JP2007029207A - Eye movement imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an eye movement photographing which can be fixed more stably in order to obtain an image free of blurring and noise having an accuracy which can be used for a computer analysis as well as a diagnosis by a doctor when observing an eye movement. Providing equipment.
A goggle-shaped eye movement photographing apparatus having independent lens portions corresponding to left and right eyes, wherein a material having elasticity and adhesion is used for a pad portion of the goggles. After the band is attached to the subject's face, the pad is deformed by lightly pressing the lens part, and a small amount of air is pushed out of the space surrounded by the subject's face and the eye movement photographing device, and the space is hidden. The lens part is fixed so that the lens part sticks to the face of the subject. Thus, even if the subject changes his posture and moves his head, the positional relationship between the camera for photographing and the eyeball does not change, and an image of eye movement without shaking can be acquired.
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Description

The present invention relates to an eye movement photographing apparatus, and more particularly to an eye movement photographing apparatus that can be stably fixed when used while being worn on the head of a subject.

Conventionally, in otolaryngology, neurology, and neurosurgery, diagnosis of dizziness, balance dysfunction, and the like has been performed by observing the eye movement of a subject. For eye movement observation methods, electrodes are attached around the eye, and the ENG method that reads the eye movement from an electrical signal or a contact lens with a ring-shaped coil is attached, and the lens position is measured in a magnetic field. The coil method has been used for some time. However, the ENG method can measure only two horizontal and vertical axes, and the search coil method has a problem that the test subject is heavy.

On the other hand, an image analysis method in which an eye movement is photographed by a goggle-like eye movement photographing apparatus equipped with a camera, and image processing is performed for analysis is becoming increasingly used. The image analysis method can analyze not only the horizontal and vertical rotation but also the rotation to the subject, and has an advantage as a material for recording an actual eye movement image. Some types of diagnosis are performed in a light-shielded state, and a goggle-shaped eye movement photographing apparatus that shields light from the outside and includes an infrared light source and an infrared camera inside has been developed (for example, Patent Document 1). , 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-312902 JP-A No. 13-321342

To diagnose dizziness, observe head nystagmus, head position nystagmus, and nystagmus after nystagmus. At this time, the head and the upper body are greatly moved by rapidly rotating the head of the subject or waking up the upper body. In addition, as a secondary balance function test, the entire body may be rotated in the horizontal direction by sitting on a rotary chair and observed while moving the head.

In the image analysis method, when the head is moved, if the eye movement photographing device is not sufficiently fixed to the head, the device may be displaced from the mounting position or the photographed image may be blurred. This image blur is greatly related to the accuracy of computer analysis, and an eye movement imaging device that can be securely fixed to the head is required. In addition, when performing image processing, pattern matching of the iris may be used, and if eyelashes or eyelashes are applied to the iris, it becomes a problem that it becomes noise and affects the accuracy of analysis (for example, Non-Patent Document 1).
Izumi Hitsuka, “Precautions when using Video-oculography (VOG)”, Otolaryngology Clinic, Otolaryngology Clinical Society, March 1, 2004, Vol. 97, No. 3, p. 272-273

The inventors of the present invention have arrived at the present invention as a result of intensive studies to solve the above problems. That is, an object of the present invention is to obtain an image free of blurring and noise having an accuracy that can be used for analysis by a computer when observing eye movement by an image analysis method, so that the eyeball can be fixed more stably. It is to provide a motion imaging device.

The eye movement photographing device of the present invention is a goggle-shaped eye movement photographing device having independent lens portions corresponding to the left and right eyes, and a material having elasticity and adhesion is used for the pad portion of the goggles. The positional relationship between the camera for photographing and the eyeball is fixed by using a negative pressure in the space surrounded by the face of the subject and the eye movement photographing device.

The lens unit is detachable, and the light shielding lens unit, the light shielding lens unit with camera, the transparent lens unit, and the transparent lens unit with camera are replaceable. Furthermore, an acceleration sensor and a recording microphone may be provided.

Since the eye movement photographing apparatus of the present invention uses a material having elasticity and adhesiveness for the pad portion of the goggles, when the space surrounded by the face of the subject and the eye movement photographing apparatus is made negative pressure during use, The space acts as a suction cup, and the lens part is fixed so as to stick to the face of the subject. Thus, even if the subject changes his posture and moves his head, the positional relationship between the camera for photographing and the eyeball does not change, and an image of eye movement without shaking can be acquired. At the same time, because the pad portion fixes the periphery of the eye, it is difficult to close the eyelids, so that the iris is less likely to be covered with eyelashes or eyelashes, and there is an effect of reducing noise during image processing.

The eye movement response varies depending on whether or not there is a light stimulus to the observed eye, and whether or not one eye has a light stimulus even if it is observed in a light-shielded state. The eye movement photographing apparatus of the present invention has independent lens portions corresponding to the left and right eyes, and each lens portion is detachable, and includes a light shielding lens portion, a light shielding lens portion with a camera, a transparent lens portion, and a transparent lens with a camera. By making the part replaceable, conditions suitable for the purpose of observation can be set.

