METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL SIGNALS

Abstract

Apparatus for the assessment of electrophysiological signals obtained from a patient, the apparatus comprising: a housing; a support arch pivotally mounted to the housing, the support arch comprising a plurality of facial contact point supports for supporting contact points on the face of the patient relative to the support arch without supporting the chin of the patient; at least one display screen for presenting a stimulus to a single eye of the patient, the at least one display screen being movable relative to the support arch; and control electronics disposed within the housing for driving the at least one display screen and for amplifying electrophysiological signals obtained from the patient.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the assessment of electrophysiological signals obtained from a patient, the apparatus comprising: a housing; a support arch pivotally mounted to the housing, the support arch comprising a plurality of facial contact point supports for supporting contact points on the face of the patient relative to the support arch without supporting the chin of the patient; at least one display screen for presenting a stimulus to a single eye of the patient, the at least one display screen being movable relative to the support arch; and control electronics disposed within the housing for driving the at least one display screen and for amplifying electrophysiological signals obtained from the patient.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of facial contact point supports are cushioned.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of facial contact point supports are uncushioned.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of facial contact point supports makes an electrical connection with the face of the patient.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the at least one facial contact point support serves as a reference electrode for the assessment of electrophysiological signals obtained from the patient.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising an active electrode for contacting the eye of the patient disposed before the at least one display screen, and a ground electrode for contacting the body of the patient.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one display screen comprises an OLED pattern display.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the OLED pattern display has at least one optical element disposed in front thereof, so that a magnified image of the OLED pattern display is presented to an eye of the patient.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one mechanism for adjusting the position of the at least one display screen with respect to at least one of the following: interocular distance, angle with the plane of the face of the patient relative to the support arch, distance from an eye of the patient, and vertical position with respect to the face of the patient.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising two display screens, wherein each display screen presents a stimulus to a single eye of the patient.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the control electronics are configured so that a pattern display is presented to a first eye of a patient with temporal and spatial modulation which is identical to the pattern display presented to the second eye of the patient.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the control electronics are configured so that a pattern display is presented to a first eye of a patient with temporal and spatial modulation which is different from the pattern display presented to the second eye of the patient.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the control electronics are configured to present a pattern display to the first eye of the patient while presenting no stimulus to the second eye of the patient, and further wherein none of the pattern perceived by the first eye of the patient can be seen by the second eye of the patient.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein presenting no stimulus to the second eye of the patient comprises providing no light to the second eye of the patient or providing a steady light to the second eye of the patient, wherein the steady light may be with or without a pattern.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a first electrode mounted to a first eye of the patient and a second electrode mounted to the second eye of the patient, wherein the apparatus comprises a first display screen for presenting a stimulus to a first eye of the patient and a second display screen for presenting a stimulus to the second eye of the patient, and further wherein the control electronics are configured to use the first electrode as the active electrode when the first eye is stimulated by the first display screen and to use the second electrode as the reference electrode when the first eye is stimulated by the first display screen.

16. A method for the assessment of electrophysiological signals obtained from a patient, the method comprising: providing apparatus comprising: a housing; a support arch pivotally mounted to the housing, the support arch comprising a plurality of facial contact point supports for supporting contact points on the face of the patient relative to the support arch without supporting the chin of the patient; at least one display screen for presenting a stimulus to a single eye of the patient, the at least one display screen being movable relative to the support arch; and control electronics disposed within the housing for driving the at least one display screen and for amplifying electrophysiological signals obtained from the patient; positioning the patient relative to the housing; adjusting the support arch relative to the housing so as to properly support the face of the patient relative to the housing, and adjusting the at least one display screen relative to the support arch; and stimulating an eye of the patient with the at least one display screen and obtaining an electrophysiological signal from the patient.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the apparatus comprises two display screens.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein a first eye of the patient and the second eye of the patient are stimulated one at a time so as to produce an ERG response which is traceable to a specific eye of the patient without requiring intervention by a clinician.

