WO2021014458A1

WO2021014458A1 - Systems and methods for automated visual perceptual assessment

Info

Publication number: WO2021014458A1
Application number: PCT/IN2019/050745
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pulkit Dutt JOSHI; Ruby AIKAT; Anupam Kumar
Original assignee: Joshi Pulkit Dutt; Aikat Ruby; Anupam Kumar
Priority date: 2019-07-19
Filing date: 2019-10-07
Publication date: 2021-01-28

Abstract

A method for automated visual perceptual assessment of a patient includes the steps of, providing, via a handheld device, an interface to a user for initiating automated visual perceptual assessment of the patient; obtaining, from the user, a plurality of data sets to be entered into the interface, the plurality of data sets relating to visual perception skills of the patient; assigning a unique registration number to the plurality of data sets; and, assessing a plurality of domains corresponding to the plurality of data sets for determining a severity of a deficit in the visual perceptual skills of the patient.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATED VISUAL PERCEPTUAL

ASSESSMENT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of visual perceptual skills assessment, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for automated visual perceptual assessment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known that at present, paper-based scales are available to assess the visual perceptual skills of the individual and most of these scales are standardized for pediatric population only.

However, presently, there does not exist any standardized tool that takes the input in the digital format. Consequently, paper-based assessment tools are not able to cater the needs of individuals who have motor impairment because they would lack the physical capability to undertake such assessments. Moreover, the existing tests are lengthy and the documentation of the results of the test are done manually. Additionally, the reports of the clients also require to be generated manually. Hence, due to these reasons, a considerable effort is required from both the client and the assessor. Furthermore, scalability is an issue associated with the existing paper methods. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for innovative, novel, efficient solutions for providing systems and methods for automated visual perceptual assessment. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present disclosure have several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the present embodiments as expressed by the claims that follow, their more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled“Detailed Description”, one will understand how the features of the present embodiments provide advantages, which include providing systems and methods for automated visual perceptual assessment.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for automated visual perceptual assessment of a patient includes the steps of, providing, via a handheld device, an interface to a user for initiating automated visual perceptual assessment of the patient; obtaining, from the user, a plurality of data sets to be entered into the interface, the plurality of data sets relating to visual perception skills of the patient; assigning a unique registration number to the plurality of data sets; and, assessing a plurality of domains corresponding to the plurality of data sets for determining a severity of a deficit in the visual perceptual skills of the patient. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for automated visual perceptual assessment of a patient, according to an embodiment of the invention;

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Various embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein below, which relate to systems and methods for automated visual perceptual assessment. In use, the present invention discloses a novel and inventive way of assessing the visual perceptual skills of an individual.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for automated visual perceptual assessment of a patient includes the steps of, providing, via a handheld device, an interface to a user for initiating automated visual perceptual assessment of the patient; obtaining, from the user, a plurality of data sets to be entered into the interface, the plurality of data sets relating to visual perception skills of the patient; assigning a unique registration number to the plurality of data sets; and, assessing a plurality of domains corresponding to the plurality of data sets for determining a severity of a deficit in the visual perceptual skills of the patient.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the step of assessing the plurality of domains corresponding to the plurality of data sets includes assessing a total of eight (8) domains corresponding to the plurality of data sets. In use, each domain of the eight (8) domains includes five (5) levels. In further use, each level of the five (5) levels includes three (3) questions.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes the steps of, setting a timer for each question of the three (3) questions to determine a response time of the patient; automatically saving the response time of the patient for each question of the three (3) questions; and, generating a report including a test result for each patient, wherein the report is generated immediately or is made available to the user for retrieval at a later stage.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes the step of assessing visual perception of a plurality of individuals with impaired hand function via a camera mouse system. Those of ordinary skills in the art will appreciate that such individuals would not be able to give the responses by using the keyboard. In use, the step of assessing visual perception of the plurality of individuals with impaired hand function via the camera mouse system includes assessment of the plurality of individuals based on a movement of their heads and / or neck.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the handheld device as disclosed is an electronic device based on a computing platform having functionality of an enhanced personal digital assistant with cell phone and e-mail features. In use, the electronic device may be based on construction design and functionality of other electronic devices, such as smart telephones, desktop computers pagers or laptops having telephony equipment.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the electronic device includes one or more components, including, a housing, a liquid crystal display (LCD), one or more speakers, a light emitting diode (LED) indicator, one or more trackpads, one or more cameras, a telephone headset comprised of an ear bud and a microphone.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the automated visual perceptual assessment tool as disclosed herein is used to assess the visual perceptual skills of individuals. In use, this tool checks the severity of the client because this tool has graded levels of assessment. This tool, with the use of the camera mouse system, can be helpful for assessing the visual perceptual skills of persons with impaired motor responses. This tool saves time as compared to the conventional methods of assessment as it is easy to administer on the clients by just using the laptops or computers. It generates the client’s report instantly and also tells their response time. This tool, when used more than once over a period of time, can also give the progress/ deterioration of the client in the area of visual perceptual skills.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the systems and methods as disclosed herein relate to a digital tool for assessing the individual’s data that helps in developing reports as well as data for the analysis that would help in overall improvement in software as well as analysis.

