests.

30. The method recited in claim 29, wherein the pre-injury test data includes data selected from the group comprising:

history of head injury in the past, history of intracranial pathology, history of mental retardation, age, level of education.

31. The method recited claim 28, wherein the individual is an athlete that is provided with pre-season neuropsychological testing preseason and where a neuropsychological test is repeated with the individual if a head injury is suspected.

32. The method recited in claim 28, wherein the databank of comparison data comprises baseline test data for similar subjects that is used for comparison with a test of a particular individual.

33. The method recited in claim 28, wherein the databank of comparison data is loaded onto the device prior to use, whereby real-time score results are provided from administration of a neuropsychological test compared to said comparison data.

34. The method recited in claim 28, wherein the computing device software grades test results and measures differences in scores of a particular test of an individual against the comparison data.

35. The method recited in claim 34, wherein the differences in scores are relative to baseline scores.

36. The method recited in claim 34, wherein the differences in scores are relative to data of other individuals.

37. The method recited in claim 22, wherein a test in the battery of tests selected from the group comprising:

a choice reaction time test, a selective reminding test, a series of N-back tests, and a long term selective reminding test.