19. A method according to claim 17 wherein a first eye and the second eye are stimulated one at a time for the purpose of producing a VEP response traceable to a specific eye of the patient without requiring intervention by a clinician.

20. A method according to claim 16 wherein the apparatus is configured so as to allow the pupil size of an undilated, stimulated eye of the patient to be controlled by presenting a steady background light to the unstimulated eye of the patient in order to contract the pupils of both eyes to a given size.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the luminance of the steady background light is set by the control electronics.

22. A method according to claim 20 wherein pupil size is regulated by either pupillometry feedback or an open loop.

23. A method according to claim 22 wherein pupillometry feedback is obtained from at least one camera mounted near at least one eye.

24. A method according to claim 17 wherein the apparatus is configured to allow the simultaneous recording of both ERG and VEP responses from each of the first eye and the second eye separately without intervention by a clinician.

25. A method according to claim 16 wherein the apparatus further comprises a first electrode mounted to a first eye of the patient and a second electrode mounted to the second eye of the patient, wherein the apparatus comprises a first display screen for presenting a stimulus to a first eye of the patient and a second display screen for presenting a stimulus to the second eye of the patient, and further wherein the control electronics are configured to use the first electrode as the active electrode when the first eye is stimulated by the first display screen and to use the second electrode as the reference electrode when the first eye is stimulated by the first display screen.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the control circuitry is configured to measure both the first eye and the second eye by permitting both the first electrode and the second electrode to be plugged into a single amplifier input, while inverting or not inverting the output of that amplifier depending upon which of the first eye and the second eye is being stimulated.

27. A method according to claim 17 wherein the apparatus is configured to automatically test both the first eye and the second eye without requiring intervention by a clinician.

28. A method according to claim 16 wherein the control electronics are connected to electrodes via leads which are guided over electrically controlled surfaces that minimize capacitive coupling of the leads to other circuitry in the vicinity of the apparatus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] These and other objects and features of the present invention will be more fully disclosed or rendered obvious by the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, which is to be considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts, and further wherein:

[0043] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a novel electroretinography (ERG) apparatus formed in accordance with the present invention;

[0044] FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic side views of the novel electroretinography (ERG) apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0045] FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the novel electroretinography (ERG) apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0046] FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of the novel electroretinography (ERG) apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0047] FIG. 6 is a schematic rear view of the novel electroretinography (ERG) apparatus of FIG. 1; and

[0048] FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic views showing details of a support arch for the novel electroretinography (ERG) apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0049] As will hereinafter be discussed, the present invention provides a new and improved method and apparatus which:

[0050] (i) supports the head of a patient relative to the display used to perform electroretinography (ERG) while eliminating the need for a chin rest;

[0051] (ii) provides an improved display for performing electroretinography (ERG) that is obtainable (i.e., currently manufactured), brighter than a CRT and has no luminance artifact so as to allow a greater range of diagnostic tests;

[0052] (iii) provides a means of simultaneously stimulating each eye with patterns that are different, either temporally or spatially, or both (e.g., by displaying a different, dichoptic pattern to each eye);

[0053] (iv) provides a means of stimulating one eye with a modulated pattern, while illuminating the other, reference eye with a steady light in order to control the size of undilated pupils (e.g., to control pupil dilation nonmydriatically by presenting a steady background, either controlled by pupillometry feedback or open loop, to the unstimulated eye);

[0054] (v) eliminates the need for separate reference electrodes for each of the two active electrodes used in electroretinography (ERG);

[0055] (vi) locates the amplifier in a position that automatically ensures correct routing of the electrode lead wires; and

[0056] (vii) comprises a unit more compact than is possible with the free-viewing displays currently in use (e.g., by providing dual eye stimulation in a single, self-contained unit that is considerably smaller than any existing technology with similar capabilities).

