Methods and kits for assessing neurological function and localizing neurological lesions

Inventors

Samadani, Uzma

Assignees

New York University

Abstract

A method for assessing neurological function in a subject includes a) prompting a user to follow a moving saccade-evoking stimulus on a display, b) tracking eye movement of the subject while the user follows the moving stimulus, c) collecting a first eye conjugacy data of the subject relating to the saccade-evoking stimulus, and d) comparing the first eye conjugacy data with a second eye conjugacy data, the second eye conjugacy data relating to an anti-saccade stimulus.

Core Innovation

The patent describes a method for assessing neurological function in a subject by prompting the subject to follow a first stimulus on a display and tracking eye movement while the subject follows the first stimulus. First eye conjugacy data relating to the first stimulus are collected, and the method then prompts the subject to observe a second stimulus on the display, the second stimulus being different than the first stimulus, while collecting second eye conjugacy data relating to the second stimulus.

The core of the approach is comparing the first eye conjugacy data with the second eye conjugacy data as a basis for neurological function assessment. The patent further defines conjugacy and disconjugacy metrics using inter-eye differences in x/y pupil coordinates, including conjugacy variance, total variance, and correlation measures, together with vertical and horizontal conjugacy collection and graphical representations of conjugacy during stimuli.

The patent includes an uncalibrated, high-frequency binocular eye-tracking paradigm using moving binocular eye-tracker tasks such as music video, TV moving in box/circle, reading, and saccade tasks. It characterizes box trajectories via (x,y) scatter, models time-domain trajectories with a sinusoidal model fit, and uses statistical testing to discriminate neurological impairment without spatial calibration.

Claims Coverage

The partial claim set contains one independent claim. The inventive features center on prompting different stimuli, tracking binocular eye movement during each stimulus, collecting eye conjugacy data for each stimulus, and comparing the resulting data.

Across the independent claim, the coverage is anchored by collecting conjugacy data under a first stimulus and a different second stimulus, then comparing the conjugacy data to assess neurological function.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications