Method of Three-dimensional Video-oculography
JHU researchers describe a novel, inexpensive, method and apparatus for real time measurement of binocular three-dimensional rotational eye position and velocity. The method employs consumer grade digital video cameras to track an array of three fluorescent non-collinear markers affixed to each eye. A software element uses the positions of these markers before and after an eye rotation to construct a rotation matrix describing the eye rotation. The mathematical computation used to determine the rotation matrix is conceptually simpler and computationally more efficient than methods previously described, allowing generation of binocular three-dimensional eye position in real-time during image acquisition. When tested in vitro, the method had a >94% accuracy for eye positions within 20* of center. JHU researchers compared this method of video-oculography (VOG) to the scleral search coil technique by measuring three-dimensional eye position simultaneously using scleral search coils and VOG in a chinchilla. The difference between the two methods was <5%. A second embodiment of the invention employs the same technique with faster cameras at higher resolution, yielding improved performance at increased cost. Description (Set) Proposed Use (Set) Eye movement systems used in most laboratories, such as scleral search coil systems and most video-oculography systems, are prohibitively expensive and require substantial technical expertise to use and maintain. In contrast, the current system can be packaged as a low cost and easily portable alternative. Although we predominately use the system for measurement in animals, it is easily extended to humans. Human eye movement measurement systems are commonly used in clinical evaluation of patients with disorders of the inner ear and nervous system and in scientific research regarding these disorders. Additional potential applications include measurement of eye position and movements to convey information to a computer system for data entry, for command and control (e.g., navigation of computer-controlled equipment), for communication, and for the enhancement of virtual reality-based displays. Patent (Set) WO 2005/077259 A1Inventor(s): Della Santina, Charles Coleman
Type of Offer: Licensing
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