Brain dysfunction testing

Abstract

Systems and methods provided utilize gaze-tracking to measure quantitatively and accurately the ability of an athlete or other subject suspected of a concussion to maintain gaze within a figure-eight pattern during a given period of time. The fixation icon is presented at increasing velocities, with multiple staged velocities constituting the preferred embodiment. Utilizing a figure-eight pattern is preferred. Total tracking error time is tabulated during each velocity stage of the test protocol, and total tracking error time occurring during a given velocity stage is compared to a subject's baseline, e.g., a pre-season Individual Bioperformance Level (IBL) for that velocity stage. Systems and methods disclosed may be used to help prevent debilitating neurological damage in our athlete population, as well as having important military applications related to PTSD, and to other mission-critical performance endeavors.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims benefit of priority to:[0002]U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 959,749, filed Aug. 30, 2013, and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TESTING BRAIN DYSFUNCTION”;[0003]U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 901,257, filed Nov. 7, 2013, and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TESTING BRAIN DYSFUNCTION”;[0004]U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 965,770 filed Feb. 7, 2014, and entitled “BRAIN DYSFUNCTION TESTING”; and[0005]U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 966,339, filed Feb. 22, 2014, and entitled “BRAIN DYSFUNCTION TESTING”.[0006]All of the above applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0007]Brain dysfunction can be acute or chronic. Acute brain dysfunction is generally caused by alcohol or drug intoxication, extreme fatigue, medical conditions such as cerebrovascular accidents, and sports and work-related concussions, as w...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]What is needed, and is of significant societal health benefit, are systems and methods for accurately quantifying gaze-tracking deficits in subjects suspected of brain damage. Systems and methods according to present principles provide a novel and practical quantification testing tool for individuals suspected of having acute or chronic brain dysfunction. In particular, what is provided is a simple-to-use yet highly-sophisticated system and method which supplies a mathematically-based solution for accurate gaze-tracking quantification for subjects suspected of brain dysfunction. Certain implementations may be especially useful for acute concussions, as well as for documenting late stage after-effects of concussion(s).

[0014]Systems and methods according to present principles allow the quantitative and accurate measurement of the time of tracking error relative to the total time of each stage of a formal test, and further allow comparison of these quantitative results to baseline performance values. The systems and methods provide for different and increasing velocities for each stage of the test in some implementations, and thus allow for the objective and accurate measurement of fatigue. The systems and methods correlate objective test results to a subject's baseline performance level, or to other athletes or other subjects participating in a given sport or activity, and disclose the compilation and display of the same numerically.

[0024]A figure-of-eight icon movement trajectory may be employed, as this shape efficiently tests all six eye muscles regulating gaze tracking. In this regard, it is noted that a figure-of-eight is in many cases superior to a circle as subjects find the figure-of-eight less boring (and thus a normal subject is less likely to fall into error simply because of inattention). Performance of the tests may be within a head-mounted display (HMD) incorporating a gaze tracker and video camera. In some cases, wireless transmission may be employed from the HMD to a computing environment programmed with appropriate software (wired connections may also be employed). No audio testing need be employed; in this way, testing can occur in even an extreme noise environment, such as in a sports stadium, a war zone, or during a highway interdiction as for alcohol or drug suspicion.

[0025]Multiple baseline screenings may be employed to make the testing more accurate, with some examples being as follows: baseline testing of an athlete before the season begins; baseline testing of an athlete after a strenuous workout in which no “head-shots” occurred; on-the-field testing of an athlete who was noted to have a “head-shot,” said screening performed within a very short period of time (such as 30-90 seconds) after the athlete reaches the sidelines; baseline testing of an athlete at the end of the season, to determine if simply playing the sport induced a gaze-tracing deficit; baseline screening of military personnel soon after enlistment; baseline screening of military personnel before entering a war zone; baseline screening of military personnel after entering a war zone, but before any suspicion or complaints of PTSD; careful screening of military personnel suspected of PTSD; baseline screening if possible on a yearly basis of all active duty military personnel who have been in a war zone; baseline screening of all military personnel upon discharge from the military; if possible, baseline screening of all discharged military personnel on a 2-year basis, such as those eligible for VA medical care.

[0029]Other patterns may also be employed, including trefoils, quatrefoils and multi-lobe generalizations of a figure-of-eight. Other patterns may also be used: zig-zags, rectangles, squares, etc. In these latter cases, however, the sharp corners in the patterns may lead to excess tracking failure even among normal subjects, and thus to potential difficulty in obtaining accurate baselines of “normal” subjects. In some implementations, e.g., a zigzag or rectangle shape, the sharp corners may be accounted for in the tracking software or hardware or both, by temporarily increasing the size of the blob at such corners or by allowing greater “forgiveness” in patient tracking errors at such points.

Problems solved by technology

Said head movement, however, cannot be so drastic that the gaze-tracker cannot track the eye(s), as this would result in inability to perform testing.

Thus, a limitation on head movement is that the gaze-tracker must be able to “see” the eye(s).

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