Methods to measure, map and correlate ocular micro-movement and ocular micro-tremor signals with cognitive processing capabilities

Abstract

An apparatus and method of collecting elements of and assembling various portions of ocular micro motions such as ocular micro-tremor (OMT) movements of the eye, and correlating them directly with OMT waveforms acquired from both known and unknown states of cognition and cognitive function. Comparing newly acquired waveforms from patients with undiagnosed cognitive dysfunctions, permits an individual or caregiver the ability to identify those unknown issues or cognitive states based on matching or relating statistically elements of their waveform with categories of other known cognitive processing normals and abnormals, functional and dysfunctional individuals. It also allows for measuring the effects of therapeutic agents (psychological or pharmacological) by relating them to measurable changes in cognitive function as a result of correlated changes in waveforms.

1 . A method for diagnosing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in a patient comprising:
 (a) receiving a patient ocular autonomic waveform signature, wherein the patient ocular autonomic waveform signature has been generated using steps including one or both measuring the patient ocular autonomic micro-tremor signals and creating an ocular autonomic waveform signature from the measured patient ocular autonomic micro-tremor signals;   (b) accessing an ADHD reference library of ocular autonomic waveform signatures, wherein the ADHD reference library has been generated using steps including one or both measuring ocular autonomic micro tremor signals from a plurality of previously diagnosed ADHD patients and creating ocular autonomic waveform signatures from the measured ocular autonomic micro-tremor signals of the plurality of previously diagnosed ADHD patients;   (c) accessing an algorithm to determine an ADHD match between one parameter selected from the group consisting of the patient ocular autonomic micro tremor signals and the patient ocular autonomic waveform signature and at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of ocular autonomic micro-tremor signals of the plurality of previously diagnosed ADHD patients in the ADHD reference library and the ocular autonomic waveform signatures of the plurality of previously diagnosed ADHD patients in the ADHD reference library; and   (d) diagnosing ADHD in the patient based on the ADHD match; wherein one or both accessing an algorithm and diagnosing ADHD in the patient are carried out by a processor.   
     
     
         2 . The method for diagnosing ADHD in the patient of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (e) diagnosing a patient as normal based on accessing a normal reference library, wherein the normal reference library has been generated using steps including one or both measuring ocular autonomic micro tremor signals from a plurality of previously diagnosed cognitively normal patients and creating ocular autonomic waveform signatures from the measured ocular autonomic micro-tremor signals of the plurality of cognitively normal patients;   (f) accessing an algorithm to determine a normal match between one parameter selected from the group consisting of the patient ocular autonomic micro tremor signals and the patient ocular autonomic waveform signature and at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of the measured ocular autonomic micro-tremor signals of the plurality of previously diagnosed normal patients in the normal reference library and the ocular autonomic waveform signatures of the plurality of previously diagnosed normal patients in the normal reference library; and   (g) diagnosing the patient as cognitively normal based on the normal match.   
     
     
         3 . The method for diagnosing ADHD in the patient of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 (h) based on the absence of the normal match diagnosing the patient as cognitively dysfunctional.   
     
     
         4 . The method for diagnosing ADHD in the patient of  claim 1 , wherein the signal acquisition subsystem is chosen from the group consisting of an optical sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a strain gauge sensor, an accelerometer sensor, a continuous wave emitter sensor, a pulsed light wave emitter sensor, and a sonic wave emitter/sensor, for discerning and measuring the micro motions and micro-tremors of the eye. 
     
     
         5 . The method for diagnosing ADHD in the patient of  claim 1 , wherein in step (c) an ADHD match is found if one parameter selected from the group consisting of the patient ocular autonomic micro-tremor signals and the patient ocular autonomic waveform signature matches at least one parameters selected from the group consisting of the ocular autonomic micro-tremor signals of the plurality of previously diagnosed ADHD patients in the ADHD reference library, the ocular autonomic waveform signatures of the plurality of previously diagnosed ADHD patients in the ADHD reference library, an ocular autonomic micro-tremor signal of previously diagnosed ADD patients and an ocular autonomic waveform signature of previously diagnosed ADD patients in an ADD reference library. 
     
     
         6 . The method for diagnosing ADHD in the patient of  claim 1 , wherein measuring the ocular autonomic waveform signature includes one or both measuring and defining one or more of the parameters selected from the group consisting of leading edge rise time slopes and trailing edge fall times slopes of repetitive sinusoidal components of the optical micro-tremor signal waveforms. 
     
     
         7 . The method for diagnosing ADHD in the patient of  claim 6 , wherein one or more Fourier transforms are performed on the ocular autonomic waveform signatures. 
     
