Robotic Head Mount for 3D Gaze Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for diagnosing and treating vestibular and ocular disorders are limited in their ability to precisely manipulate and position a human subject's head in three-dimensional space, leading to inaccuracies and inefficiencies in therapy and diagnosis.

Innovation Solution

A robotic arm system with a head mount that allows for precise three-dimensional movement of a human subject's head, combined with sensors and visual targets for data collection and therapy, enabling controlled and reproducible vestibular-ocular rehabilitation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a robotic arm system is used to manipulate the head in three-dimensional space, then head positioning precision and therapy reproducibility are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehead positioning precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The robotic arm system is divided into multiple segments with independent rotational joints, allowing complex three-dimensional head positioning to be achieved through coordinated movement of simpler modular components. This segmentation enables precise control while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized interfaces and independent control of each degree of freedom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The robotic arm system is designed to perform multiple functions including head positioning, eye movement tracking, and vestibular stimulation. By integrating these functions into a single multi-functional platform, the system achieves high measurement precision across different therapeutic modalities without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If sensors and data collection systems are integrated into the head mount, then therapy monitoring and diagnosis accuracy are improved, but weight on the subject's head increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeye movement tracking accuracyVSAvoidhead mount weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Traditional mechanical eye tracking systems are replaced with optical sensors that can detect eye position and movement without physical contact. This substitution eliminates the need for heavy mechanical linkages and actuators on the head mount, reducing weight while maintaining high measurement precision through non-contact optical methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The head mount incorporates lightweight flexible materials and thin-film sensor substrates that minimize weight while providing sufficient structural support for sensor integration. These thin-film structures allow sensor placement close to the head without adding significant mass, enabling accurate tracking of head and eye movements with minimal burden on the subject.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP3247255B1Gaze stabilization system
Publication Date: 2022.07.27 OVARD LLC
  • EP3247255B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3247255B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3247255B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system is disclosed that allows a practitioner to rotate a human subject's head in three- dimensional space using a robotic arm with a head mount attached to one end, while the subject is focused on a visual target.