Visuo-motor screening for mild traumatic brain injury
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are invasive, time-consuming, and impractical for field deployments, lacking a standardized, non-invasive system to assess intra-individual variability in motor performance, which is crucial for early detection and differentiation from other cognitive impairments.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive system using a hand dynamometer with digital load cells to administer submaximal grip tests, measuring intra-individual variability in visuo-motor performance through predictable and unpredictable visual target tracking tasks, analyzed by software to provide quantitative metrics for rapid screening and differentiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If detailed neurological evaluation and extensive cognitive testing are performed, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but time consumption and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential diagnostic information by focusing specifically on intra-individual variability of motor performance as a standalone screening metric. Instead of performing comprehensive neurological evaluations, the system isolates and measures motor performance variability through simple tasks, capturing the critical diagnostic signal without the time-consuming comprehensive assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from traditional cognitive test scores to motor performance variability metrics. By quantifying the variability in motor performance over time and across trials, the system achieves diagnostic accuracy through a different parameter that is faster to measure and less resource-intensive than conventional cognitive testing.
2Reliability
If comprehensive cognitive testing is administered, then diagnostic reliability is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex neurological evaluation systems with a simplified motor performance measurement system. Instead of using multiple cognitive tests and imaging equipment, the system uses basic motor performance tasks with automated variability analysis, substituting mechanical and procedural complexity with a streamlined measurement approach that maintains diagnostic reliability.
3Measurement precision
If traditional neurological evaluation methods are used, then diagnostic specificity is improved, but ease of operation in field settings deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the diagnostic process into a simple, standalone screening component that can be independently administered in field settings. The motor performance variability assessment is separated from comprehensive neurological evaluation, creating a modular screening tool that maintains diagnostic specificity while being easily deployable in diverse environments including military and athletic field settings.
4Productivity
If rapid screening methods are implemented, then productivity and speed are improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where motor performance data is continuously collected and analyzed to calculate intra-individual variability metrics. The system provides real-time feedback on performance variability, allowing for rapid assessment while maintaining diagnostic accuracy through automated statistical analysis of the collected data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs automated data collection and analysis without requiring extensive human interpretation. The motor performance variability metrics are calculated and interpreted by the system itself, enabling rapid screening while maintaining measurement precision through consistent, objective analysis algorithms.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4D
AI summary
A non-invasive system, and method for simple, quantitative screening for mTBI and other forms of mid cognitive impairment using a visuo-motor performance test (for example, a submaximal grip test) in response to visual feedback to quantitatively measure the intra-individual variability of performance metric for initial screening of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and other neurological disorders. The system and method can be administered in minutes, by any level of caregiver, in any environment including military in-the-field or sports on- field deployments, and is useful in screening those truly injured from those disguising or mimicking injury. In addition to screening, the system and method can be used to monitor and/or detect changes to intra-individual variability over time by comparison to a baseline, which in turn is helpful in determining estimated recovery trajectory or other related information.