JPH02140136A - Eyeball motion analyzing device and target to be used for this device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute the various regular and irregular types of display even when a visible light radiating index part, which can be visually observed in a dark room, in front of an eye is formed in a point, line or plane shape by providing a goggle to form the dark room in front of the eye and providing a visible light radiating part, which can freely switch the display, over the almost whole area of a cup-shaped spherical inner wall surface, which defines an eyeball rotation center as a center, in the eyepiece moving part of an internal part. CONSTITUTION:As a target 8 to be arranged in a goggle 1 of an eyeball motion analyzing device, the visible light radiating part to freely switch the display is provided over the almost whole area of the cup-shaped spherical inner wall surface to define the eyeball rotation center as the center. Accordingly, an equipment and setting can be made easy and there is an effect not to need correction in data analysis. The spherical inner wall surface is always arranged in an equal distance. Then, eye oscillation and eyeball motion to react stimulation due to the move of the target can be accurately observed by the display switch of a light emitting diode, etc., such as to move a point, a line, a curved line, a circle or another vertical stripe, to execute surface display, rotation or to provide the different brightness difference according to the size of a display range, etc. Further, this device can be applied to the measurement of a view or the check of pupil reflection as well.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention is an optical viewing device for observing eye movements in horizontal, vertical, tilting, or rotational directions when the eyes of a subject chase a visual target. The present invention relates to an eye movement analysis device for recording and analyzing, and an optotype used in this device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Traditionally, EOG (e 1e
ctro-ocu logy) is well known,
It is also applied clinically. This involves placing electrodes on the skin around the eyes and recording the potential difference that occurs as the eye moves, using the inherent potential difference between the cornea and retina. It is said that the generation of this potential difference is approximately proportional to the rotation angle of the eyeball.

Also disclosed is a method (PENG) of detecting eyeball movement using the difference in the reflection characteristics of infrared light irradiated to the cornea and sclera.

Furthermore, the applicant of the present application has previously filed an application for an "eye movement testing device" in Japanese Patent Application No. 145425/1983. In this invention, a dark room is formed in front of the subject's eyes, and invisible infrared rays are used in goggles equipped with head-mounted means, and a video signal of eye movement is outputted by an infrared detection television camera. be.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Among the conventional methods described above, in the EOG method, electrodes are placed on the skin around the eyes, so if the potential change on the skin has the same frequency as the eye movement, There is a problem in that noise is generated, making it difficult to detect the potential difference between the cornea and the retina, resulting in instability. Additionally, when the subject is forced to close their eyelids in order to remove the visual fixation that reduces the nystagmus response, there is also the drawback that a vertical nystagmus response occurs.

In addition, in the method that uses the reflected light of infrared rays irradiated on the cornea and sclera, it is possible to accurately detect changes in the horizontal direction during eye movement, but since the eyelids are present, movement is restricted and changes in the vertical direction and rotation are detected accurately. There is a drawback that the detection of eye movement in the direction is extremely narrow.

Furthermore, detection methods using EOG and infrared rays require a large space to separately prepare optotypes for visual inspection by the examinee, and there are other problems such as the examination room must be dark. be.

Compared to the above-mentioned method, the invention of Japanese Patent Application No. 145425/1983 forms a dark room in front of the eyes and provides goggles equipped with a means for attaching to the head, so it is easy to put on and take off the goggles, and the visual target can be placed inside the goggles. There is no need for large-scale equipment such as setting up a separate visual target, and the subject can move while wearing it on the head, and eye movements can be directly observed and recorded using infrared detection. It has advantages over conventional examples, such as providing a device for analyzing the data.

However, there are some parts that are not disclosed regarding the type, shape, arrangement, etc. of the optotypes installed in the goggles.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and also to use a visible light emitting part that can be freely switched as a target for visual observation, so that the display can be freely switched not only in the horizontal and vertical directions but also in the tilted and rotational directions. We would like to provide an eye movement analysis device that can deal with a wide range of physiological eye movements and abnormal eye movements, that can be used as a perimeter, and that can test pupillary reflexes due to changes in brightness and darkness, and also provide optotypes for use with this device. That is.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides, as a first invention, goggles that are detachably attached to the subject's head and that block external visible light and form a dark room in front of the eyes. , an eyepiece moving part whose movement can be adjusted within the goggles so as to be close to the monocular or both eyes; an invisible infrared light source mounted on or in conjunction with the eyepiece moving part and illuminating the eyeball;
an infrared video analysis device installed on or in conjunction with the eyepiece moving unit to observe, record, and analyze eyeball movements with a television camera using the reflected invisible light, the eyepiece moving unit: This eye movement analysis device is equipped with an optotype as a visible light emitting part whose display can be switched freely over almost the entire inner wall surface of a bowl-shaped spherical surface centered on the center of rotation of the eyeball.

