Clustered Volley Visual Field Assessment via Pupillary Reflex
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current visual field assessment methods are subjective, leading to inaccuracies due to patient reliance on behavioral responses, and are time-consuming, limiting their effectiveness in accurately mapping visual sensitivity and detecting defects such as those caused by glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing pupillary responses to assess the visual sensory system by presenting independent sequences of visual stimuli to both eyes and recording changes in pupil diameter, employing a clustered-volley multifocal stimulus design that reduces the impact of gain control mechanisms, allowing for concurrent assessment of multiple visual field regions with improved signal-to-noise ratios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If behavioral response methods are used for visual field assessment, then patient cooperation is required, but subjectivity and inaccuracy increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/behavioral response system with an automatic pupillary response measurement system. Instead of relying on patient button presses or verbal responses, the system uses pupillary light reflex measurements to objectively assess visual field sensitivity, eliminating subjectivity while maintaining measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the patient's own pupillary reflex as the measurement indicator, requiring no active cooperation or behavioral response from the patient. The pupillary response occurs automatically in response to visual stimuli, providing reliable objective data without patient effort
2Measurement precision
If traditional visual field mapping methods are used, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but testing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The visual field is divided into multiple discrete test locations arranged in a grid pattern. Stimuli are presented sequentially at different locations while measuring pupillary responses, allowing comprehensive visual field mapping through segmented, systematic sampling rather than continuous scanning
Solution Approach 2:
Visual stimuli are presented in periodic sequences at different locations and intensities. The systematic periodic presentation of stimuli across multiple locations enables comprehensive visual field assessment through repeated cyclic testing patterns, improving efficiency through structured temporal sampling
3Reliability
If gain control mechanisms are active during stimulus presentation, then physiological response regulation occurs, but signal-to-noise ratio decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent presents visual stimuli at suprathreshold intensities that exceed the minimum detection level. By using excessive stimulus strength, the response signal from the visual system overcomes the dampening effect of gain control mechanisms, improving the signal-to-noise ratio while still providing reliable physiological measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The system varies stimulus parameters including intensity, duration, and spatial distribution to optimize the visual evoked pupillary response. By changing these parameters, the system compensates for gain control effects and enhances signal detection capability across different visual field locations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides a rapid, objective, and non-contact method for assessing visual fields, enhancing the reliability of visual field testing and improving the detection of localized defects, with significant improvements in signal-to-noise ratios and diagnostic power for conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration.
Implementation Method 1
The array of visual stimuli comprises regions which stimulate the photoreceptor cells of the eye
Implementation Method 2
recording the changes in diameter of the two pupils in response to the stimuli
Data Source
Figure 1A~4
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for assessing the function of parts of one or more sensory fields of a subject. Pupillary responses to at least two clustered ensembles of stimuli presented to predetermined portions of the sensory fields to be tested are measured. Each cluster comprises individual stimuli presented at locations across the sensory field, where the locations are defined on appropriate axes for the tested sensory fields. The method comprises: presenting statistically independent sequences of selected individual stimuli from the two or more clustered stimulus ensembles to a sensory field of a subject, thereby evoking pupillary responses in at least one pupil of the subject; detecting responses of the pupil or pupils evoked by the stimuli using at least one sensor; and processing the detected responses to relate the detected response to the sensory function of each component part of the sensory field. The sensory fields may be, but are not limited to, the visual fields of the two eyes of a subject.