[0057] More particularly, and looking now at FIGS. 1-6, there is shown a novel electroretinography (ERG) apparatus 5 formed in accordance with the present invention. Electroretinography (ERG) apparatus 5 generally comprises a control enclosure (or housing) 10, a support arch 15, and a display 20.

[0058] Control enclosure 10 is configured to be mounted to, or set on top of, a table (not shown) such that control enclosure 10 is disposed approximately at eye level with a patient seated in front of the control enclosure. Control enclosure 10 comprises control electronics for (i) driving display 20, and (ii) processing anatomical electrical signals evoked by display 20, e.g., a physiological amplifier (not shown), a plurality of physiological amplifier input ports 25 formed in the top surface of control enclosure 10 for connecting the corneal, reference and ground electrodes (not shown) to the physiological amplifier, etc.

[0059] Control enclosure 10 also comprises a power panel 30 (FIG. 6) for providing electrical power to the control electronics contained in control enclosure 10 (and/or for providing electrical power to an external computer and/or other accessories connected to control enclosure 10) and a USB connection 35 (FIG. 6) for controlling/programming (i) the control electronics contained in control enclosure 10, and/or (ii) display 20, e.g., via an external computer (not shown).

[0060] If desired, control enclosure 10 may also comprise a Ganzfeld connection 40 (FIG. 1) for connecting a Ganzfeld bar accessory (not shown) which may be mounted to support arch 15 and used to perform full field electroretinography (ERG). Support arch 15 is pivotally mounted to control enclosure 10 (e.g., at the base of control enclosure 10) by way of a pivot bearing 45 (sometimes hereinafter referred to as a “rotational pivot”). A locking control knob 50 (e.g., a threaded screw and knob) is provided at the base of pivot bearing 45 for releasably securing support arch 15 against rotation around pivot bearing 45 (i.e., to secure support arch 15 in position after support arch 15 has been rotated about pivot bearing 45 to a desired position). In one preferred form of the invention, support arch 15 is bent at an angle of approximately 40 degrees (FIG. 2) proximate to where support arch 15 is mounted to pivot bearing 45, whereby to facilitate alignment of support arch 15 (and hence display 20) with the head of a patient, as will hereinafter be discussed in greater detail.

[0061] A plurality of patient supports 55 (FIG. 1) are mounted to support arch 15 for contacting the face of a patient (i.e., the plurality of patient supports 55 collectively define a “facial resting area”) as will hereinafter be discussed. In one preferred form of the invention, patient supports 55 are configured so that two of the patient supports 55 engage the forehead of the patient and two of the patient supports 55 engage the cheeks of the patient. Note that patient supports 55 make “point contacts” with the face of the patient (as opposed to large, extended surface area contacts with the face of the patient, such as might be provided by a face mask, or by an extended support bar, etc.) and do not engage the underside of the chin of the patient. In one preferred form of the invention, each patient support 55 has a surface area of approximately 2-6 square centimeters. Patient supports 55 are preferably either spring-mounted to, or fixed with relation to, support arch 15, and may be independently adjustable relative to support arch 15 so as to accommodate the anatomical differences of a wide range of patients. Patient supports 55 may be cushioned or uncushioned. In a preferred form of the present invention, four patient supports 55 are provided, however, it should be appreciated that a greater or lesser number of patient supports 55 may be provided if desired.

[0062] If desired, patient supports 55 may be configured to also be used as electrodes, eliminating the need for separate application of one or more types of electrodes. By way of example but not limitation, patient supports 55 may provide a conductive element configured to contact the skin of a patient when the face of a patient is supported on patient supports 55. By way of further example but not limitation, patient supports 55 may be configured to be used as ground electrodes when the face of a patient is supported on patient supports 55.