The visible light emitting part of the apparatus of the first invention serves as an optotype as a viewing part for the subject, and the second invention uses a light emitting diode as the optotype to approximately the inner wall surface of a bowl-shaped spherical surface centered on the center of rotation of the eyeball. Visual targets placed throughout the area were used.

Furthermore, in the third invention and below, instead of the light emitting diode, the core tip of an optical fiber, a liquid crystal, a CRT,
A plurality of laser beams and the like are arranged in the same manner as described above.

Function: In the first aspect of the present invention, goggles are provided that are detachably attached to the subject's head and block external visible light to form a dark room in front of the eyes, making it easy to create a small dark room just in front of the eyes. The test subject has a large degree of freedom because it is removably attached to and integrated with the subject's head. Then, an eyepiece moving part that can be adjusted to move close to the monocular or both eyes is installed inside these goggles, and it can be operated manually or automatically using electric or electronic circuits, and can be adjusted according to the position of the subject's eyeballs. ,
The position of the eyepiece moving unit can be set in the horizontal direction, vertical direction, forward and backward directions, and in accordance with the interpupillary distance between both eyes.

This eyepiece moving part is equipped with an invisible infrared light source that illuminates the subject's eyeballs, and the reflected invisible light is detected by an infrared video analysis device via a television camera and recorded.
Through analysis, we can observe, record, and record the eye movements of subjects.
I'm trying to analyze it. Therefore, since the light is invisible to the subject, the eyeball can be directly observed without visual fixation, and its movement can be recorded and analyzed. Moreover, it is possible to observe with only one eye or both eyes at the same time.

This eyepiece moving part is equipped with a visible radiation part that can be switched freely over almost the entire bowl-shaped spherical inner wall surface centered on the eyeball rotation center, so that the visible radiation part that can be seen visually in the dark room in front of the eye is a point. It is now possible to move not only horizontally and vertically in a line or plane, but also to move diagonally and rotate, making regular movement and irregular display possible.

Therefore, gliding eye movements and saccadic eye movements can be freely selected and performed by switching the display of the visible radiation section, and the visual field can be measured, and it can also be applied to pupillary reflexes due to changes in brightness. All of these eye movements can be observed through an infrared video analysis device, recorded and analyzed, and can be used to treat the eyes, as well as to diagnose and treat the inner ear, balance nerves, central nervous system, etc. that can be determined through eye movements.

The second invention shows an optotype as a visible radiation part used in the above-mentioned eye movement analysis device, and the visible radiation part is a bowl-shaped inner wall surface of a spherical surface centered on the eyeball rotation center, and the visible radiation part is a bowl-shaped spherical inner wall surface centered on the eyeball rotation center. We used light-emitting diodes whose display can be switched freely.

You can display points, lines, areas, or move vertical stripes on the spherical inner wall surface.
Furthermore, it can be freely changed by switching the display as an optotype for testing pupillary reflexes and the like by changing the brightness and darkness by changing the display area, and eye movement is performed to visually observe this.

In the third invention and the following, in place of the light emitting diode, a liquid crystal (
(3rd invention), CRT (4th invention), optical fiber (5th invention)
invention) and laser light (sixth invention), each of which can function as a visible radiation section by switching the display on the spherical inner wall surface.

Example Hereinafter, drawings shown as examples will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an eye movement analysis device. Goggles 1 are detachably attached to the subject's head, and block external visible light to form a dark room 2 in front of the subject's eyes. 3.3a indicates the eyeballs of both eyes, and 4 indicates the head. Inside the goggles 1, an eyepiece moving part 5.5a is provided which can be moved and adjusted so as to be close to the eyeball 3.3a. Reference numeral 6.6a denotes an invisible infrared light source, which is provided integrally on the eyepiece moving section 5.5a to illuminate the eyeball. Note that this invisible infrared light source 6.6a does not have to be integrated on the eyepiece moving part, but may be linked so that it can illuminate the eyeball. Reference numeral 7.7a denotes a television camera, which is installed on the eyepiece moving unit 5.5a, and can detect eye movement using the reflected invisible light, and can observe, record, and analyze it via a monitor computer. In addition, TV camera 7
．． 7a may be linked with the eyepiece moving section, and the optical axis may be aligned so as to receive the reflected light from the eyeball. 8
．． Reference numeral 8a denotes an optotype, which is provided on the eyepiece moving part 5.5a and serves as a visible light emitting part whose display can be switched freely over almost the entire area of the bowl-shaped spherical inner wall surface centered on the eyeball rotation center. 9
．． Reference numeral 9a denotes a monitor, which is arranged so that the optical axis of the television camera 7.7a is directed toward each eye axis of the eyeball 3.3a to detect the pupil via the tracker 10, and is controlled by the computer +1. It looks like this.

I2 is the lighting controller, invisible infrared light source 6.6a
A computer! 1.

