Dynamic Cognitive Assessment System for Concussion Readiness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current concussion evaluation methods fail to accurately assess an athlete's readiness to return to play, as they do not adequately account for increased metabolic demands, multi-vector movement, and comprehensive physiological performance, leading to potential further injuries and long-term neurological defects.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that prompt full-body motion, track movement in three dimensions, and gather data to evaluate cognitive function, distinguishing between cognitive and orthopedic impairments, while elevating heart rate and simulating sport-specific movements to challenge vestibular and visual systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If isolated neurocognitive tests are used to evaluate concussion recovery, then cognitive function measurement is simplified, but comprehensive physiological assessment is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple assessment modalities including neurocognitive tests, vestibular function tests, visual function tests, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing into a single comprehensive concussion evaluation system. This merging of previously separate assessments allows for simultaneous measurement of cognitive, physiological, and functional parameters, resolving the contradiction between ease of testing and comprehensive accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaluation system is designed to perform multiple functions: assessing cognitive function, vestibular function, visual function, and cardiopulmonary capacity within a single protocol. This multi-functional approach enables the system to address various aspects of concussion recovery without requiring multiple separate testing sessions, thereby maintaining ease of operation while improving measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If athletes are tested in a sedentary state, then attentional resources can be fully focused on the test, but the contribution of increased metabolic activity is not evaluated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static sedentary testing to dynamic exercise-based testing during which cognitive and physiological parameters are measured. Athletes perform graded exercise protocols while cognitive function, vestibular function, and visual function are assessed in real-time. This dynamic approach allows evaluation of how these systems perform under metabolic stress, addressing the need for both accurate measurement and metabolic evaluation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously measures cognitive, vestibular, visual, and physiological parameters throughout the exercise protocol rather than separating these assessments. This continuous multi-parameter monitoring during metabolic activity provides a comprehensive view of system interactions under stress, maintaining measurement precision while adding metabolic evaluation capability.
3Measurement precision
If static balance testing is used, then visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems can be assessed, but sport-relevant multi-vector movement is not challenged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces static balance testing with dynamic movement protocols that replicate sport-specific multi-vector movements. Athletes perform exercises involving lateral, linear, vertical, and rotational movements while cognitive and sensory functions are assessed. This dynamic approach challenges the visual and vestibular systems in a manner that reflects actual sport demands while maintaining assessment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The testing protocol varies multiple parameters including movement direction, speed, intensity, and cognitive task complexity to create sport-relevant challenges. By changing these parameters dynamically during exercise, the system assesses sensory and cognitive function under conditions that mirror actual athletic performance requirements, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining measurement precision.
4Measurement precision
If comprehensive multi-system assessment is implemented, then accurate concussion evaluation is achieved, but test complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The comprehensive assessment system is divided into distinct modular components: neurocognitive assessment module, vestibular assessment module, visual assessment module, and cardiopulmonary exercise module. Each module can be independently administered and scored, allowing the complex evaluation to be broken into manageable segments that reduce overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive assessment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The protocol begins with baseline assessments of all systems before exercise, followed by progressive exercise stages with repeated measurements. This preliminary structuring of the comprehensive test into predetermined stages and sequences organizes the complex assessment into a systematic flow, reducing the perceived complexity for administrators while maintaining measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A cognitive function evaluation method and system involves prompting a test subject (person) to engage in movement, such as whole-body movement, for example sports-specific movement, while tracking movement of the person. Data can be gathered from the tracking of the person's movement. This data can be compared with baseline data from an earlier test (or with data gathered from other subjects), to make a determination of cognitive function of the test subject, or to evaluate progress in rehabilitation and/or aid in making a determination whether a person is ready to resume specified activities, such as an athlete returning to a sport. Such a determination can be made under realistic activity-specific conditions (for example using increased metabolic rate and/or activity-specific movements that may test/challenge the test subjects cognition, vestibular, and/or visual performance/abilities), to allow a for determination of the person's cognitive function.