[0063] Display 20 comprises a pair of independently movable screens 60L, 60R (sometimes hereinafter referred to as “pattern displays”) which are mounted to the upper portion of support arch 15 by way of a display mount 65 (FIG. 1). In one preferred form of the present invention, independently movable screens 60L, 60R comprise organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens for independently (i.e., dichoptically) delivering an image to the left eye and/or the right eye of a patient, respectively. Significantly, the

[0064] OLED screens used to form screens 60L, 60R are not modulated except by the pattern displayed thereon and are free of luminance artifact, so they are highly suitable as electrophysiology stimulators. It is believed that providing screens 60L, 60R, formed out of OLEDs which are not modulated except by the pattern thereon, provides a novel electrophysiology stimulator.

[0065] In one preferred form of the invention, each of the screens 60L, 60R has at least one optical element disposed in front thereof, so that magnified images of the screens 60L, 60R are presented to the eyes of the user.

[0066] Display mount 65 comprises a rotational control knob 70 for selectively pivoting display 20 (and hence, independently movable screens 60L, 60R) toward and away from the plane defined by support arch 15 (i.e., toward and away from the face of a patient supported on patient supports 55). Note that independently movable screens 60L, 60R may be mounted to display mount 65 so that independently movable screens 60L, 60R are coplanar with one another, or so that independently movable screens 60L, 60R are held at a fixed angle relative to one another, or so that independently movable screens 60L, 60R are held at a variable angle relative to one another. Display mount 65 also comprises an inner ocular control knob 75 for selectively moving independently movable screens 60L, 60R either toward one another or away from one another, whereby to accommodate different ocular distances between the left and right eyes (as can vary among different patients). Display mount 65 also comprises a height control knob 80 for selectively moving independently movable screens 60L, 60R up or down relative to support arch 15 (i.e., up or down relative to the face of a patient supported on patient supports 55).

[0067] Thus it will be seen that support arch 15 is adjustably mounted to control enclosure (or housing) 10 via pivot bearing 45; display mount 65 is mounted to support arch 15; display 20 is adjustably mounted to display mount 65, with position adjustments being made by rotational control knob 70 and height control knob 80; and independently movable screens 60L, 60R are adjustably mounted to display 20, with positional adjustments being made by inner ocular control knob 75 for selectively moving independently movable screens 60L, 60R either toward one another or away from one another, and with independently movable screens 60L, 60R being capable of variable positioning with respect to display 20, e.g., so that independently movable screens 60L, 60R may be adjustably positioned relative to the eyes of the patient and to one another.

[0068] It will be appreciated that a patient can be seated in front of electroretinography (ERG) apparatus 5 and support arch 15 can be pivoted about pivot bearing 45 so as to align patient supports 55 with the face of the patient. Support arch 15 is then secured in place against rotation about pivot bearing 45 by tightening control knob 50.

[0069] The patient then rests their face on patient supports 55, and the position of independently movable screens 60L, 60R is adjusted by way of rotational control knob 70, inner ocular control knob 75 and height control knob 80 so as to properly align independently movable screens 60L, 60R with the left and right eyes of the patient, respectively. By virtue of this construction, it will be appreciated that a chin support is not required, and the patient may rest their face on patient supports 55 without tightening the facial musculature, thereby facilitating a superior diagnostic result. Furthermore, inasmuch as support arch 15 is bent near its base at an angle of approximately 40 degrees (see FIG. 2), it will be appreciated that support arch 15 can accommodate a wide range of different patient heights without requiring that the entire electroretinography (ERG) apparatus 5 be moved up or down relative to the patient. More particularly, in order to accommodate a relatively tall patient, support arch 15 is pivoted about pivot bearing 45 towards control enclosure 10 such that the patient is “looking down” into independently movable screens 60L, 60R; in order to accommodate a relatively short patient, support arch 15 is pivoted about pivot bearing 45 away from control enclosure 10 such that the patient is “looking up” into independently movable screens 60L, 60R.

