EyeGuide, a leader in objective, affordable eye tracking for improved wellness, granted patent for visual attention testing without calibration
EyeGuide, maker of affordable, objective eye tracking solutions, receives patent for visual attention testing without calibration.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- EyeGuide, a leader in affordable, effective eye tracking solutions since 2011, announces today a key patent granted from the United States Patent and Trade Office. Patent 10,398,301 grants EyeGuide IP for performing a visual attention test on a patient without calibrating pupil position of the patient.
"This is a critical next step in eye tracking technology, and something we've been building toward for a number of years," said Dr. Brian Still, Founder and Chief Science Officer for EyeGuide. "Most eye tracking systems require lengthy calibration processes. They are also further reliant on bulky hardware, so in most cases it just isn't possible for them to deliver reliable eye tracking test results in environments, such as on the sidelines of sporting events, where speed, and mobility, are of paramount importance. Our intention with Focus is to change all this, making objective, actionable eye tracking testing available anywhere, at any time. Our new patent adds to a rich portfolio of IP that will allow us to do that."
Presently, EyeGuide is bringing to market Focus, a complete hardware and software solution that employs a 10-second visual attention test to assess fatigue and other wellness issues. Built on validated science, refined through more than 12,000 user tests, Focus is highly mobile, easy to deploy and test in any setting. Further, it is coupled with an Apple iPad to optimize the user experience, and it makes use of the "calibrationless" IP protected in this new patent to generate results faster than any competitor offering.
Dr. Catherine Ronaghan, a board certified surgeon and associate professor at TTUHSC, led a team that conducted 61 visual tracking tests of 21 surgeons using EyeGuide's Focus system. Surgical participants were tested at the beginning and end of both 12-hour and 24-hour shifts, and then results were compared.
Ronaghan's team learned that there was almost no change in visual attention for surgeons tested before and at the end of a 12-hour shift, even when that shift occurred overnight. However, visual attention dropped significantly after a 24-hour stretch of work, suggesting the possibility that fatigue, due to the longer time on-call, may be a cause of visual attention impairment.
"We saw in our study's population a drop of almost two full grades, -1.8 (SD 1.6) after 24-hour in-house trauma and acute care surgery call," according to Ronaghan. "That's significant," she continues, "and for obvious reasons. Visual attention is critical for surgical effectiveness."
Dr. Sharmila Dissanaike, Chair of the Department of Surgery at TTUHSC, notes that Dr. Ronaghan's trial study is part of an ongoing departmental effort to investigate how to provide the best patient outcomes, while preserving the wellness of surgeons and other healthcare providers. All trauma and emergency general surgery surgeons in the department have now transitioned to 12-hour shifts instead of the traditional 24 hours, although the 24-hour model remains the standard at most trauma centers across the country. Anecdotally, the surgeons report improved well-being since the transition last year, lending credence to the findings from Dr. Ronaghan's study.
"EyeGuide is poised to deliver Focus to the market as the most affordable, mobile, and fast eye tracking platform for ocular motor testing," said Pat Carney, CEO. "Right now we see Focus as an ideal solution for a wide range of users to rely on for understanding how fatigue impacts performance in work or play. Focus is also a great tool for charting overall wellness, even improving visual attention."
EyeGuide Inc, based in Philadelphia, PA USA, is the maker of Focus, a SOFAST™ (Simple, Objective, Fast, Affordable, Status Tracking) tool intended to replace the finger test for ocular motor function. Focus captures 1200 data points on eye movement in just 10 seconds, enabling you to capture, chart, and analyze objective data to better understand your overall wellness. For more information, contact Patrick Carney, EyeGuide CEO.
SOURCE EyeGuide
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