US4889422A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and means for detecting dyslexia
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1986-01-28
•
Granted: 1989-12-26
•
Expires: 2006-01-28
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses a diagnostic device and method for detecting various neurological conditions, particularly dyslexia. Eye movement patterns of the subject to be tested are separated into saccadic movement (both progressive and regressive) vergence, pursuit movements and fixations, and the subject's specific eye movement pattern, as evaluated against a specific stimulus, and normal patterns is used for diagnostic purposes. A variety of eye movement detectors is disclosed, together with a sampling means which evaluates the eye position at intervals of less than 10 milliseconds. A data processing means is used to isolate the significant samples and categorizes the retained data samples into the foregoing eye movements. The eye movement patterns are then evaluated against a statistical data base to determine the kind and severity of the diagnosed condition. For example, dyslexic individuals exhibit a high number of regressive saccades, while drug and alcohol impaired individuals are unable follow a stimulus with a pursuit movement, but must rely on a series of short saccades.
Inventors
- 👤 George Pavlidis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:03
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B3/00; A61B3/10; A61B3/113; A61B5/00; A61B5/16; A61B5/163; A61B5/165; G; G16; G16H; G16H15/00; A61B5/72; A61B5/7235; A61B5/7239
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia, said system comprising: (a) means for stimulating a predetermined pattern of eye movement in a subject to be tested for dyslexia, (b) means for detecting eye movement in a subject observing said means for stimulating eye movement, said detecting means providing an electrical output signal in response to said movement, (c) processor means for receiving said electrical output signal, said processor means further including, (i) means for sampling the output signal to obtain a series of successive eye positions, (ii) means for converting said successive eye positions into data representing eye movements, (iii) means for analyzing said data by direction, duration and amplitude in order to differentiate between forward saccadic movements, reverse saccadic movements, pursuit movements and fixations, (iv) means for comparing the number and placement of reverse saccadic eye movements with predetermined patterns to determine the existence of dyslexia, (d) output means for enabling display of said diagnosis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia, said system comprising: (a) means for stimulating a predetermined pattern of eye movement in a subject to be tested for dyslexia, (b) means for detecting eye movement in a subject observing said means for stimulating eye movement, said detecting means providing an electrical output signal in response to said movement, (c) processor means for receiving said electrical output signal, said processor means further including, (i) means for sampling the output signal to obtain a series of successive eye positions, (ii) means for converting said successive eye positions into data representing eye movements, (iii) means for analyzing said data by direction, duration and amplitude in order to differentiate between forward saccadic movements, reverse saccadic movements, pursuit movements and fixations, (iv) means for comparing the number and placement of reverse saccadic eye movements with predetermined patterns to determine the existence of dyslexia, (d) output means for enabling display of said diagnosis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
155 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia, said system comprising: (a) means for stimulating a predetermined pattern of eye movement in a subject to be tested for dyslexia, (b) means for detecting eye movement in a subject observing said means for stimulating eye movement, said detecting means providing an electrical output signal in response to said movement, (c) processor means for receiving said electrical output signal, said processor means further including, (i) means for sampling the output signal to obtain a series of successive eye positions, (ii) means for linearizing and converting said successive eye positions into data representing eye movements, said linearization being conducted on the successive eye positions, (iii) means for analyzing said eye movements and differentiating between forward and reverse saccadic movements, pursuit movements and fixations, (iv) means for comparing said eye movements to predetermined patterns determine the existence of dyslexia, (d) output means for enabling display of said diagnosis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
155 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia, said system comprising: (a) means for stimulating a predetermined pattern of eye movement in a subject to be tested for dyslexia, (b) means for detecting eye movement in a subject observing said means for stimulating eye movement, said detecting means providing an electrical output signal in response to said movement, (c) processor means for receiving said electrical output signal, said processor means further including, (i) means for sampling the output signal to obtain a series of successive eye positions, (ii) means for linearizing and converting said successive eye positions into data representing eye movements, said linearization being conducted on the successive eye positions, (iii) means for analyzing said eye movements and differentiating between forward and reverse saccadic movements, pursuit movements and fixations, (iv) means for comparing said eye movements to predetermined patterns determine the existence of dyslexia, (d) output means for enabling display of said diagnosis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
149 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia, said system comprising: (a) means for stimulating a predetermined pattern of eye movement in a subject to be tested for dyslexia, (b) means for detecting eye movement in a subject observing said means for stimulating eye movement, said detecting means providing an electrical output signal in response to said movement, (c) processor means for receiving said electrical output signal, said processor means further including, (i) means for sampling the output signal to obtain a series of successive eye positions, (ii) means for converting said successive eye positions into data representing eye movements, (iii) means for analyzing said eye movements and differentiating between forward and reverse saccadic movements, pursuit movements and fixations, (iv) means for comparing the accuracy of the eye position over time with respect to the stimulus to diagnose dyslexia, (d) output means for enabling display of said diagnosis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
149 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia, said system comprising: (a) means for stimulating a predetermined pattern of eye movement in a subject to be tested for dyslexia, (b) means for detecting eye movement in a subject observing said means for stimulating eye movement, said detecting means providing an electrical output signal in response to said movement, (c) processor means for receiving said electrical output signal, said processor means further including, (i) means for sampling the output signal to obtain a series of successive eye positions, (ii) means for converting said successive eye positions into data representing eye movements, (iii) means for analyzing said eye movements and differentiating between forward and reverse saccadic movements, pursuit movements and fixations, (iv) means for comparing the accuracy of the eye position over time with respect to the stimulus to diagnose dyslexia, (d) output means for enabling display of said diagnosis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or 3, said system further comprising a calibration means for linearizing the output signals from said eye movement detector means, before said signals are differentiated into eye movements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein said means for stimulating eye movement includes a series of sequentially, illuminated stimuli, arranged in a lateral array.