Interactive occlusion system

Abstract

An interactive occlusion system, including software and hardware, for the treatment of amblyopia using virtual reality or other physically interactive or perceptually immersive three-dimensional or two-dimensional computer generated simulations, in which the patient's occlusion compliance and usage time during occlusive and non-occlusive periods can be precisely recorded and the patient's visual acuity can be accurately measured to be provided to the clinician, as well as the capacity for entering prescriptions and treatment plans for individual patients and restricting individual access to that patient's prescription and treatment plan while allowing non-occlusive operation of the system after the prescribed occlusion time or for non-patient users.

1 - 41 . (canceled)  
   
   
       42 . An interactive occlusion system for treating amblyopia in a patient, comprising: 
 a display medium;    an occlusion device adapted to selectively occlude at least one of the patient's eyes; and    a computer system coupled to said occlusion device and said display medium, where said computer system is adapted to: 
 operate a treatment application displayed on the display medium;  
 control said occlusion device to selectively occlude at least one of the patient's eyes, and  
 record an amount of time the occlusion device is controlled to selectively occlude at least one of the patient's eyes.  
   
   
   
       43 . The interactive occlusion system as claimed in  claim 42 , where the display medium is a virtual reality display.  
   
   
       44 . The interactive occlusion system as claimed in  claim 42 , where the display medium is a standard computer monitor.  
   
   
       45 . The interactive occlusion system as claimed in  claim 42 , where the treatment application is an interactive simulation.  
   
   
       46 . The interactive occlusion system as claimed in  claim 42 , where the treatment application is a virtual reality simulation.  
   
   
       47 . The interactive occlusion system as claimed in  claim 42 , where the treatment application is a three-dimensional simulation.  
   
   
       48 . The interactive occlusion system as claimed in  claim 42 , where the treatment application is a two-dimensional simulation.  
   
   
       49 . The interactive occlusion system as claimed in  claim 42 , where the treatment application is a video game.  
   
   
       50 . The interactive occlusion system as claimed in  claim 42 , where the treatment application is a homework assignment.  
   
   
       51 . The interactive occlusion system as claimed in  claim 42 , where said computer system is further adapted to control the occlusion device to not occlude either of the patient's eyes.  
   
   
       52 . The interactive occlusion system as claimed in  claim 51 , where said computer system is further adapted to record an amount of time the occlusion device is controlled to not occlude either of the patient's eyes.  
   
   
       53 . The interactive occlusion system as claimed in  claim 42 , further comprising an input selection device coupled to said computer system and adapted to receive patient input.  
   
   
       54 . A method for treating amblyopia in a patient, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a display medium;    providing an occlusion device adapted to selectively occlude at least one of the patient's eyes;    providing a computer system coupled to said display medium and occlusion device;    providing a treatment application;    operating the treatment application;    displaying output of said treatment application on said display medium;    controlling said occlusion device to selectively occlude at least one of the patient's eyes, and    recording an amount of time at least one of the patient's eyes was occluded.    
   
   
       55 . The method as claimed in  claim 54 , where the display medium is a virtual reality display.  
   
   
       56 . The method as claimed in  claim 54 , where the display medium is a standard computer monitor.  
   
   
       57 . The method as claimed in  claim 54 , where the treatment application is an interactive simulation.  
   
   
       58 . The method as claimed in  claim 54 , where the treatment application is a virtual reality simulation.  
   
   
       59 . The method as claimed in  claim 54 , where the treatment application is a three-dimensional simulation.  
   
   
       60 . The method as claimed in  claim 54 , where the treatment application is a two-dimensional simulation.  
   
   
       61 . The method as claimed in  claim 54 , where the treatment application is a video game.  
   
   
       62 . The method as claimed in  claim 54 , where the treatment application is a homework assignment.  
   
   
       63 . The method as claimed in  claim 54 , further comprising the step of controlling the occlusion device to not occlude either of the patient's eyes.  
   
   
       64 . The method as claimed in  claim 63 , further comprising the step of recording an amount of time the patient's eyes were not occluded.  
   
   
       65 . The method as claimed in  claim 54 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing an input device coupled to the computer system; and    receiving patient input from the input selection device.