Patent Application
20140358009
The present invention pertains generally to systems and methods for diagnosing balance disorders. More particularly, the present invention pertains to head-mounted diagnostic units that can be individually used for generating eye-movement records in an outpatient environment. The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, useful as a system and method for creating confidential eye-movement records that are maintained and controlled by the person creating the record.
Vertigo (i.e. dizziness) is a symptom of a balance disorder that can result for any of various reasons. Anatomically, vertigo results when crystals in the inner ear of an individual are erratically misaligned. In some instances, vertigo may be only temporary, such as when the pilot of an aircraft becomes spatially disoriented while flying on instruments. Vertigo, however, can also be pathological. In any event, it is known that a patient will experience erratic eye-movements during vertigo. For diagnostic purposes, it is known that properly stimulated eye movements can be evaluated to determine whether pathological conditions exist. More specifically, it is well known that a properly trained specialist (physician) can evaluate the results of a Dix-Hallpike Maneuver, or a recognized equivalent of this maneuver, and thereby diagnose the nature and extent of a balance disorder.
Heretofore, some degree of supervision has been required for the conduct of a Dix-Hallpike Maneuver. Always, it has been, and still is, necessary for a trained specialist to make a proper diagnosis. Nevertheless, the conduct of a Dix-Hallpike Maneuver requires no medical intervention, and it can be accomplished merely by prompting the patient through a sequence of predetermined head orientations. Images of eye movements taken in the different head orientations can then be evaluated and used to diagnose any balance disorder.
As noted above, vertigo may result for many various reasons. And, for many different reasons, a patient may want to maintain confidentiality for his/her condition (balance disorder). Accordingly, it is desirable there be a system that is available for use by a patient, either alone or with proper supervision, to obtain a reliable diagnosis from a trained specialist under confidential circumstances in an outpatient status.
With the above in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for collecting eye-movement data to create an eye-movement record that can be used as a diagnostic of balance disorders, wherein the eye-movements are responsive to a sequence of changes in head orientation, and wherein a required sequence of head orientations are prompted by computer control. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for creating eye-movement records wherein the required sequence of head orientations can be performed individually without assistant supervision. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system for creating confidential eye-movement records that can be archived and controlled by the patient for subsequent evaluation and possible treatment. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system for creating eye-movement records that is simple to use, is easy to assemble, and is comparatively cost effective.
In accordance with the present invention, a system and method are provided for collecting eye-movement data that can be used to create a plurality of eye-movement records. Collectively, the plurality of eye-movement records is then used as a diagnostic for evaluating balance disorders. For this purpose, a patient's eye-movements are responsive to the sequence of changes in head orientation prescribed for a Dix-Hallpike Maneuver. Importantly, as envisioned for the present invention, the eye-movement data can be generated individually by the patient, without assistant supervision, while in an outpatient status. Also, the resultant eye-movement records can be maintained and confidentially controlled by the patient.
Structurally, the system of the present invention includes goggles that can be positioned and worn on the head of the patient. An indicator is mounted on the goggles and is to be moved with the head of the patient. In particular, the indicator is incorporated to generate position signals that are respectively indicative of each predetermined head orientation required by the Dix-Hallpike Maneuver. Specifically, the Dix-Hallpike Maneuver consists of head movements through a sequence of seven separate head orientations.
In order, these orientations are:
1. patient sits with head centered;
2. patient sits with head 45 degrees to the right;
3. patient lays back with head 45 degrees to the right and held in approximately 20 degrees of extension;
4. patient sits back up with head centered;
5. patient sits with head 45 degrees to the left;
6. patient lays back with head 45 degrees to the left and held in approximately 20 degrees of extension; and
7. patient sits back up with head centered.
Along with the indicator, an imaging unit with a camera is also mounted on the goggles. Like the indicator, the imaging unit is intended to move with the head of the patient to create eye-movement records. Further, the system includes a recorder that is connected to the imaging unit to archive the eye-movement records as they are created by the imaging unit.
A computer/controller for operating the system is connected to the indicator, to the imaging unit, and to the recorder. Also, the computer/controller is externally connected with a regional data base that contains respectively pertinent information on a plurality of specialists. In this combination, a central server is incorporated with the recorder (i.e. the computer/controller) for forwarding confidential eye-movement records to the data base for subsequent use by at least one selected specialist in response to instructions from the patient.
