System and method for the measurement of vestibulo-ocular reflex to improve human performance in an occupational environment

• US 9,370,302 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2014
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Armour Holdings, Inc., Novutz LLC
• Original Assignee: Armour Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Krueger, Wesley W. O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sternbane, Larry
• Application Number:
  US14/326,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20160007849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/112 for measuring diameter of pupils
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4023 Evaluating sense of balance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence

Abstract

A portable eye reflex measuring device for use in an ambulatory occupational environment is disclosed. The eye reflex measuring device compares data from an eye movement detector with data from a head movement detector at a frequency or frequencies in the range of 0.01 Hertz to 15 Hertz to determine eye response to head movement. The gain and phase of the eye response is calculated using a Fourier transform. The device includes a central processing unit for receiving the eye movement data, for receiving the head movement data, and for calculating the Fourier transform. Typical human physiological conditions that can be measured can include vestibulo-ocular reflex, dynamic visual acuity, dynamic visual stability, or retinal image stability.

Claims

1. A system comprising a portable ocular reflex measuring device wherein the portable device comprises:

an eye orientation sensor wherein;

the eye orientation sensor comprises a module selected from the group consisting of an image detector, a magnetic field detector, and an electrical potential detector; and

the eye orientation sensor senses vertical movement and horizontal movement of at least one eye;

a head orientation sensor wherein;

the head orientation sensor is attachable to a person'"'"'s head;

the head orientation sensor senses pitch and yaw of the person'"'"'s head wherein pitch represents a rotation about a first axis representing up and down movement of the person'"'"'s face when the rear of the person'"'"'s head moves in the opposite direction and yaw represents horizontal movement of the face when looked at from the front about a second axis substantially aligned with the spine and perpendicular to the first axis; and

the head orientation sensor senses pitch and yaw in a range of frequencies between 0.01 Hertz and 15 Hertz;

the head orientation sensor comprises a micro-electro-mechanical system integrated circuit comprising a module selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a magnetometer, and a gyroscope; and

an electronic circuit wherein;

the electronic circuit comprises a power supply, a communications unit, logic circuitry, a central processing unit, a memory unit; and

sensor data pre-processing circuitry;

the power supply comprises a battery;

the electronic circuit is responsive to horizontal and vertical eye movement information received from the eye orientation sensor;

the electronic circuit is responsive to pitch and yaw information received from the head orientation sensor;

the communications unit is configured to transmit orientation information related to the eye movement information, the pitch information, and/or the yaw information;

the electronic circuit uses a Fourier transform to generate a vertical gain signal and a vertical phase signal in response to the vertical eye movement information and the pitch information; and

the electronic circuit uses a Fourier transform to generate a horizontal gain signal and a horizontal phase signal in response to the horizontal eye movement information and the yaw information.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the system is designed for use in an ambulatory occupational environment outside of a medical facility;

the device measures a physiological condition selected from the group consisting of vestibulo-ocular reflex, dynamic visual acuity, dynamic visual stability, and retinal image stability;

the eye orientation sensor comprises an image detector;

the image detector comprises a video camera;

the video camera is responsive to motion of an eye feature selected from the group of the pupil, the cornea, the iris, the limbus, and the retina;

the eye orientation sensor senses movement of both the left eye and the right eye;

the eye orientation sensor senses rotational movement of at least one eye wherein the rotational movement represents a rotation of the eye as viewed by looking at the front of the eye;

the head orientation sensor senses roll of the person'"'"'s head wherein roll represents a rotation about a third axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis representing rotation of the person'"'"'s face when viewed from the front;

the electronic circuit is responsive to both left eye movement information and right eye movement information received from the eye orientation sensor;

the electronic circuit is responsive to rotational eye movement information received from the eye orientation sensor;

the electronic circuit is responsive to roll information received from the head orientation sensor;

the electronic circuit uses a Fourier transform to generate a rotational gain signal and a rotational phase signal in response to the rotational eye movement information and the roll information;

the electronic circuit compares eye response in one direction using the eye orientation sensor eye movement information and head orientation information with eye response in the opposite direction using the eye orientation movement information and the head orientation information to determine asymmetry;

the electronic circuit comprises an element that compares a gain signal and a phase signal with a reference value to determine if the measured eye response is normal or abnormal; and

the electronic circuit transmits a signal responsive to the eye orientation sensor to a remote device using a wireless communications interface.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein:

the portable device is a self-contained device;

the portable device comprises eyewear;

the eyewear comprises a lens;

the eye sensor is responsive to a Purkinje image;

the video camera is responsive to infrared light;

the power supply comprises a wireless recharging interface;

the battery comprises a lithium ion battery;

the system comprises a display;

the display comprises a 3-dimensional element;

the display is responsive to the video camera;

the display is responsive to the head movement;

the electronic circuit generates a multi-frequency composite score for a measurement selected from the group consisting of vestibulo-ocular reflex, dynamic visual acuity, dynamic visual stability, and retinal image stability in response to a plurality of signals at a plurality of frequencies selected from the group consisting of a plurality of phase signals, a plurality of gain signals, and a plurality of asymmetry signals;

the memory unit comprises functionality to store a plurality of multi-frequency composite scores whereby the system can be used for data logging;

the wireless communications interface comprises a ZigBee communications protocol;

the system comprises a Global Positioning System receiver;

the system comprises a calibration function; and

the system comprises ocular reflex improvement information for the user.

4. A portable eye response measuring system comprising:

an eye orientation sensor wherein the eye orientation sensor senses movement of at least one eye wherein the eye movement is selected from the group consisting of vertical eye movement and horizontal eye movement;

a head orientation sensor wherein;

the head orientation sensor is attachable to a person'"'"'s head;

the head orientation sensor senses movement of the person'"'"'s head wherein the head movement is selected from the group consisting of pitch movement and yaw movement; and

the head orientation sensor senses movement in a range of frequencies that comprises at least one frequency between 0.01 Hertz and 15 Hertz;

the head orientation sensor comprises a micro-electro-mechanical system integrated circuit comprising a device selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a magnetometer, and a gyroscope; and

an electronic circuit wherein;

the electronic circuit comprises logic circuitry, a central processing unit, a memory unit; and

sensor data pre-processing circuitry;

the electronic circuit is responsive to the movement information received from the eye orientation sensor;

the electronic circuit is responsive to the movement information received from the head orientation sensor;

the electronic circuit is configured to transmit, using a communications interface coupled to a remote device, eye movement information and/or head movement information; and

the electronic circuit uses a Fourier transform to generate a signal selected from the group consisting of a phase signal and a gain signal in response to eye movement information received from the eye orientation sensor and head movement information received from the head orientation sensor.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein:

the system is designed for use in an ambulatory occupational environment outside of a medical facility;

the system measures a physiological condition selected from the group consisting of vestibulo-ocular reflex, dynamic visual acuity, dynamic visual stability, and retinal image stability;

the eye orientation sensor senses movement of both the left eye and the right eye;

the electronic circuit is responsive to both left eye movement information and right eye movement information received from the eye orientation sensor;

the electronic circuit uses the Fourier transform to generate both a gain signal and a phase signal;

the electronic circuit compares eye response in one direction using the eye orientation sensor eye movement information and head orientation information with eye response in the opposite direction using the eye orientation movement information and the head orientation information to determine asymmetry;

the electronic circuit comprises an element that compares a gain signal and a phase signal with a reference value to determine if the measured eye response is normal or abnormal.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein:

the electronic circuit generates a multi-frequency composite score for a measurement selected from the group consisting of vestibulo-ocular reflex, dynamic visual acuity, dynamic visual stability, and retinal image stability in response to a plurality of signals at a plurality of frequencies selected from the group consisting of a plurality of phase signals, a plurality of gain signals, and a plurality of asymmetry signals.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein:

the eye sensor comprises a mobile electronic device selected from the group consisting of a smart phone, a smart watch, a hand-held electronic device, and a body-attached electronic device.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein:

the eye orientation sensor comprises an image detector;

the image detector comprises a video camera; and

the video camera is responsive to infrared light.

