Portable Neurocognitive Assesment and Evaluation System

Abstract

A neurocognitive assessment and evaluation system uses a portable computerized appliance having a touchscreen, network communication functionality, at least one processor and on-board digital memory, and has software executing on the at least one processor. The software provides an interactive display comprising one or more graphics artifacts with which a person may interact, monitoring of the time and nature of the person's interaction with the one or more graphics artifacts, and audio or text instruction for the person to follow to interact with the one or more graphics artifacts to perform a specific test for neurocognitive evaluation of the person.

1 . A neurocognitive assessment and evaluation system, comprising:
 a portable computerized appliance having a touchscreen, network communication functionality, at least one processor and on-board digital memory; and   software executing on the at least one processor, the software providing:   an interactive display comprising one or more graphics artifacts with which a person may interact;   monitoring of the time and nature of the person's interaction with the one or more graphics artifacts; and   audio or text instruction for the person to follow to interact with the one or more graphics artifacts to perform a specific test for neurocognitive evaluation of the person.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the software first provides a plurality of icons displayed to represent different specific tests, and upon selection of an icon, the software causes specific graphics artifacts associated with the selected test to be displayed along with text or audio instruction for the person to interact with the displayed one or more graphics artifacts to perform the selected test. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the interactive display further comprises a toolbox area with interactive icons for initiating specific tools, utility or navigation functions. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein icons are provided to initiate a home navigation to a main menu, an icon for viewing and editing specific data associated with tested persons, undo and redo functions, and an icon for accessing configuration functions. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising one or more functions provided by the software for communicating with one or more network-based servers. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the software provides for downloading new or revised tests from the one or more network-based servers. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  where in the software provides for uploading text results and test subject identity to the one or more network-based servers. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the system further comprises an accelerometer, and one of the specific tests is for testing a subject's balancing ability by providing two graphics artifacts, one of which moves on the screen relative to the movement of the device as sensed by the accelerometer, and the other of which remains stationary on the screen. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2  wherein one of the specific tests assesses the person's reaction time by presenting or manipulating a graphics object at a first time, and recording an action by the person at a second time in response to seeing the presentation at the first time. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2  wherein one of the specific tests assesses the person's coordination by presenting moving graphics objects and tracking a person's interaction with the moving graphics objects. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2  wherein one of the specific tests assesses recollection by presenting graphics objects in a series, and measuring the person's ability to recall whether newly presented objects were presented before in the same test. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2  wherein one of the specific tests measures the person's number sequence memory by presenting a sequence, and then asking the person to repeat the sequence sometime after the presented sequence has been deleted from the screen. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 2  wherein one of the specific tests measures pattern recognition by presenting a pattern and asking the person to repeat the pattern or select the same pattern in a subsequent display. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 2  wherein one of the specific tests measures color recognition by presenting color words in a font color, and asking the person to signal when the text word and the color match. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 2  wherein one of the specific tests measures impulse sensitivity by displaying series of graphics artifacts designed to cause the person to react impulsively. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 2  wherein one of the specific tests measures problem solving ability by presenting graphics artifacts in a manner to create a problem, and asking the person to perform an act which solves the problem. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the appliance includes an image capturing device, and one of the specific tests measures eye movement and coordination by presenting specific graphics artifacts, asking the person to watch the artifacts as they move, and tracking by the image capturing device the movement of the person's eye or eyes. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 2  wherein one of the specific tests measures memory function by presenting character sequences, erasing the character sequences, and then asking the person to enter the character sequences using an input function. 
     
     
         19 . A method for performing neurocognitive assessment and evaluation of a person, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing on a portable computerized appliance having a touchscreen, network communication functionality, at least one processor and on-board digital memory, with software executing on the at least one processor;   (b) providing on the touchscreen audio or text instruction for the person to follow to interact with the one or more graphics artifacts to perform a specific test for neurocognitive evaluation of the person;   (c) displaying by the software one or more graphics artifacts with which a person may interact; and   (d) monitoring the time and nature of the person's interaction with the one or more graphics artifacts.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the software first provides a plurality of icons displayed to represent different specific tests, and upon selection of an icon, the software causes specific graphics artifacts associated with the selected test to be displayed along with text or audio instruction for the person to interact with the displayed one or more graphics artifacts to perform the selected test.