Head mountable device

Abstract

A head mountable device for detecting a functional disorder of the brain in a patient, comprising an LED display; at least one electrode for measuring electrical potential; the device being configured to be mountable on the head of a patient such that when mounted on the head of a patient the LED display is positioned before the eyes of a patient and the at least one electrode is positioned adjacent to the occipital lobe of the patient.

1 . A head mountable device for detecting a functional disorder of the brain in a patient, comprising:
 an LED display;   at least one electrode for measuring electrical potential;   the device being configured to be mountable on the head of a patient such that when mounted on the head of a patient the LED display is positioned before the eyes of a patient and the at least one electrode is positioned adjacent to the occipital lobe of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . A head mountable display according to  claim 1  wherein the LED display is configured to display a visual stimulus. 
     
     
         3 . A head mountable device according to  claim 2  wherein the visual stimulus is a light pulse. 
     
     
         4 . A head mountable device according to  claim 2  wherein the visual stimulus is white light. 
     
     
         5 . A head mountable device according to  claim 3  wherein the visual stimulus pulses at a frequency of between 5 Hz to 60 Hz. 
     
     
         6 . A head mountable device according to  claim 3  wherein the visual stimulus pulses at a frequency of 15 Hz. 
     
     
         7 . A head mountable device according to any preceding claim wherein the at least one electrode is configured to detects electrical signals from the occipital lobe of the patient in response to the visual stimulus when the device is mounted on the head of a patient. 
     
     
         8 . A head mountable device according to any preceding claim comprising a processor configured to receive electric potential signal data from the at least one electrode. 
     
     
         9 . A head mountable device further comprising a memory, the memory being configured to store predetermined electrical potential values, wherein the processor is configured to compare received electric potential signal data with predetermined electric potential data to detect a functional disorder of the brain. 
     
     
         10 . A head mountable device according to  claim 9  wherein the predetermined electric potential values are at least one of:
 amplitude of the electric signal; 
 frequency of the electric signal; or, 
 latency of the electric signal. 
 
     
     
         11 . A head mountable device according to any preceding claim wherein the functional disorder of the brain is concussion. 
     
     
         12 . A head mountable device according to any preceding claim further comprising a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit the electric potential signal data to the processor over a radio communications network. 
     
     
         13 . A head mountable device according to any preceding claim further comprising a receiver, the receiver configured to receive activation signals for the LED display, the LED display being configured to display a visual stimulus on receipt of an activation signal. 
     
     
         14 . A head mountable device according to  claim 12  wherein the receiver is a radio receiver configured to receive activation signals from a computing device across a wireless communications network. 
     
     
         15 . A method for detecting a functional disorder of the brain in a patient comprising the steps of:
 providing a visual stimulus to a patient;   measuring an electrical response of the brain to the visual stimulus using a plurality of electrodes; and,   comparing the electrical response of the brain to predefined electrical data to detect a functional disorder of the brain.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15  implemented in a head mounted device wherein the visual stimulus is provided by an LED display and the electrical response of the brain is measured by at least one electrode; the device being configured to be mountable on the head of a patient such that when mounted on the head of a patient the LED display is positioned before the eyes of a patient and the at least one electrode is positioned adjacent to the occipital lobe of the patient. 
     
     
         17 . A system for detecting a functional disorder of the brain in a patient comprising:
 a head mountable device according to  claim 1 ; and   a receiver for receiving electric potential signal data from the at least one electrode.   
     
     
         18 . A head mountable device for detecting a functional disorder of the brain comprising lighting means for providing a visual stimulus to a patient and at least one electrode to measure an evoked potential by the brain of the patient to the visual stimulus. 
     
     
         19 . A method for detecting a functional disorder of the brain comprising the steps of providing a visual stimulus to a patient and measuring an evoked potential to the visual stimulus. 
     
     
         20 . A computer program, comprising instructions for controlling a computer to detect a functional disorder of the brain in a patient as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         21 . A computer readable medium, providing a computer program in accordance with  claim 20 . 
     
     
         22 . A data signal, comprising a computer program in accordance with  claim 20 . 
     
     
         23 . A computer program, comprising instructions to implement a method in accordance with any one of  claim 15 ,  16  or  19 . 
     
     
         24 . A computer readable medium, providing a computer program in accordance with  claim 23 . 
     
     
         25 . A data signal, comprising a computer program in accordance with  claim 23 . 
     
     
         26 . A system for detecting a functional disorder of the brain in a patient, comprising:
 a light source;   at least one electrode for measuring electrical potential;   the at least one electrode being configured to be mountable on the head of a patient and positioned adjacent to the occipital lobe of the patient.   
     
     
         27 . A system according to  claim 26  wherein the light source is configured to display a visual stimulus. 
     
     
         28 . A system according to  claim 27  wherein the visual stimulus is a light pulse. 
     
     
         29 . A system according to  claim 27  wherein the visual stimulus is white light. 
     
     
         30 . A system according to  claim 28  wherein the visual stimulus pulses at a frequency of between 5 Hz to 60 Hz. 
     
     
         31 . A system according to  claim 28  wherein the visual stimulus pulses at a frequency of 15 Hz. 
     
     
         32 . A system according to any of  claims 26  to  31  wherein the at least one electrode is configured to detect electrical signals from the occipital lobe of the patient in response to the visual stimulus when the at least one electrode is mounted on the head of a patient.