Therefore, as may be seen, various embodiments of the present invention as disclosed hereinabove provide significant advantages over prior art, such as, for example, but not limited to, providing a tool for assessing the visual perceptual skills of the individuals. This tool is easy to administer and it saves the time of both the assessor and the client. It generates the report instantly and records the data. It also measures the response time of the client. This tool also assesses the visual perceptual skills of the individuals with impaired motor responses (such as Spinal cord Injury, Head injury, amputees) when used with the camera mouse system.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the systems and methods as disclosed herein gauge the eye movement of the user for tracking the input from the user. In use, since no additional physical device is required, even an individual with motor impairment can easily operate it or severely injured person can use under guidance.

Embodiments of the instant invention are aimed at assessing the visual perceptual skills of individuals who are not able to give responses through their motor actions such as spinal cord injury (tetraplegic), head injuries etc. by the use of the camera mouse system. This enhances the widespread application of this tool to assess the visual perceptual skills even for those individuals in whom otherwise it had been quite difficult to assess. This tool saves the time and the effort of the assessor in assessing the visual perceptual deficits. It also has an automatic recording system of the responses of the individuals on each item of the test.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the tools as disclose herein generate a client’s report, records the response time, has graded levels of visual perceptual areas which help in understanding the severity of the deficit in visual perceptual skills in the individual. The present invention also assesses the visual perceptual skills of individuals with impaired motor responses. In addition, the present invention has some realistic levels, it covers eight areas of visual perception, it saves time, easy to administer, and checks the severity of visual perceptual deficit in the individual. Hence, the present invention provides data gathering for data analytics.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,”“may,”“e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms "comprising," "including," 'having," and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term "or" is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term "or" means one, some, or all of the elements in the list.

While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the instant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described and that, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention as set forth in the Claims appended herewith. Therefore, the appended claims are to be construed to cover all equivalents falling within the true scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

I claim,

1. A method for automated visual perceptual assessment of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

providing, via a handheld device, an interface to a user for initiating automated visual perceptual assessment of said patient;

obtaining, from said user, a plurality of data sets to be entered into said interface, said plurality of data sets relating to visual perception skills of said patient;

assigning a unique registration number to said plurality of data sets; assessing a plurality of domains corresponding to said plurality of data sets for determining a severity of a deficit in said visual perceptual skills of said patient. 2. The method as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein said step of assessing said plurality of domains corresponding to said plurality of data sets comprises assessing a total of eight (8) domains corresponding to said plurality of data sets. 3. The method as claimed in Claim 2, wherein each domain of said eight

(8) domains comprises five (5) levels.

4. The method as claimed in Claim 3, wherein each level of said five (5) levels comprises three (3) questions.

5. The method as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

setting a timer for each question of said three (3) questions to determine a response time of said patient;

automatically saving said response time of said patient for each question of said three (3) questions; and,

generating a report comprising a test result for each patient, wherein said report is generated immediately or is made available to said user for retrieval at a later stage.

6. The method as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises the step of assessing visual perception of a plurality of individuals with impaired hand function via a camera mouse system. 7. The method as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said step of assessing visual perception of said plurality of individuals with impaired hand function via said camera mouse system comprises assessment of said plurality of individuals based on a movement of their heads and / or neck.