Device to determine visuo-spatial ability

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9386949-B2
Application number	US-201314414600-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2013
Priority date	Jul 13, 2012
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

The device ( 10 ) disclosed herein assists in the diagnosis and classification of neurodegenerative diseases through the assessment of a subject's visuo-spatial ability. The device ( 10 ) has a touch-screen display ( 11 ) into which a user can input data utilizing a stylus ( 13 ) or the like. A position reader is provided, linked to a position data storage means and also a timer to link a time value to said position data, the time value being stored in a time data storage means. Storage means is also provided for preset-value data relating to known data on medical conditions, with the preset-value data having been produced in accordance with an evolutionary algorithm. A comparator compares the user input data with the preset-value data, and the result is output.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for use in the assessment of a neurodegenerative condition, said device comprising:
a touch-screen display screen or digital tablet to display predefined images or text, and to allow a user to input data;
a stylus enabling a user to input the data;
a position reader, linked to a position data storage and also a timer to link a time value to said position data and time data storage to store said time values;
preset-value data storage in which data on medical conditions is stored, said preset-value data storage having been produced in accordance with an evolutionary algorithm; and
a comparator to compare input position data with the predefined image or text on the screen or tablet and preset-value data;
said comparator producing an output value and relating the output value to a medical condition.

2. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the comparator compares one of the following characteristics of the input data and the predefined image or text:
1) measures from Gestalt psychology;
2) the accuracy with which relative positioning of pairs of shapes are positioned;
3) the precision and degree with which a shape is reproduced;
4) the similarity with which different instances of a particular shape is reproduced;
5) the extent to which a shape is closed, e.g. of the circles or of the rectangles, triangles etc;
6) how well symmetrical shapes are reproduced such that the symmetry is maintained;
7) the existence and size of common regions between shapes; and
8) the existence of incorrectly connected shapes and the degree of this incorrectness.

3. A device according to claim 2 , wherein measures from Gestalt Psychology are used.

4. A device according to claim 2 , wherein said comparator utilises fuzzy set operators.

5. A device according to claim 2 , wherein a classifier score is ascribed to components of the predefined image or text.

6. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the position data is vectorised.

7. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the device includes a processor to derive dynamic data such as velocity and acceleration data from the position data.

8. A device according to claim 7 , wherein said comparator compares the dynamic data with that in a dynamic data storage.

9. A device according to claim 7 , wherein the input data and dynamic data are assigned classification values.

10. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the characteristics of the predefined image or text are expressed as a mathematical expression, said mathematical expression having been derived utilising an evolutionary algorithm.

11. A device according to claim 10 , wherein an evolutionary evolved expression is examined to identify those common aspects of users' input data that contributed most to the expression.

12. A device according to claim 11 , wherein a second evolutionary algorithm is derived based on the identified common aspects.

13. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the device derives position data at a rate of from 10-500 Hz.

14. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the position data is derived at a rate of 100-250 Hz.

15. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the position data is derived at a rate of 200 Hz.

Assignees

• Univ York

Inventors

• Smith Stephen
• Lones Michael Adam

Classifications

• G06F18/2111

  by using evolutionary computational techniques, e.g. genetic algorithms · CPC title

• G06V10/993

  Evaluation of the quality of the acquired pattern · CPC title

• G06V10/752

  Contour matching · CPC title

• A61B5/16 Primary

  Devices for psychotechnics (using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00); Testing reaction times {; Devices for evaluating the psychological state} · CPC title

• A61B5/7246

  using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity · CPC title