[0070] It will also be appreciated that since display 20 is mounted to support arch 15 (i.e., via display mount 65), and since support arch 15 is directly pivotally mounted to control enclosure 10, the distance between the electrodes (mounted to the patient) and physiological amplifier input ports 25 is greatly reduced over prior art amplifier/display systems, and that lead wires running from the electrodes (mounted to the patient) to the amplifier input ports 25 are led over the main body of the control enclosure 10 which forms a controlled scheme to minimize differential capacitive coupling between the various lead wires and EMI sources in the room. One or more cables (not shown) extend from the patient electrodes, along the top of control enclosure 10, e.g., in grooves (not shown) formed on the top surface of control enclosure 10, and into the plurality of physiological amplifier input ports 25 formed in the top surface of control enclosure 10, so as to electrically connect the patient electrodes to the physiological amplifier inputs 25 (and hence to the control electronics contained within control enclosure 10). By virtue of this construction, the cables connecting the patient to the physiological amplifier inputs 25 (and hence to the control electronics contained within control enclosure 10) do not run adjacent to any electrically uncontrolled surfaces (e.g., an ungrounded metal table top), and therefore are not subject to electromagnetic interference which may otherwise degrade the signal sent from the patient electrodes to physiological amplifier inputs 25 (and hence to the control electronics contained within control enclosure 10).

[0071] Additionally, since independently movable screens 60L, 60R are independently drivable, it is possible to stimulate each of the eyes independently of one another in a dichoptic fashion. By way of example but not limitation, by utilizing a pair of DTL thread electrodes (i.e., one electrode contacting the cornea of the left eye and one electrode contacting the cornea of the right eye), it will be appreciated that when the left eye is stimulated (i.e., by screen 60L), the DTL thread electrode contacting the right eye can act as the reference electrode. And it will be appreciated that when the right eye is stimulated (i.e., by screen 60R), the DTL thread electrode contacting the left eye can act as the reference electrode. Hence, with an electrode configuration that utilizes two DTL thread electrodes, the need for a separate reference electrode attached to the head of a patient is eliminated. Thus, possible errors introduced by misplacement of the reference electrode are also eliminated. This is a significant advance in the art.

[0072] Also, a steady background light produced by the display (e.g., screen 60L or 60R) driving the unstimulated eye can be used to force the pupil of the stimulated eye to a particular diameter, with the process being controlled by either (i) utilizing a pupillometry camera or cameras, focused on each eye, to regulate the intensity of the steady background light, or (ii) by simply driving the background light to a known luminance. This approach is possible because, anatomically, when the pupil in one eye is driven to a particular diameter (e.g., by appropriate exposure of light), the pupil in the other eye automatically adjusts to a similar diameter in concert with the driven pupil. In other words, in accordance with the present invention, where one eye is being stimulated for the assessment of electrophysiological signals, and where it is desirable for the stimulated eye to have a known, constant dilation, the unstimulated eye can be presented with an background steady background light that can drive the unstimulated eye to a known, constant dilation, which will in turn cause the stimulated eye to dilate to a known, constant dilation. The dilation of the unstimulated eye can be controlled by a pupillometry camera observing either eye, or by driving the background light to a known luminance. Thus pupil size, and therefore retinal illuminance, can be held constant without dilating the pupil of the eye which is being stimulated for electrophysiological assessment. This approach for controlling pupil diameter is superior to adjusting the stimulation intensity in accordance with a measured diameter of the pupil because retinal illuminance depends on more than just pupil diameter, as explained above. This unique feature is also an important advance in the art.

[0073] It should also be appreciated that, if desired, support arch 15 may comprise a plurality of “mirrored” sections (i.e., a plurality of “mirror-image” sections 85A, 85B; 90A, 90B; 95A, 95B; 100A, 100B) which are assembled together to make the support arch (see FIGS. 7 and 8). Constructing support arch 15 out of a plurality of “mirrored” segments reduces machining costs and simplifies the manufacture of electroretinography (ERG) apparatus 5.

Modifications of the Preferred Embodiments

[0074] It should be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the present invention, may be made by those skilled in the art while still remaining within the principles and scope of the invention.