9. The system of claim 4 wherein:

the eye orientation sensor comprises a module selected from the group consisting of an image detector, a magnetic field detector, and an electrical potential detector;

the eye orientation sensor senses vertical movement and horizontal movement of at least one eye;

the head orientation sensor senses pitch and yaw of the person'"'"'s head wherein pitch represents a rotation about a first axis representing up and down movement of the person'"'"'s face when the rear of the person'"'"'s head moves in the opposite direction and yaw represents horizontal movement of the face when looked at from the front about a second axis substantially aligned with the spine and perpendicular to the first axis;

the electronic circuit uses a Fourier transform to generate a vertical signal selected from the group consisting of a gain signal and a phase signal in response to the vertical eye movement information and the pitch information; and

the electronic circuit uses a Fourier transform to generate a horizontal signal selected from the group consisting of a gain signal and a phase signal in response to the horizontal eye movement information and the yaw information.

10. The system of claim 4 wherein:

the system measures a physiological condition selected from the group consisting of vestibulo-ocular reflex, dynamic visual acuity, dynamic visual stability, and retinal image stability;

the electronic circuit uses a Fourier transform to generate a phase signal and a gain signal in response to eye movement information received from the eye orientation sensor and the head movement information received from the head orientation sensor; and

the electronic circuit comprises an element that compares the gain signal and the phase signal with a reference value to determine if the measured eye response is normal or abnormal.

11. The system of claim 4 wherein:

the electronic circuit generates a multi-frequency composite score for a measurement selected from the group consisting of vestibulo-ocular reflex, dynamic visual acuity, dynamic visual stability, and retinal image stability in response to a plurality of signals at a plurality of frequencies selected from the group consisting of a plurality of phase signals, a plurality of gain signals, and a plurality of asymmetry signals; and

the memory unit comprises functionality to store a plurality of multi-frequency composite scores whereby the system can be used for data logging.

12. The system of claim 4 wherein:

the system is designed for use in an ambulatory occupational environment outside of a medical facility.

13. The system of claim 4 wherein:

the eye orientation sensor senses movement of both the left eye and the right eye; and

the electronic circuit is responsive to both left eye movement information and right eye movement information received from the eye orientation sensor.

14. The system of claim 4 wherein:

the system comprises eyewear; and

the eyewear comprises a lens.

15. An eye reflex detection method, the method comprising the steps of:

electronically sensing changes in eye orientation wherein;

the eye orientation changes are sensed by a portable device; and

the eye orientation changes are selected from the group consisting of vertical eye movement and horizontal eye movement;

electronically sensing changes in head orientation wherein;

the head orientation changes are sensed by a portable device;

the head orientation changes are selected from the group consisting of pitch movement and yaw movement;

the head orientation changes are sensed in at least one frequency that is between 0.01 Hertz and 15 Hertz; and

head orientation sensing comprises the use of a device selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a magnetometer, and a gyroscope;

comparing the eye orientation and head orientation information using an electronic circuit wherein;

the electronic circuit comprises logic circuitry, a central processing unit, a memory unit; and

sensor data pre-processing circuitry;

the electronic circuit uses a Fourier transform to generate a signal selected from the group consisting of a phase signal and a gain signal in response to the eye orientation changes and the head orientation changes; and

transmitting orientation information from the electronic circuit related to the eye orientation changes and/or head orientation changes.

16. The eye reflex detection method of claim 15 wherein:

the Fourier transform generates a phase signal and a gain signal in response to the eye orientation changes and the head orientation changes;

the method further comprises the step of generating a multi-frequency composite score in response to the signal generated by the Fourier transform.

17. The eye reflex detection method of claim 15 wherein:

sensing eye orientation changes comprises sensing vertical eye movement and horizontal eye movement;

sensing head orientation changes comprises sensing pitch movement and yaw movement; and

the Fourier transform generates a horizontal signal and vertical signal in response to the eye orientation changes and the head orientation changes.

18. The eye reflex detection method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

storing multiple readings of the output from the Fourier transform in a data log.

19. The eye reflex detection method of claim 15 wherein:

the method is applied in an ambulatory occupational environment outside of a medical facility; and

the method measures a physiological condition selected from the group consisting of vestibulo-ocular reflex, dynamic visual acuity, dynamic visual stability, and retinal image stability.