Furthermore, the movement of the head at the time of eye movement photography is recorded by providing an acceleration sensor, and the situation can be recorded by voice by providing a recording microphone. Since the image is only taken from the front of the eye and the posture and movement cannot be determined, it is effective for the diagnosis to record information together with acceleration and voice.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, these are examples for embodying the present invention, and do not specify the present invention. The eye movement photographing apparatus 1 of the present invention can be based on, for example, materials and shapes used for swimming goggles (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). As the material of the lens unit 20 and the frame unit 30, polycarbonate, cellulose propionate, or the like is used. Silicone rubber or elastomer is used as the material of the pad portion 40, the band 50, and the bridge 60. In particular, the pad portion 40 is deformed in accordance with the shape of the face and needs to have elasticity and adhesion so as not to leak air.

The lens unit 20 is detachable, and the light shielding lens unit 21, the light shielding lens unit 22 with camera, the transparent lens unit 23, and the transparent lens unit 24 with camera can be exchanged (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Since the camera-equipped transparent lens unit 24 can use external illumination, it can shoot without a light source, but may have a light source depending on the purpose of use. In both the visible region and the infrared region, the light source and the camera are widely used technologies such as a combination of the infrared LED 70 and the infrared CCD camera 80 (for example, SS2000 manufactured by Kyoritsu Electronics Co., Ltd.), and are particularly limited. It is not a thing. An image taken by the camera is recorded in the computer through the data input line 90. As long as the light source and the camera have sufficient resolution for analysis, the smaller and lighter the lighter and the camera, the more advantageous for obtaining a blur-free image.

For example, even when one eye is observed in a light-shielded state, the reaction of eye movement varies depending on whether the other eye has a light stimulus. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, observation with different conditions can be performed by using the light-shielding lens unit 22 with a camera on the left side in common and exchanging the light-shielding lens unit 21 and the transparent lens unit 23 on the right side. .

In order to perform a three-dimensional principal axis analysis of eye movements by a computer, an example of taking eye movements using the eye movement photographing apparatus 1 is shown (see FIG. 6). The combination of the lens unit 20 of the eye movement photographing apparatus 1 is such that the left side is a light-shielding lens unit 22 with a camera (SS2000 manufactured by Kyoritsu Electronics Co., Ltd. is used for the light source and the camera) and the right side is a light-shielding lens unit 21. Then, the movement of the left eyeball was observed. In addition, an acceleration sensor and a recording microphone (not shown) are provided near the infrared CCD camera, and the movement of the head and the sound are recorded simultaneously with the image of the eye movement. Image, sound, and acceleration data were recorded in the computer through the data input line 90.

First, the band 50 of the eye movement photographing apparatus 1 was fastened to the subject at the back of the head, and the length of the bridge 60 and the band 50 was adjusted so that the infrared CCD camera 80 would face the front of the left eyeball. Thereafter, the pad portion 40 is deformed by lightly pressing the lens portion 20, and a small amount of air is pushed out from the space surrounded by the subject's face and the eye movement photographing device 1, and the space becomes negative pressure like a suction cup. The lens unit 20 was fixed to the face of the subject.

The subject's head was rapidly rotated or the upper body was woken up, and the head and upper body were moved greatly to observe head position nystagmus, head position conversion nystagmus, and nystagmus after nystagmus. In addition, the subject was seated on a swivel chair, the whole body was rotated horizontally with the swivel chair, and the secondary equilibrium function test was also observed while moving the head.

Although the subject's head and eye movement imaging device moved greatly, the lens part was fixed so that it would stick to the subject's face, so there was no blurring image of the eye movement with sufficient accuracy for computer analysis. I was able to get it.

In addition, the sound that gives instructions to the subject about posture and movement is recorded by the recording microphone, and is recorded in synchronization with the image of the eye movement along with the movement of the head by the acceleration sensor. It is valid.

It is a front view of an eye movement photographing device. It is a top view of an eye movement photographing device. It is a back (inner surface) figure of an eye movement imaging device. It is a top view which shows the kind of interchangeable lens part. It is a schematic diagram of lens part exchange. It is a schematic diagram of a state in which the eye movement photographing apparatus of Example 1 is attached to a subject.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Eye movement imaging device 20 ... Lens part 21 ... Light-shielding lens part 22 ... Light-shielding lens part 23 with a camera ... Transparent lens part 24 ... Transparent lens part 30 with a camera ...・ Frame 40 ... Pad 50 ... Band 60 ... Bridge 70 ... Infrared LED
80 ... Infrared CCD camera 90 ... Data input line

Claims (5)

A goggle-shaped eye movement photographing device having independent lens parts corresponding to the left and right eyes, using a material having elasticity and adhesion for the pad part of the goggles, An eye movement photographing apparatus characterized by fixing a positional relationship between a camera for photographing and an eyeball by making a space surrounded by negative pressure. The lens part is detachable; 1. light shielding lens part; 2. Shading lens part with camera; 3. Transparent lens part, The eye movement photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transparent lens unit with a camera is replaceable. The eye movement photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light-shielding lens unit with a camera includes an infrared LED and an infrared CCD camera. The eye movement photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an acceleration sensor. The eye movement photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recording microphone.

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