Reference numeral 13 denotes an optotype controller, which is controlled by the computer 11. I4 is a monitor, 15 is a printer, 16 is an input device such as a keyboard, mouse, foot switch, etc., and each computer I! The television camera 7.7a is connected to an infrared video analysis device that controls the television camera 7.7a and enables observation, recording, and analysis of eye movements.

2 to 4 show an example in which a light emitting diode 17 is used as the optotype 8.8a provided inside the goggles 1. These optotypes 8.8a are each provided on the eyepiece moving part 5.5a,
It is installed over almost the entire inner wall surface of a bowl-shaped spherical surface centered on the center of rotation of the eyeball, and is connected to and controlled by the optotype controller 20 via a terminal 18 and a cable I9.

The goggles are made of lightweight and rigid materials such as light alloy or glass fiber polyester, and are made of hollow rubber so that they can be attached to and removed from the subject's head, and can be tightened by the inflow and outflow of compressed air. The attachment is fixed with a band (not shown) or the like. In order to block external visible light, a flexible light-blocking material 21 such as maltbrene is attached to the inner wall surface, and a dark room 2 is formed in front of the user's eyes. This darkroom 2 includes a movement adjustment mechanism in addition to the eyepiece moving section 5.5a.

An invisible infrared light source 6.6a is provided on the eyepiece moving part 5.5a,
A television camera 7.7a and an optotype 8.8a are installed,
It is configured to move integrally with the movement of the eyepiece moving section 5.5a. In addition, the TV camera 7.7a is not integrated,
The position may be set to receive reflected light from the eyeball in conjunction with the eyepiece moving unit. This eyepiece moving part 5.5a is
It can be positioned horizontally, vertically, front and back, and even in accordance with the interpupillary distance of both eyes according to the position of the subject's eyes.

In Fig. 2, 22 is a horizontal adjustment axis, and the goggle l
It has a knob 23 that can be operated externally, and is engaged with an opening/closing arm 24, loosely inserted into one and screwed into the other.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a pupil distance adjustment shaft, which has an externally protruding knob 26 and engages with the opening/closing arm 24, one of which is screwed and the other is loosely inserted.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the horizontal adjustment shaft 22 is pivotally supported at both ends by a rotating frame 27, and this rotating frame 27 is pivotally supported so as to be tiltable in the ocular axis direction about a shaft 28. , is biased in the turning direction by a spring 29.

30 is a contact plate that protrudes above the rotating frame 27 and is attached to the vertically movable frame 3.
The ocular axis direction inclination adjustment shaft 3 is screwed to the one-sided shaft support 32 of 1.
It is designed to engage with the end of 3. Reference numeral 34 designates a knob that protrudes to the outside. When the axial direction inclination adjustment shaft 33 is operated and its end presses the contact plate 30, the rotating frame 27 rotates about the shaft 28, and the knob 34 is loosened. When turned, the spring 29 returns it to its original position, making it possible to adjust the inclination in the interpupillary direction.

The vertical movement frame 31 is loosely fitted into the elongated holes 36, 36 of the forward/reverse movement frame 35, and is biased by a spring 37 so as to be pulled upward. Reference numeral 38 denotes a contact plate, which is provided at the end of the vertically movable frame 31, and is arranged so that the vertical adjustment shaft 39 can come into contact with it. The vertical adjustment shaft 39 is pivotally supported by a shaft support 41 of a support frame 40 fixed to the goggles l.

When the external knob 42 is rotated, the end of the vertical adjustment shaft 39 presses the contact plate 38 to drive the vertically movable frame 31, and when the rotation is loosened, it is biased by the spring 37 to return to its normal position. The forward/reverse movement frame 35 is attached between the forward/reverse movement shafts 43, 43 and the support frame 40 fixed to the goggles 1, and can be moved forward or backward by operating a knob 44. Reference numeral 45 denotes a spring, which urges the forward/reverse movement frame 35 to return to its original position when the knob 44 is turned in the loosening direction.

As described above, in this embodiment, the eyepiece moving unit 5.5a installed in the goggles l is moved in the horizontal direction, vertical direction,
The goggles can be accurately positioned in front of the subject's eyes by adjusting the knobs from outside the goggles l in terms of the forward and backward movement direction, interpupillary distance, and inclination in the interpupillary direction.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 6 denotes an invisible infrared light source, which is configured to illuminate the subject's eyeballs by means of a reflection plate 46 provided in front of a light emitting diode 17. It is arranged so that it is refracted by a 716 transparent film 47 at the front, receives reflected infrared light, and captures an image of the eyeball.

Another embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is an example in which a liquid crystal 48 is used as an optotype instead of the light emitting diode 17, 6 is an invisible infrared light source, and 49 is an illumination hood.

