Oculomotor balance tester
AssigneeFerris State University
InventorJimmie James Saladin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A diagnostic tool for evaluating a patient's oculomotor system includes tests for measuring the amount of a patient's heterophoria and fixation disparity and determining whether these two measurements bear a normal or abnormal relationship. If the results of these tests do not bear a normal relationship, it is concluded that an oculomotor imbalance or dysfunction exists and further analysis should be performed to determine the precise nature of the dysfunction. The diagnostic tool may comprise a near-point card on which tests for heterophoria and fixation disparity are printed, as well as a graph indicating the expected or normal relationship between the results of these two tests. Additional diagnostic tests may be included on the card.
Claims28
A diagnostic tool for determining whether a patient's accommodative and vergence systems are in balance comprising:
- a first test for measuring the patient's heterophoria;
- a second test for measuring the patient's fixation disparity;
- and
- an instrument for determining whether the measured heterophoria and measured fixation disparity indicate that the patient's accommodative and vergence systems are in balance or not.
A diagnostic tool for determining whether a patient's accommodative and vergence systems are in balance comprising:
- a first test for measuring the patient's heterophoria;
- a second test for measuring the patient's fixation disparity, said first and second tests being integrated onto a card;
- and
- an instrument for determining whether the measured heterophoria and measured fixation disparity indicate that the patient's accommodative and vergence systems al in balance or not.
A diagnostic tool for determining whether a patient's accommodative and vergence systems are in balance comprising:
- a first test for measuring the patient's heterophoria, said first test for measuring heterophoria being a modified Thorington test;
- a second test for measuring the patient's fixation disparity;
- and
- an instrument for determining whether the measured heterophoria and measured fixation disparity indicate that the patient's accommodative and vergence systems are in balance or not.
A diagnostic tool for determining whether a patient's accommodative and vergence systems are in balance comprising:
- a first test for measuring the patient's heterophoria;
- a second test for measuring the patient's fixation disparity, said first and second tests being near-point tests;
- and
- an instrument for determining whether the measured heterophoria and measured fixation disparity indicate that the patient's accommodative and vergence systems are in balance or not.
A diagnostic tool for determining whether a patient's accommodative and vergence systems are in balance comprising:
- a base having a front surface;
- a first test for measuring heterophoria positioned on the front surface of said base;
- a second test for measuring fixation disparity positioned on the front surface of said base;
- and
- an instrument for determining whether the measured heterophoria and measured fixation disparity indicate that the patient's accommodative and vergence systems are in balance or not.
A diagnostic tool for determining whether a patient's accommodative and vergence systems are in balance comprising:
- a card having a front surface;
- a first test for measuring heterophoria positioned on the from surface of said card;
- a second test for measuring fixation disparity positioned on the front surface of said card;
- and
- an instrument for determining whether the measured heterophoria and measured fixation disparity indicate that the patient's accommodative and vergence systems are in balance or not.
A diagnostic tool for determining whether a patient's accommodative and vergence systems are in balance comprising:
- a card having a front surface;
- a first test for measuring heterophoria positioned on the front surface of said card, said first test for measuring heterophoria being a modified Thorington test;
- a second test for measuring fixation disparity positioned on the front surface of said card;
- and
- an instrument for determining whether the measured heterophoria and measured fixation disparity indicate that the patient's accommodative and vergence systems are in balance or not.
A method for determining a patient's oculomotor balance comprising:
- measuring the amount of the patient's heterophoria;
- measuring the amount of the patient's fixation disparity;
- determining whether the measured amount of the patient's fixation disparity is normal for the measured amount of heterophoria;
- and
- concluding that the patient's oculomotor system is out of balance if said measured amount of fixation disparity is not normal for the measured amount of heterophoria.
A method for determining a patient's oculomotor balance comprising
- providing a card and placing tests for heterophoria and fixation disparity onto said card;
- measuring the amount of the patient's heterophoria;
- measuring the amount of the patient's fixation disparity;
- determining whether the measured amount of the patient's fixation disparity is normal for the measured amount of heterophoria;
- and
- concluding that the patient's oculomotor system is out of balance if said measured amount of fixation disparity is not normal for the measured amount of heterophoria.
A method for determining a patient's oculomotor balance comprising:
- measuring the amount of the patient's heterophoria using a modified Thorington technique;
- measuring the amount of the patient's fixation disparity;
- determining whether the measured amount of the patient's fixation disparity is normal for the measured amount of heterophoria;
- and
- concluding that the patient's oculomotor system is out of balance if said measured amount of fixation disparity is not normal for the measured amount of heterophoria.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.