US4158920A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for testing for brain dysfunction in a human
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-02-23
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Granted: 1979-06-26
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Expires: 1997-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus are presented for testing a human operator, and in particular a small child, for brain dysfunction, which method and apparatus require the human operator to perform a primary task which includes centering a spot of light on a reference point by rapidly moving a control stick back and forth. The primary task is provided by a Zero Input Tracking Analyzer (ZITA) unit that has no initial input and automatically nulls the operator's error, from his previous attempt to center the spot, with each subsequent attempt. In order to make more prominent any evidence of brain dysfunction, a secondary task is provided by an Auxiliary Distraction Task (ADT) unit which produces a "distraction stress" while the operator is carrying out the primary task. This task requires the human operator to respond to the stimuli of high or low tones, presented to him by headphones, by moving another control stick forward or backward for the high and low pitches, respectively. A common display/recorder is used to record the performance on both tasks. Brain dysfunctions, including brain seizures, epilepsy, and hyperactivity, is evidenced by a slowness in response to the tasks, or complete non-responsiveness, due to very short lapses of consciousness or attention, which are characteristic of brain dysfunction.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman K. Walker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/16; A61B5/165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for testing a human operator for brain dysfunction comprising the steps of: providing a movable and visible tracking spot and a reference position therefor; causing movement of the spot solely in response to control commands initiated by the human operator including initially aligning the tracking spot with the reference position when a first control command is initiated by the operator and then causing the tracking spot to move away from the reference position in a first direction, initially aligning the tracking spot with the reference position when a second control command is initiated by the operator and then causing the tracking spot to move away from the reference position in a second direction; and recording the movements of the tracking spot for analysis.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for testing a human operator for brain dysfunction comprising the steps of: providing a movable and visible tracking spot and a reference position therefor; causing movement of the spot solely in response to control commands initiated by the human operator including initially aligning the tracking spot with the reference position when a first control command is initiated by the operator and then causing the tracking spot to move away from the reference position in a first direction, initially aligning the tracking spot with the reference position when a second control command is initiated by the operator and then causing the tracking spot to move away from the reference position in a second direction; and recording the movements of the tracking spot for analysis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the control commands are provided by a controller having a two position control stick, the method including the steps of moving the control stick to a first position to initiate the first control command and moving the control stick to a second position to initiate the second control command.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the control stick is moved back and forth between the first position and the second position as rapidly as possible.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 including causing the movement of the spot in the direction of the movement of the control stick.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 including the steps of providing an auditory stimuli of at least two different tones; supplying a different control response from the human operator for each tone; varying the order of presentation of the tones; and recording the different control responses for analysis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 including the steps of: providing an auxiliary stimulus; requiring the human operator to respond to the auxiliary stimulus; and recording the response for analysis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
101 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 including the steps of: providing the first control command for substantially, instantaneously and initially aligning the tracking spot with the reference position and then for allowing the tracking spot to move away from the reference position at a constant velocity in the first direction; and providing the second control command for substantially, instantaneously and initially aligning the tracking spot with the reference position and then for allowing the tracking spot to move away from the reference position at a constant velocity in the second direction, which second direction is opposite from the first direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 further including the steps of summing the area under a graph representing the record of the movement of the tracking spot.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 further including the steps of timing the time interval between movements of the control stick; detecting the time intervals that exceed a preselected minimum time interval; and counting or accumulating the detected time intervals.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for testing a human operator for brain dysfunction with an apparatus including a controller having a two-position control stick comprising the steps of: the human operator moving the control stick between the two positions as quickly as possible; and recording the movement of the control stick for analysis with a recording means as follows: initializing the recording means when the control stick is moved to one position; and then causing the recording means to track in a first direction; and initializing the recording means when the control stick is moved to the other position and then causing the recording means to track in a second direction.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for testing a human operator for brain dysfunction with an apparatus including a controller having a two-position control stick comprising the steps of: the human operator moving the control stick between the two positions as quickly as possible; and recording the movement of the control stick for analysis with a recording means as follows: initializing the recording means when the control stick is moved to one position; and then causing the recording means to track in a first direction; and initializing the recording means when the control stick is moved to the other position and then causing the recording means to track in a second direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method in accordance with claim 10 including the steps of: providing an auxiliary stimulus; requiring the human operator to respond to the auxiliary stimulus; and recording the response for analysis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method in accordance with claim 10 including the steps of providing an auditory stimuli of at least two different tones; supplying a different control response from the human operator for each tone; varying the order of presentation of the tones; and recording the different control responses for analysis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method for testing a human operator as claimed in claim 10 wherein said recording means provides a record and said recording means is initialized by substantially instantaneously aligning said recording means with a reference position when said control stick is moved to either the first or the second direction.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-06-25 | 1982-12-25 | 1983-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-06-25 | 1986-12-25 | 1987-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-06-25 | 1990-12-25 | 1991-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |