SISTEMA PARA AUXÍLIO DIAGNÓSTICO DE VESTIBULOPATIAS POR MEIO DE RASTREAMENTO DA TRAJETÓRIA DO GLOBO OCULAR

Description

1 / 6 SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSTIC ASSISTANCE IN VESTIBULOPATHIES THROUGH TRACKING THE TRAJECTORY OF THE EYEBALL TECHNICAL SECTOR OF THE UTILITY MODEL

[001] The present utility model - MU refers to a system for assisting in the diagnosis of vestibulopathies, which is a hardware device for capturing images integrated with software that indicates to the physician, by tracking the trajectory of the eyeball, the probability of vestibulopathies. The hardware structure consists of a polylactic acid (PLA) support (1), which resembles a pair of glasses, which attaches two dichroic mirrors (8,11) used to reflect the infrared light emitted by two cameras (6,13) to capture images of the movement of the eyeball, for processing and analysis by means of software using computer vision techniques and equipped with artificial intelligence. DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF THE ART

[002] The vestibular system is responsible for postural control, stabilization and spatial orientation, contributes to balance and ensures clear vision and generates compensatory eye movements during head movements (LAMBERT, STÉPHANIE et al. Measurement of dynamic visual acuity in patients with vestibular areflexia. Acta oto-laryngologica, 130(7): 820-823, 2010; GUINAND, NILS et al. Visual acuity while walking and oscillopsia severity in healthy subjects and patients with unilateral and bilateral vestibular function loss. Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, 138(3): 301-306, 2012).

[003] Eye movement tracking is performed by visual stimuli that are processed by the brain to generate appropriate optical movements to focus on stationary and / or moving images (LLOYD-SMITH SEQUEIRA, ALEXANDRA; RIZZO, JOHN-ROSS; RUCKER, JANET C. Clinical approach to supranuclear brainstem saccadic gaze palsies. Frontiers in neurology, 8: 429, 2017). Petition 870260048960, dated 05 / 22 / 2026, page 4 / 9 2 / 6

[004] Nystagmus is the primary element in the semiological analysis of vestibular disorders (ALBERTINO, SERGIO; ALBERTINO, RAFAEL. Vestibular rehabilitation. Revista Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, 11(3): 42-47, 2012). The screening and processing of nystagmus in vestibulopathies, whether through the pupil or the cornea-retinal potential, is the way to evaluate these vestibular disorders (PIETKIEWICZ, P., PEPAS, R., SUEKOWSKI, WJ, ZIELINSKABLIZNIEWSKA, H., & OLSZEWSKI, J. Electronystagmography versus videonystagmography in diagnosis of vertigo. International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health, 25(1): 59-65, 2012). It is possible to identify the most prominent type of eye movement, spontaneous nystagmus, semi-spontaneous nystagmus, pendular tracking and optokinetic nystagmus, allowing the measurement of the speed of the slow component of horizontal and vertical nystagmus (JAFARZADEH, S., SANI, MRG, AMIRMAJDI, NM, & FIROUZI, M.Evaluation of Bilateral Vestibular Dysfunction in Iranian Adults and Elderlies by Electronystagmography and Video Head Impulse Test. Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 31(103): 103, 2019).

[005] Techniques for investigating vestibulopathies include infrared technology, video technology, and scleral scanning technology (WEST, PDB; SHEPPARD, ZA; KING, EV Comparison of techniques for identification of peripheral vestibular nystagmus. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology, 126(12): 1209-1215, 2012). Electronystagmography (ENG) is a method for recording and documenting nystagmus, considered practical and reliable (BIELINSKA, M. et al. Concurrent ENG and VNG recording in healthy people - preliminary report. Otolaryngologia polska = The Polish otolaryngology, 72(2): 45 - 49, 2018). It uses the principle of corneoretinal potential variation during eye movement to record and analyze characteristics of the functional behavior of the vestibulo-ocular reflex and the saccadic, pursuit, optokinetic, and fixation visual systems (FARKASHIDY, JOSEPH. Electronystagmography: Its clinical application).Canadian Medical Association Journal, 94(8): 368, 1966; ECKERT, ANNE M.; GIZZI, MARTIN. Video oculography as part of the ENG battery. British journal of audiology, 32(6): 411-416, 1998).