In an operation of the system of the present invention, the patient positions the goggles on his/her head. The computer/controller then notifies the patient that an operation of the system will begin when his/her head is moved into the starting orientation required by the Dix-Hallpike Maneuver. In response to a notification from the computer/controller that the head of the patient is being properly held in the predetermined orientation, the patient presses on a “go” button. This activates the imaging unit. Specifically, the camera of the imaging unit then creates an eye-movement record while the head of the patient is held substantially stationary in the particular orientation for a preselected time interval (e.g. less than about ten seconds). Once an eye-movement record has been created at one predetermined orientation, the computer/controller then notifies the patient to move his/her head to the next sequentially predetermined orientation of the patient. All of this is done in accordance with a computer program. In this next orientation, another eye-movement record is created. Thus, an eye-movement record is created with collected eye-movement image data at each head orientation. After completion of the Dix-Hallpike Maneuver, the plurality of eye-movement records are collated and archived at the recorder. As indicated above, the recorder can be connected to an external data base which contains pertinent information on a plurality of specialists. Thereafter, in response to instructions from the patient, these eye-movement records are available for evaluation and use by selected specialists.
The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:
Referring initially to
Still referring to
As envisioned for the present invention, the system 10 can be used in a clinical environment, in a physician's office, individually by the patient 14 at a remote site, or in any other appropriate outpatient location. Regardless where the system 10 is used,
1. patient sits with head centered;
2. patient sits with head 45 degrees to the right;
3. patient lays back with head 45 degrees to the right and held in approximately 20 degrees of extension;
4. patient sits back up with head centered;
5. patient sits with head 45 degrees to the left;
6. patient lays back with head 45 degrees to the left and held in approximately 20 degrees of extension; and
7. patient sits back up with head centered.
As indicated by block 44 of the operational flow chart 36, there is an operational cycle for each of the n different head orientations in the Dix-Hallpike Maneuver. In this context, the computer/controller 20 uses the audio 28 to tell the patient 14 what he/she is to do for each head orientation. For example, the initial operational cycle (x1) requires the patient 14 move to a sitting position with his/her head centered. Block 44 specifies this action, and the patient 14 then complies with a prompt from the audio 28 and moves his/her head to the orientation prescribed for the operational cycle (i.e. x1). Additionally, the computer program 22 requires confirmation that the patient's head is still, and is in the proper orientation in the video screen of the imaging unit 18 for proper video acquisition. At this point, the indicator 16 on goggles 12 will electronically inform the computer/controller 20 that this has been successfully accomplished (see inquiry block 46). Next, the computer/controller 20 informs the patient 14 that his/her head is properly oriented for x1. When so informed, the patient 14 then presses on the “go” button 30 and the imaging unit 18 records eye-movement data (see action block 48) for a predetermined interval of time (e.g. ten seconds). After the time interval has expired (see inquiry block 50) the eye-movement data that is taken for x1 is used to create an eye-movement record. Action block 52 then indicates this eye-movement data is processed by the recorder 24 and sent to the archive 26 for storage.
Action block 54 indicates that after an eye-movement record has been created for x1, n is incremented to 2 (i.e. the system 10 will now function with x2). Since m is 7 and n is 2, inquiry block 56 returns operation to action block 44 and the patient 14 will again be instructed by audio 28. This time, however, the patient 14 will be instructed to remain sitting and move his/her head 45° to the right. Thus, another operational cycle is initiated (i.e. x2) and an eye-movement record will be created for x2. According to the flow chart 36, these cycles of operation continue until x7 has been accomplished and the Dix-Hallpike Maneuver has thereby been completed. At that time, action block 58 indicates that a complete set of eye-movement records are collated and passed to the archive 26. In addition to a video archive of eye-movement records, a dynamically positioned head movement data set is generated. This data set is collected and stored in each recording for subsequent evaluation and verification that the patient's head was still during the actual recording session.
Returning to
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the indicator 16, the imaging unit 18 with its camera, the computer/controller 20 and the recorder 24 are integrated into a cohesive assembly. This assembly is then mounted (i.e. clipped) onto the goggles 12 and is used as a self-contained unit.
While the particular System and Method for Collecting Eye-Movement Data as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.