Another embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is an example in which a laser beam 50 is used instead of the light emitting diode 17 as an optotype. 51 is a semitransparent film that transmits infrared rays but reflects visible light. In this example as well, the semitransparent film 51 constitutes a visible light emitting portion that extends over almost the entire inner wall surface of the bowl-shaped spherical surface centered on the center of rotation of the eyeball.

Therefore, in addition to being able to display points, lines, and planes, optotypes can also be used to display all kinds of visual shapes, such as linear movement, inclination, circles, and rings, and it has become possible to observe the accompanying eye movements.

52 denotes a laser light source deflector. In this embodiment, a television camera 7 is located behind the semi-transparent film 51, and is configured to obtain an eyeball image via a deflection mirror 53. Further, the light source of the laser beam 50 was placed in front of the semi-transparent film.

Although not shown in the drawings, similar effects can be obtained when optical fibers are used instead of light emitting diodes, or when a CRT is used to form optotypes on a semi-transparent film.

Effects of the Invention Since the present invention has the above configuration, removable goggles are provided on the subject's head to form a darkroom in front of the subject's eyes, which eliminates the need to set up a large-scale darkroom as in the conventional case. Made unnecessary. In addition, the subject has a large degree of freedom while wearing the goggles, and the eye movements that accompany the movement of the visual target can now be directly observed, recorded, and analyzed by an infrared video analysis device via a television camera. . Therefore, it is possible to accurately capture eyeball movements as the optotype moves, without being affected by the electrode mounting position or skin potential as in the conventional case, and it is also possible to observe one eye or both eyes at the same time. Furthermore, we have been able to provide an excellent eye movement analysis device that can be connected to a monitor or computer to facilitate recording analysis and reduce the burden on the examinee.

In addition, the optotype placed in the goggles of this eye movement analysis device has a visible light emitting part that can be switched freely over almost the entire bowl-shaped inner wall surface of the bowl-shaped spherical surface centered on the center of eyeball rotation. The equipment and installation are simple, and there is no need for correction in data analysis. In addition, the spherical inner wall surface is always equidistant, and by switching the display of the light emitting diode, the points,
Move lines, curves, circles, and other vertical stripes, display planes, rotate them,
In addition, by creating brightness differences depending on the size of the display range, it is possible to precisely observe nystagmus and eye movements in response to stimulation due to target movement, and it can also be applied to visual field measurements and pupillary reflex tests.

Optical fiber, liquid crystal, CRT instead of light emitting diode
By connecting to a computer using a laser beam or the like, it has great effects, such as being able to detect and treat lesions in the inner ear, central system, and other areas through eye movement.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the eye movement analysis device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view of the main part of the eye movement analysis device using a light emitting diode as an optotype shown as an example, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the eye movement analysis device of the present invention. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the same part, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the drive mechanism of the eyepiece moving unit, and FIG.
The figure is a side sectional view of the main part when a liquid crystal is used as an optotype, and FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the main part when a laser beam is used. 1... Goggles 2... Darkroom 3.3a...
Eyeball 4...head 5.5a...eyepiece moving part 6.6
a... Invisible infrared light source 7.7a... Television camera 8.8a... Visual target 9
．． 1O111, 14-16... Infrared video analysis device 17... Light emitting diode 48... Liquid crystal 50...
・Laser light applicant: Konan Camera Institute Co., Ltd. Agent: Patent attorney: Mr. Oshima

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) Goggles that are removably attached to the subject's head and block external visible light to form a dark room in front of the eyes, and that can be moved within the goggles to be close to the monocular or both eyes. an eyepiece moving part; an invisible infrared light source mounted on or in conjunction with the eyepiece moving part to illuminate the eyeball; and an invisible infrared light source mounted on or in conjunction with the eyepiece moving part to illuminate the eyeball movement. and an infrared video analysis device that observes, records, and analyzes the reflected light with a television camera, and the eyepiece moving part has a display switchable display that covers almost the entire area of the bowl-shaped inner wall surface centered on the center of rotation of the eyeball. An eye movement analysis device characterized in that an optotype is provided as a visible light emitting part. (2) An optotype for use in an eye movement analysis device, characterized in that a light emitting diode is disposed as a visible light emitting part over almost the entire inner wall surface of a bowl-shaped spherical surface centered on the center of rotation of the eyeball. (3) The optotype used in the eye movement analysis device according to claim 2, wherein a liquid crystal is used in place of the light emitting diode as the visible light emitting section. (4) CR instead of light emitting diode as visible light emitting part
The optotype used in the eye movement analysis device according to claim 2, which uses T. (5) The optotype used in the eye movement analysis device according to claim 2, wherein the visible light emitting section is provided with an optical fiber core end instead of the light emitting diode. (6) The optotype used in the eye movement analysis device according to claim 2, wherein a laser beam is used in the visible light emitting section instead of a light emitting diode.