[006] The technique called vectoelectronystagmography (VENG) uses three recording channels to record eye movements and captures the variation of the corneoretinal electrical potential. In this case, an active electrode is placed at the outer corner of the eyes and another on the frontal midline, so that the three recording channels form an isosceles triangle. From Petition 870260048960, dated 05 / 22 / 2026, page 5 / 9 3 / 6 of the active electrodes originate three bipolar leads that allow the identification of horizontal, vertical, and oblique eye movements (STAPPEN, ANJA VAN DER. Computerized electronystagmography: normative data revisited. Acta oto-laryngologica, 120(6): 724-730, 2000).

[007] There are several reports of proposals to track eye movement, such as that claimed in document MU8901909-1U2 (Olival Cardoso, 05 / 24 / 2011), a tracking system for eyeball movement and the visualized scene based on videometry, with four cameras mounted on the head, where two cameras record eye movements and the other two the line of sight of the eyes. There is a need to adjust the cameras during placement on the user's head and synchronize the four cameras for image processing, and it can be used in research in the medical field and the video game industry.

[008] There are other systems with a similar proposal, such as the claim in document PI0604121-3 (Jeferson Massinhan, 02 / 05 / 2007), an eyeball and eyelid tracking system, using an infrared light transmitter and receiver and a camera, for sleep monitoring, enabling traffic safety. In document US8,899,748B1 (Brandon Louis Migdal, 02 / 12 / 2014), automated detection of ocular nystagmus, where a hardware device uses a camera to capture serial digital images of the eyes and a pen with a motion sensor connected to the device to perform sobriety tests on individuals in traffic.

[009] However, it is observed that the MU8901909-1U2 device requires the presence of a technician with specialized knowledge to assemble the entire camera apparatus and proceed with the correct adjustment for the evaluation to be carried out, and its final objective is not diagnostic assistance. Claims PI0604121-3 and US8,899,748B1 aim to assist individuals in traffic using the same eye-tracking approach.

[010] In document BR102017019944-4A2 (Gisele Nascimento, Cristina Delou, Sergio Pinto and Diana Cavalcanti, 04 / 16 / 2019), a software for eye tracking of specific movements, combining biometrics and computer vision to assist in the early diagnosis of autism in infants aged 2 to 18 months. The system uses the OpenCV (Open Source Computer Vision Library) and a webcam to observe users interacting with a web page, allowing for mapping between eye movements and screen positions. Petition 870260048960, dated 05 / 22 / 2026, page 6 / 9 4 / 6

[011] However, it is noticeable that in addition to the same proposal of tracking eye movements, computer vision technique and OpenCV library, it differs in the use of biometrics, webcam and the need for the user to be in front of a screen to perform the evaluation, as well as the objective to assist in the early diagnosis of autism.

[012] The claim contained in document CN109146851A (Li Dandan, 04-01-2019), which is an algorithm for extracting and tracking nystagmus signal features for the diagnosis of vestibular system diseases. However, it is noted that the claim only covers the algorithm, not the method for capturing the image, the hardware involved, the number of cameras that determine whether the tracking is of one eye or both eyes, or the transmission of images to the computational device.

[013] Tests for recording eye movements are expensive, invasive, and uncomfortable for the patient when undergoing diagnostic tests to aid in vestibulopathies.

[014] Healthcare professionals need to attach extraocular electrodes, which in some cases can cause calibration issues, as well as generate inaccuracies in tracking and capturing nystagmus. SOLUTION PROPOSED BY THE UTILITY MODEL

[015] Given all the problems, the “SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSTIC ASSISTANCE OF VESTIBULOPATHY BY MEANS OF TRACKING THE TRAJECTORY OF THE EYEBALL” is characterized by providing health professionals and users with an examination that is more practical, comfortable and with results in an automated way through artificial intelligence techniques. NEW UTILITY MODEL FEATURE

[016] With the image capture hardware connected to the software installed on a desktop or notebook computer, the “SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSTIC ASSISTANCE IN VESTIBULOPATHIES THROUGH EYEBALL TRAJECTORY TRACKING” reduces the cost and time of the examination compared to similar equipment on the market, allows for greater portability, and provides greater practicality and comfort in performing the examination. The “SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSTIC ASSISTANCE IN VESTIBULOPATHIES THROUGH EYEBALL TRAJECTORY TRACKING” has the task of assisting in the diagnosis of vestibulopathies through automated tracking of the eyeball trajectory, with greater speed and less time, using artificial intelligence techniques. Petition 870260048960, dated 05 / 22 / 2026, page 7 / 9 5 / 6 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FIGURE AND GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION

[017] Figure 1 - An exploded view of the image of the hardware device for capturing images, used for tracking the trajectory of the eyeball, is shown.

