Mobile Pupillary Response Measurement Using Infrared Eye Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pupillary response measurement methods are expensive, require trained clinicians, lack standardization, and suffer from inter-observer variability, poor reproducibility, and often detect diseases only after they become symptomatic, with visible light systems potentially causing unintentional pupillary responses and needing controlled lighting conditions.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device-based system using a front-facing display and camera to deliver visible or infrared light stimulus, allowing self-measurement of pupillary responses in various lighting conditions, including low light, with image processing to identify pupil features and determine health status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional pupillary measurement methods use visible light for both stimulus and image capture, then sufficient light stimulus is provided for pupil-iris segmentation, but unintentional pupillary responses are triggered during measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses infrared light as an intermediary substance to capture eye images without triggering pupillary responses. The infrared camera captures images in the infrared spectrum, which does not stimulate the pupil, while a separate visible light source provides the necessary visible light stimulus for the pupillary light reflex test. This intermediary approach allows measurement without the harmful observer effect.
2Measurement precision
If conventional methods use separate external hardware for lighting and image processing, then proper ambient lighting and alignment are ensured, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single mobile device: the visible light display provides the light stimulus, the infrared camera captures eye images, and the processor performs image processing and pupillary response analysis. This integration eliminates the need for separate external hardware while maintaining measurement precision through software-based control of lighting conditions and alignment guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device serves multiple functions: it provides visible light stimulus through its display, captures infrared images of the eye, guides patient alignment through the front display, and processes images to measure pupillary response. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy.
3Illumination intensity
If conventional systems use visible light for image capture in low light conditions, then adequate illumination is provided, but pupillary responses are altered by the measurement process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses infrared light as an intermediary illumination source for image capture. The infrared camera can capture images in low visible light conditions without adding visible light that would alter pupillary responses. The infrared illumination provides adequate illumination for image capture while avoiding the harmful effect of triggering additional pupillary constriction.
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
Provides accurate, scalable, and frequent pupillary response measurements, enabling pre-diagnostic health monitoring and reducing reliance on external hardware, while minimizing unintentional responses and improving reproducibility.
Implementation Method 1
emitting at least one visible light stimulus by the display
Implementation Method 2
receiving, from the camera, image data corresponding to at least one eye of a user
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for measuring pupillary responses to visible light stimuli. An exemplary system provides a display and a camera on the same side of a device; the display provides a visible light stimulus to illuminate a user's face and cause a pupillary reflex. A visible light or infrared camera thereafter receives image data of the pupillary light reflex. In some examples, an ambient light sensor and infrared measurement systems allow for performing pupillary light reflex assessments in low lighting conditions.