Field of Vision Quantification via Polyhedron Volume Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional field of vision assessments require expensive and invasive equipment for retinal examination, making them costly and impractical for widespread use in non-clinical settings.

Innovation Solution

A low-cost, non-invasive method using an array of visual markers arranged in a grid to map the periphery of a subject's field of vision, calculating the volume of a polyhedron defined by these markers to quantify the field of view, allowing for on-site assessments in various locations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional retinal examination equipment is used, then measurement precision of field of vision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield of vision measurement precisionVSAvoidexamination equipment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a simplified copy or surrogate model of the traditional retinal examination approach. Instead of directly examining retinal structures with complex ophthalmoscopes, the system projects visual markers onto a simplified grid and measures peripheral vision responses, creating an equivalent measurement that avoids complex anatomical examination equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive, durable medical examination equipment with inexpensive, disposable-like visual marker cards that can be easily manufactured and distributed. These marker arrays serve as single-use or limited-use assessment tools that eliminate the need for costly electronic retinal examination systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Measurement precision

If invasive retinal examination is performed, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but ease of operation and accessibility worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidassessment accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables subjects to perform their own field of vision assessment by simply reporting which visual markers they can see in their peripheral vision. This self-administered approach eliminates the need for trained professionals to conduct invasive retinal examinations, making the test accessible in diverse settings including sports facilities and community centers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having the examiner actively examine the subject's retina through complex instrumentation, the patent inverts the approach by having the subject actively report what they perceive in their visual field. This passive measurement approach for the examiner while active for the subject simplifies the operational complexity significantly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Measurement precision

If expensive electronics are used, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of substance and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield of vision quantification accuracyVSAvoidfinancial resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive electronic measurement systems with inexpensive printed visual marker arrays and simple computational algorithms. The visual markers can be printed on paper or simple displays, and the field of vision quantification is achieved through basic geometric calculations of the polyhedron volume, eliminating the need for costly electronics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes complex electronic measurement and processing systems with a simpler system based on geometric principles. By projecting visual markers onto a defined spatial grid and calculating the volume of the polyhedron formed by visible markers, the system achieves field of vision quantification through mathematical geometry rather than expensive electronic sensing and processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11234589B2Field of vision quantification

Publication Date: 2022.02.01 WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE

AI summary

A field of vision assessment is performed by reported positional feedback of visual markers at an outer circumference of a subject's field of vision. An array of visual markers arranged in a grid is rendered near a peripheral vision limit of the subject. The visual markers are disposed at known locations relative to an origin of the field of vision of the subject. Based on reported visual markers, a mapping of the visual markers to the location denotes a point on a periphery of limit of the visual field. The mapped points define vertices of a polyhedron having edges denoted by the vertices and the origin. The volume of the resulting polyhedron correlates to the field of vision of the subject, since as the periphery of the field of vision increases, the computed volume also increases.