[018] Figure 2 - A perspective view of the assembled object.

[019] The present SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSTIC ASSISTANCE OF VESTIBULOPATHIES BY MEANS OF TRACKING THE TRAJECTORY OF THE EYEBALL, uses computer vision techniques equipped with artificial intelligence, proposed by the present patent, can be better understood through the detailed description of its components represented in the attached drawings. DESCRIPTION OF THE UTILITY MODEL

[020] The SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSTIC ASSISTANCE OF VESTIBULOPATHY BY MEANS OF TRACKING THE TRAJECTORY OF THE EYEBALL, consists of a hardware device capable of detecting the image of the movement of the eyeball, which needs to be used on the user's head, a structure composed of a polylactic acid (PLA) support (1), which resembles a pair of glasses, which attaches two dichroic mirrors (8,11) used to reflect the infrared light emitted by two cameras (6,13) to capture images of the movement of the eyeball, connected to a computer via USB cables (7,12) that processes, analyzes and identifies patterns inherent to digital images, uses computer vision techniques through the OpenCV (Open Source Computer Vision Library), installed on a computing device. The software was developed in a Windows operating environment, Visual Studio 2013 C# Framework.

[021] Detailed description of the utility model, with indication of the element numbers.

[022] Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the hardware arrangement to be used on the user's head, the base of the glasses (1) where the screws (2,18) are attached for adjusting the spheres (4,16), which couple the infrared cameras (6,13), by means of the screws (5,14) that allow the cameras to be joined to the spheres and their positions adjusted in relation to the user's eyes. The cameras have USB A cables (7,12) to connect them to the nystagmus analysis software. The cameras use dichroic mirrors (8,11) attached to supports (9,10) which in turn allow these mirrors to be attached to the base of the glasses. An elastic band (19) is used on the base of the glasses to support the device around the head and another elastic band with a clip (21) on the top of the head for the same purpose of support. Both elastics are regulated by a base (20) to adjust to the diameter of the user's head. Petition 870260048960, dated 05 / 22 / 2026, page 8 / 9 6 / 6

[023] Reference list

[024] 1 Glasses base (224mm x 39.8mm x 60mm); 2.18 Screws (21mm x 3mm); 3.17 Screws (18mm x 3mm); 4.16 Spheres (20.16mm); 15 Opening in the sphere for attaching screw; 5.14 Screws (19.05mm x 6.35mm); 6.13 Infrared cameras (40mm x 40mm x 40mm); 7.12 USB cables; 8,11 Camera Dichroic Mirrors (50.55mm x 0.6mm x 50.55mm); 9,10 Supports (25mm x 6mm x 99mm); 19 Elastic Band (800mm x 30mm); 20 Base (60mm x 21mm x 49mm); 21 Elastic Band and Clip (350mm x 30mm). INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION OF THE UTILITY MODEL

[025] The utility model patent is included in the industrial application of diagnostic medicine, by imaging. Petition 870260048960, dated 05 / 22 / 2026, page 9 / 9

Claims

1 / 1 CLAIMS 1. SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSTIC ASSISTANCE IN VESTIBULOPATHY BY MEANS OF TRACKING THE TRAJECTORY OF THE EYEBALL, characterized by being a device comprising a hardware (1) structure composed of a polylactic acid (PLA) support, which couples two dichroic mirrors (8,11) used to reflect the infrared light emitted by two cameras (6,13) for capturing images of the movement of the eyeballs, connected to a computer via USB cables (7,12) for processing, analysis and identification of patterns inherent to digital images, by means of artificial intelligence techniques.

2. SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSTIC ASSISTANCE OF VESTIBULOPATHIES BY MEANS OF TRACKING THE TRAJECTORY OF THE EYEBALL”, according to claim 1, characterized by being a device comprising a hardware (1) that uses an elastic band (19) to support the device around the head and another elastic band with a clip (21) on the top of the head for the same purpose of support; both elastic bands are adjusted by a base (20) to fit the diameter of the user's head. Petition 870250075533, dated 08 / 26 / 2025, page 13 / 14

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