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Publication Number
US-10863902-B2
Publication Date
2020-12-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method for assessing glaucoma in a patient may involve measuring an intraocular pressure of the patient and measuring an intracranial pressure in the patient, using a noninvasive eye tracking system. The method may then involve comparing the intraocular pressure to the intracranial pressure and assessing glaucoma in the patient, based on the comparing of the intraocular pressure to the intracranial pressure.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to assessing glaucoma in a patient by measuring an intraocular pressure and measuring an intracranial pressure without contacting the patient and without changing the intraocular pressure. The intracranial pressure is measured using a noninvasive eye tracking system having an eye movement tracking camera. The method receives the measured intraocular pressure and the measured intracranial pressure in a computer processor.
The core approach compares the intraocular pressure to the intracranial pressure in the computer processor and uses the comparison to assess glaucoma in the patient. The disclosed assessment is based on comparing glaucoma-relevant pressure relationships, including comparing the two pressures directly and using ratio-based and classification-based comparisons. The invention links the intraocular pressure versus intracranial pressure comparison to glaucoma categories and risk.
In embodiments, intracranial pressure is derived from eye tracking measurements performed without contacting the patient, including eye movement tracking of a stimulus video and assessing ability of the patient’s eyes to track the video. Additional intracranial pressure derivation uses variability in eye movement, including variability in a vertical component and a horizontal component and comparing the vertical component with the horizontal component. The system version calculates intracranial pressure based on eye tracking without increasing the patient’s intraocular pressure, then compares and assesses glaucoma.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims (a method claim and a system claim). Each claim centers on a two-pressure assessment workflow using inventive features that (i) measure intraocular pressure and (ii) obtain intracranial pressure via non-contact, noninvasive eye tracking, followed by (iii) comparing the intraocular pressure to the intracranial pressure to assess glaucoma.
Comparing intraocular pressure to intracranial pressure for glaucoma assessment
receiving, in a computer processor of the noninvasive eye tracking system, the measured intraocular pressure and the measured intracranial pressure; comparing, with the computer processor, the intraocular pressure to the intracranial pressure; and assessing glaucoma in the patient using the computer processor based on comparing the intraocular pressure to the intracranial pressure.
Noninvasively measuring intracranial pressure with an eye tracking system without contacting the patient
measuring, without contacting the patient and changing the intraocular pressure, an intracranial pressure in the patient using a noninvasive eye tracking system having an eye movement tracking camera.
Calculating intracranial pressure from eye tracking without increasing intraocular pressure
calculate an intracranial pressure of the patient based on a measurement of eye tracking of the patient measured with the eye movement tracking camera and without increasing the patient's intraocular pressure; compare a measured intraocular pressure of the patient with the calculated intracranial pressure; and assess glaucoma in the patient based at least in part on the comparison of the intraocular pressure with the intracranial pressure.
Using a computer processor in a non-contact, noninvasive eye tracking system to assess glaucoma
a computer processor in the noninvasive eye tracking system, wherein the computer processor is configured to compare a measured intraocular pressure of the patient with the calculated intracranial pressure and assess glaucoma in the patient based at least in part on the comparison of the intraocular pressure with the intracranial pressure.
Across the independent claims, glaucoma assessment is produced by comparing measured intraocular pressure with an intracranial pressure obtained without contacting the patient via a noninvasive eye tracking system (or calculated intracranial pressure derived from eye tracking without increasing intraocular pressure), and then assessing glaucoma based on that comparison.
Stated Advantages
Non-contact measurement of intracranial pressure using a noninvasive eye tracking system.
Avoids contacting the patient and changing/increasing the patient’s intraocular pressure while measuring intracranial pressure.
Glaucoma assessment is produced based on comparing intraocular pressure to intracranial pressure.
Supports glaucoma assessment outputs including glaucoma diagnosis/detection/monitoring/risk based on pressure comparisons as described in the document.
Documented Applications
Glaucoma detection/diagnosis based on a comparison of intraocular pressure to intracranial pressure.
Glaucoma monitoring based on a comparison of intraocular pressure to intracranial pressure.
Glaucoma risk assessment using comparisons of intraocular pressure to intracranial pressure, including ratio-based and category-based (high/low/no risk; high/normal/low) determinations as described in the document.
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