Binocular Eye Tracking With Monocular Calibration for Lesion Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for assessing cranial nerve function and intracranial pressure are invasive, unreliable, and require trained practitioners, making them unsuitable for emergency settings, while existing eye movement tracking systems may mask deficits in ocular motility due to spatial calibration.

Innovation Solution

A method and kit for assessing cranial nerve function and intracranial pressure using non-invasive binocular eye movement tracking, utilizing a dichoptic apparatus to separately calibrate each eye and analyze conjugate and disconjugate gaze patterns, enabling detection of neurological disorders and injuries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If spatial calibration is used in eye movement tracking, then measurement accuracy is improved, but ocular motility deficits are masked

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeye movement measurement accuracyVSAvoiddetection of ocular motility deficits
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the calibration process into separate monocular calibrations for each eye rather than a single binocular calibration. This segmentation allows independent assessment of each eye's motility capabilities, preventing the masking effect that occurs when one eye's deficits compensate for the other eye's abnormalities during binocular calibration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using traditional binocular spatial calibration that assumes both eyes function normally, the patent inverts the approach by using monocular calibrations that explicitly account for potential deficits in each eye independently. This inverted calibration strategy reverses the problematic assumption and enables reliable detection of ocular motility abnormalities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If invasive methods are used to assess cranial nerve function and intracranial pressure, then measurement reliability is improved, but patient comfort and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassessment reliabilityVSAvoidpatient comfort and accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces invasive mechanical assessment methods with non-invasive optical eye tracking technology. By substituting mechanical intrusion with optical measurement, the system maintains assessment reliability while dramatically improving patient comfort and ease of operation, enabling use in emergency and outpatient settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces eye movement patterns as an intermediary indicator of cranial nerve function and intracranial pressure. Rather than directly measuring these physiological parameters through invasive means, the system uses easily observable eye movements as a mediator that reflects underlying neurological status, combining reliability with non-invasiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If trained practitioners are used for neurological assessment, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidoperational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements automated analysis algorithms that perform diagnostic interpretation without requiring trained practitioners. The system serves itself by automatically detecting ocular motility deficits, calculating calibration parameters, and generating diagnostic information from monocular eye tracking data, thereby maintaining high diagnostic accuracy while eliminating the need for specialized training.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates automated feedback mechanisms where the eye tracking system continuously monitors eye movements, compares them against normative data, and provides real-time diagnostic feedback. This automated feedback loop replaces the need for practitioner interpretation, reducing operational complexity while preserving diagnostic accuracy through algorithmic analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3493728B1Methods and kits for assessing neurological function and localizing neurological lesions
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 NEW YORK UNIV
  • EP3493728B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3493728B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2D
  • EP3493728B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

The invention provides methods and kits for detecting, screening, quantifying or localizing the etiology for reduced or impaired cranial nerve function or conduction; localizing a central nervous system lesion; detecting, diagnosing or screening for increased intracranial pressure, pressure or disruption of central nervous system physiology as seen with concussion; or detecting, diagnosing, monitoring progression of or screening for a disease or condition featuring increased intracranial pressure or concussion by tracking eye movement of the subject. The invention also provides methods and kits useful for detecting, screening for or quantitating disconjugate gaze or strabismus, useful for diagnosing a disease characterized by disconjugate gaze or strabismus in a subject, useful for detecting, monitoring progression of or screening for a disease or condition characterized by disconjugate gaze or strabismus in a subject or useful for quantitating the extent of disconjugate gaze or strabismus. Further, the invention provides methods for assessing or quantifying structural and non-structural traumatic brain injury or diagnosing a disease characterized by or featuring structural and non- structural traumatic brain injury.