Monitoring neurological functional status

Abstract

A device for measuring eye movement in a human subject comprises a housing, at least one stimulator mounted to the housing, and a sensor. The at least one stimulator is configured to provide stimulus to one or both eyes of the subject. The sensor is configured to collect information related to movement of one or both eyes of the subject. The device also includes a user interface that is configured to control the at least one stimulator and display information collected by the camera.

1 . A device for measuring eye movement in a human subject, the device comprising:
 a housing;   at least one stimulator mounted to the housing, the at least one stimulator configured to provide stimulus to one or both eyes of the subject;   a sensor mounted to the housing, the camera configured to collect information related to movement of one or both eyes of the subject; and   a user interface configured to control the at least one stimulator and display information collected by the camera.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal that defines a cavity within which the camera and the at least one stimulator are disposed, the seal configured to conform to the shape and contours of the subject's face to minimize ambient light within the cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising two stimulators mounted on a left side and a right side of the housing, wherein each stimulator is configured to provide stimulus to a respective eye of the subject. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , further comprising a divider configured to preclude stimulation provided by one of the stimulators from affecting or stimulating the eye closest to the other stimulator. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , further comprising a seal that defines a cavity within which the camera and the at least one stimulator are disposed, wherein both the seal and the divider are configured to conform to the shape and contours of the subject's face. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a screen mounted on the housing, the screen configured to display instructions to the subject. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a screen mounted on the housing, the screen configured to provide stimulus to the subject. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the camera collects information related to a blink reflex of one or both eyes of the subject. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the camera collects information related to pupillary response of the subject. 
     
     
         10 . A device for measuring blink reflex in a human subject, the device comprising:
 a sensor configured to track movement of one or both eyelids of the subject; and   a stimulator configured to provide stimulus to one or both eyelids of the subject;   one or more processors executing one or more instructions to:
 track the movement of the one or more eyelids using the sensor, 
 stimulate the subject using the stimulator to provoke a first blink reflex, the first blink reflex corresponding to an involuntary blink, of the one or more eyelids, 
 determine a first time period being associated with the first blink reflex, 
 calculate a difference between the first time period and a second time period, the second time period being associated with a second blink reflex of the subject, the second blink reflex measured when the subject was known not to be suffering from a neurological condition, 
 determine, based on the difference calculated between the first time period and the second time period relative to a threshold whether the subject is potentially suffering from a neurological condition, and 
 provide an indication that the subject is suffering from a neurological condition when the difference between the first time period and the second time period, differs from the threshold. 
   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , where the sensor includes at least one of:
 a camera,   a focal plane array,   a photodiode,   an infrared sensor,   an ultraviolet sensor,   a laser diode sensor,   an electro-optical sensor,   an electrode, or   an antenna.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the stimulator includes at least one of:
 a component that provides, to the subject, a puff of fluid, the fluid corresponding to a gas, a liquid, or a vapor;   a component that provides, to the subject, mechanical contact akin to a pin prick;   a component that provides, to the subject, one or more flashes of light to trigger the first blink reflex;   a component that provides an electrical current, to the subject, of less than approximately 1 milliamp; or   a component that provides a sound, to the subject, that is between 70 and 80 decibels.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a component that confounds the subject prior to or during a period of time that the stimulus is being provided to the patient.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors:
 communicate with a server device that stores information, associated with a plurality of measurements of the second blink reflex of the subject or other subjects,   identify first conditions under which the first blink reflex was measured, the conditions being at least one of:
 whether the first blink reflex is obtained from the right eye, the left eye, or both the right eye and the left eye, 
 a type of stimulus used to cause the first blink reflex, or 
 whether or not the first blink reflex is measured using a confounding operation, and 
   identifies second conditions, under which the second blink reflex was measured, that match the first conditions.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a display device configured to
 display a user interface that enables an operator, of the device, to enter information that identifies conditions under which the first blink reflex is to be measured, the conditions identifying at least one of:
 whether the first blink reflex is to be measured from the left eye, the right eye, or both the left eye and the right eye, 
   whether or not to provide the stimulus to the subject,   a type of stimulus when stimulus is to be provided to the subject,
 whether the stimulus is to be provided in proximity of the left eye, the right eye, or the left eye and the right eye when the stimulus is to be provided to the subject, or 
 whether or not a confounding operation is to be performed on the subject, 
 the display device further configured to receive, via the user interface, information that identifies conditions, and provide, to the one or more processors, the received information that identifies conditions. 
   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the display device displays, via the user interface, or a different user interface at least one of:
 one or both eyes of the subject, or   an indication of whether the subject potentially suffers from a neurological condition.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a physical interface, with the subject, that includes a material of a particular shape and flexibility to enable the physical interface to be placed against, and conform to, a face, head or neck of the subject to at least one of:
 enable a temporary seal to form between the subject and the physical interface, or 
 preclude external stimulus or light from entering a cavity between physical interface and the subject. 
   
     
     
         18 . A method for measuring a blink reflex of a subject using a blink reflex device, the method comprising:
 stimulating one or both eyes of the subject using at least one stimulator so as to cause an involuntarily blink response in the subject;   measuring a time period from the stimulating step to when one or both eyes initiates the involuntary blink response; and   displaying information that identifies the time period.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the measuring step includes identifying a point on an eyelid of one or both eyes in order to track movement of the eyelid. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the measuring step further includes:
 detecting movement of the identified point on the eyelid in response to the stimulus; and   determining that the subject initiated the involuntary blink based on detection of the movement.   
     
     
         21 - 24 . (canceled)