Cognitive Impairment Diagnosis via Eye Movement Distribution Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cognitive impairment diagnostic methods are inefficient, costly, and lack objectivity, requiring skilled examiners and significant time, while also being language-dependent, making them unsuitable for widespread and timely diagnosis, especially in elderly populations.
Innovation Solution
A cognitive impairment diagnostic apparatus and program that uses a display to show videos, captures eye images, detects viewpoints, creates distribution maps, and diagnoses based on characteristic data, allowing for objective, quantitative, and language-independent assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional neuropsychological test methods (e.g., MMSE) are used for cognitive impairment diagnosis, then diagnostic accuracy can be achieved, but diagnostic time becomes excessively long (30 minutes or more) and requires skilled examiners
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual neuropsychological testing process with an automated eye movement detection system. Instead of using traditional methods that require examiner interaction and manual assessment, the system uses imaging cameras to automatically capture and analyze eye movement data, substituting the mechanical testing process with an automated optical detection system that delivers results in seconds
Solution Approach 2:
The diagnostic system performs self-assessment through automated eye movement analysis without requiring skilled examiners. The imaging cameras and processing algorithms independently conduct the diagnosis by automatically detecting eye movement patterns and comparing them against established criteria, eliminating the need for human examiner intervention while maintaining diagnostic accuracy
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional diagnostic methods are used, then comprehensive assessment can be performed, but the system becomes language-dependent and requires trained examiners, reducing versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces language-based communication and examiner judgment with automated eye movement detection. By capturing ocular data through imaging cameras and analyzing movement patterns algorithmically, the system eliminates dependency on language comprehension and examiner interpretation skills, enabling universal application across different linguistic and cultural contexts
3Reliability
If traditional diagnostic approaches are used, then thorough evaluation is possible, but cost and complexity of the diagnostic apparatus increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual diagnostic procedures with a simplified automated system using standard imaging cameras. Instead of requiring multiple specialized tools and examiner expertise, the system uses readily available imaging technology combined with automated analysis algorithms to achieve objective diagnostic results, reducing both apparatus complexity and operational complexity
4Productivity
If conventional testing methods are employed, then detailed cognitive assessment can be achieved, but the process becomes expensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automated self-diagnosis through eye movement analysis without requiring time-consuming human examiner involvement. The imaging cameras continuously capture eye movement data, and the processing system automatically analyzes patterns and generates diagnostic results in seconds, dramatically improving diagnostic throughput and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces time-intensive manual assessment with automated optical detection and algorithmic analysis. By substituting the mechanical process of examiner questioning and observation with rapid eye movement capture and computational analysis, the system achieves diagnostic results in seconds rather than minutes or hours
Data Source
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AI summary
A cognitive impairment diagnostic apparatus (1) includes: a display (10) which displays a video for diagnosis of cognitive impairment on a display surface (11); an imaging unit (21) which captures images of an eye of a subject; a detection unit (37) which detects viewpoints of the subject on the display surface (11) in time series based on the images captured by the imaging unit (21); a creation unit (38) which creates a distribution map representing a distribution of the viewpoints detected by the detection unit (37); a storage unit (32) which stores case characteristic data (310) indicating a characteristic of a viewpoint distribution corresponding to a typical case in cognitive impairment; and a diagnostic unit (39) which diagnoses cognitive impairment of the subject by determining whether the distribution map has the characteristic indicated by the case characteristic data.