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for stimulating eye movement include a series of photo diodes mounted on the eye movement detector to be viewed by the subject through a partially reflective mirror.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 5 wherein said diodes are spaced to provide approximately 2°-6° of eye movement between each diode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein said means for stimulating eye movements includes a synchronization means for correlating detected eye movements with a predetermined stimuli.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 7, wherein said predetermined stimuli appear on an electronic display device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 7, wherein said stimuli include a slowly moving stimulus to stimulate pursuit eye movement in the observer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 7, wherein said stimulus includes a plurality of stimuli that may be synchronously activated, randomly activated or sequentially activated in a lateral direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein said means for converting said successive eye positions into data converts said positions into x-y coordinate values.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said means for analyzing said data compares the length and location of a fixation period with the length and location of a fixation stimulus.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
An automated system for determining the existence, severity and kind of dyslexia as claimed in claim 1 2 or 3, wherein said means for analyzing said data and categorizing said eye movement compares the average and total length of forward and regressive eye movements with the average and total length of all eye movements combined.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein said output means also displays eye movement categories as a series of x-y movements in relation to time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the existence of dyslexia is determined by comparing the percentage of saccadic regressions with a predefined statistical average.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 2 or 3, determined statistical parameters to determine the severity of dyslexia.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
An automated system for determining the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein said means for detecting eye movements includes a diode array.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
An automated system for detecting the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 18, wherein said diode array is a linear array.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for identifying the existence of dyslexia, said method comprising: (a) stimulating eye movement in a subject to be tested for dyslexia, (b) detecting eye movement in said subject being stimulated, and converting the magnitude and direction of eye movement to an electronic signal, (c) sampling the electronic signal at intervals and converting said samples to data representing eye positions, (d) automatically analyzing said data samples by direction, duration and amplitude with an electronic data processor and according to a predetermined program to differentiate saccadic movements, pursuit movements and fixations, (e) comparing the number and placement of regressive saccade movements with predetermined patterns of movements to determine the existence of dyslexia.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for identifying the existence of dyslexia, said method comprising: (a) stimulating eye movement in a subject to be tested for dyslexia, (b) detecting eye movement in said subject being stimulated, and converting the magnitude and direction of eye movement to an electronic signal, (c) sampling the electronic signal at intervals and converting said samples to data representing eye positions, (d) automatically analyzing said data samples by direction, duration and amplitude with an electronic data processor and according to a predetermined program to differentiate saccadic movements, pursuit movements and fixations, (e) comparing the number and placement of regressive saccade movements with predetermined patterns of movements to determine the existence of dyslexia.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for identifying the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 20 which further comprises the step of linearizing the output signals from said eye movement detector before said signals from said eye movement detector are analyzed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method for identifying the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 20 or 21 which further includes stimulating eye movement in the observer with sequentially illuminated stimuli arranged in a lateral array.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for identifying the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 20 or 21, which further comprises the step of synchronizing the detected eye movements with a predetermined stimulus.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for identifying the existence of dyslexia as claimed in claim 20 or 21, wherein the step of stimulating eye movement is performed with one or more stimuli created on the face of an electronic display device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
109 words
The new use of a computer in diagnosing dyslexia, said use comprising: (a) generating a signal to initiate a visual stimulus for observation by an individual to be diagnosed, (b) sampling an electrical signal created by an eye movement detector to distinguish between saccadic movements and pursuit eye movements, (c) recording only those samples which indicate a change in eye movement, (d) analyzing said recorded samples to determine at least the direction, duration and amplitude of the movements in order to differentiate between forward and reverse saccade movements, pursuit movements and fixations, (e) comparing the patterns of eye movements with a predefined pattern to determine if dyslexia is present.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
109 words
The new use of a computer in diagnosing dyslexia, said use comprising: (a) generating a signal to initiate a visual stimulus for observation by an individual to be diagnosed, (b) sampling an electrical signal created by an eye movement detector to distinguish between saccadic movements and pursuit eye movements, (c) recording only those samples which indicate a change in eye movement, (d) analyzing said recorded samples to determine at least the direction, duration and amplitude of the movements in order to differentiate between forward and reverse saccade movements, pursuit movements and fixations, (e) comparing the patterns of eye movements with a predefined pattern to determine if dyslexia is present.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The new use of a computer in diagnosing dyslexia as claimed in claim 25, wherein the visual stimuli are generated on a cathode ray tube.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
The new use of a computer as claimed in claim 26 which further includes the step of initiating a series of sequentially illuminated stimuli, where said stimuli are arranged in a lateral array.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The new use of a computer as claimed in claim 25 or 26 wherein the percentage of regressive saccade movements is compared with a predetermined percentage to determine dyslexia.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3473868A
Cited
US3583794A
Cited
US3689135A
Cited
US3679295A
Cited
US3970990A
Cited
US3864030A
Cited
US3842822A
Cited
US3952728A
Cited
US4102564A
Cited
US4003642A
Cited
US4169663A
Cited
US4237383A
Cited
US4287410A
Cited
US4373787A
Cited
US4474186A
Cited
US4368959A
Cited
US4387974A
Cited
US4528989A
Cited
US4648052A
Cited
US4613219A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-12-25 | 1993-06-26 | 1993-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-25 | 1997-06-26 | 1997-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-25 | 2001-06-26 | 2001-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |