C11220: A Device to Assess Vestibulo-Ocular Function without Measuring Eye MovementsNovelty:
A system and method for assessing vestibulo-ocular function without directly measuring eye movements.
Value Proposition:
Vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) is a reflexive eye movement that stabilizes an image on the retina during head movements by producing an eye movement opposite to head movement. VOR is important in assessing vestibular, sensorimotor and brain function. Typically, VOR is measured by recording eye movements during controlled head movements which can be expensive, time-consuming, cumbersome and invasive. This novel approach eliminates the use of measuring direct eye movements and provides a simple alternative for assessing VOR accuracy . Additional advantages include:
• Non-invasive, quick and inexpensive
• Simple procedure can be easily performed by unassisted subjects
• Great potential for monitoring and screening in clinics, military field units and remote settings
• Instrumentation can be used as a research tool for vestibulo-ocular function related experiments
• Sufficient accuracy for initial VOR screening
Technical Details:
Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a simple device to easily evaluate VOR without measuring eye movements. It is a multi-component device comprised of a rate sensor, data acquisition card, head-mounted virtual-reality display and a rotary control knob or keyboard. Visual targets are presented on either the laptop computer or the head mounted display. Head movements are measured by the rate sensor and fed to the laptop computer via the data acquisition card. The computer displays a visual target in a position determined by the movement of the head and by a motion-gain value set by the subject through the gain setting device. Subjects with miscalibrated VOR will perceive the target to be moving and can adjust the gain so that the target appears stationary during head motion. Thus the motion-gain value, set by the subject to null perceived target movement, provides a surrogate measure of VOR gain, without measuring eye movements.
Looking for Partners:
To develop & commercialize the technology as a device to assess vestibule-ocular functions for initial screening diagnostic and research purposes, especially in remote settings.
Stage of Development:
Proof of Concept
Data Availability:
Prototype
Publications/Associated Cases:
Not available at this time