     
         8 . The method for diagnosing ADHD in the patient of  claim 1 , wherein measuring the ocular autonomic waveform signature includes one or both measuring and defining one or more of the parameters selected from the group consisting of midpoint and half-widths of repetitive sinusoidal components of the optical tremor signal waveforms, separations between peak intervals, frequency of burst packages and waveform frequency of bursts and sinusoidal components, spindle associated with the waveforms, average and mean frequency of the waveform, time intervals between voids between the optical tremor signal packets and analyzing the mean amplitudes and extremes of the sinusoidal patterns and the collective bursts. 
     
     
         9 . The method for diagnosing ADHD in the patient of  claim 8 , wherein one or more Fourier transforms are performed on the ocular autonomic waveform signatures. 
     
     
         10 . The method for diagnosing ADHD in the patient of  claim 1 , wherein the ocular autonomic micro-tremor signals have an average frequency between:
 a lower limit of approximately 30 Hz; and   an upper limit of approximately 100 Hz.   
     
     
         11 . The method for diagnosing ADHD in the patient of  claim 1 , wherein the ocular autonomic micro-tremor signals have an average amplitude between:
 a lower limit of approximately 150 nm; and   an upper limit of approximately 2500 nm.   
     
     
         12 . A system for diagnosing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in a patient, comprising:
 a signal acquisition subsystem including a sensor for obtaining an ocular autonomic micro-tremor signal;   a signal processing subsystem for processing the measured ocular autonomic micro-tremor signal;   a subsystem for accessing an ADHD reference library, wherein the ADHD reference library is generated by obtaining a processed ocular autonomic micro-tremor signal from a plurality of previously diagnosed ADHD patients; and   a correlation subsystem for correlating the patient processed ocular autonomic micro-tremor signal with the processed ocular autonomic micro-tremor signals of the plurality of previously diagnosed ADHD patients in the ADHD reference library, whereby a correlation between the patient processed ocular autonomic micro-tremor signal and the ADHD reference library provides a diagnosis of ADHD.   
     
     
         13 . The system for diagnosing ADHD in the patient of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a correlation subsystem for correlating the patient processed ocular autonomic micro-tremor signal with the processed ocular autonomic micro-tremor signals of a plurality of previously diagnosed normal patients in a normal reference library, whereby a correlation between the patient processed ocular autonomic micro-tremor signal and the normal reference library provides a diagnosis of the patient as cognitively normal.   
     
     
         14 . The system for diagnosing ADHD in the patient of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a correlation subsystem for correlating the patient processed ocular autonomic micro-tremor signal with the processed ocular autonomic micro-tremor signals of a plurality of previously diagnosed normal patients in a normal reference library, whereby absence of a correlation between the patient processed ocular autonomic micro-tremor signal and the normal reference library provides a diagnosis of the patient as cognitively dysfunctional.   
     
     
         15 . The system for diagnosing ADHD in the patient of  claim 12 , wherein the signal acquisition subsystem is chosen from the group consisting of an optical sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a strain gauge sensor, an accelerometer sensor, a continuous wave emitter sensor, a pulsed light wave emitter sensor, and a sonic wave emitter/sensor, for discerning and measuring the micro motions and micro-tremors of the eye. 
     
     
         16 . The system for diagnosing ADHD in the patient of  claim 12 , wherein in the correlation subsystem the patient processed ocular autonomic micro-tremor signals is compared to one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of the ocular autonomic micro-tremor signals of the plurality of previously diagnosed ADHD patients in the ADHD reference library, the ocular autonomic waveform signatures of the plurality of previously diagnosed ADHD patients in the ADHD reference library, an ocular autonomic micro-tremor signal of previously diagnosed ADD patients and an ocular autonomic waveform signature of previously diagnosed ADD patients in an ADD reference library. 
     
     
         17 . The system for diagnosing ADHD in the patient of  claim 12 , wherein generating the processed ocular autonomic micro-tremor signal includes one or both measuring and defining one or more of the parameters selected from the group consisting of leading edge rise time slopes and trailing edge fall times slopes of repetitive sinusoidal components of the optical micro-tremor signal waveforms. 
     
     
         18 . The system for diagnosing ADHD in the patient of  claim 12 , wherein measuring the processed ocular autonomic micro-tremor signal includes one or both measuring and defining one or more of the parameters selected from the group consisting of midpoint and half-widths of repetitive sinusoidal components of the optical tremor signal waveforms, separations between peak intervals, frequency of burst packages and waveform frequency of bursts and sinusoidal components, spindle associated with the waveforms, average and mean frequency of the waveform, time intervals between voids between the optical tremor signal packets and analyzing the mean amplitudes and extremes of the sinusoidal patterns and the collective bursts. 
     
     
         19 . The method for diagnosing ADHD in the patient of  claim 12 , wherein the ocular autonomic micro-tremor signals have an average frequency between:
 a lower limit of approximately 30 Hz; and   an upper limit of approximately 100 Hz.   
     
     
         20 . The method for diagnosing ADHD in the patient of  claim 12 , wherein the ocular autonomic micro-tremor signals have an average amplitude between:
 a lower limit of approximately 150 nm; and   an upper limit of approximately 2500 nm.