Wearable systems and methods for treatment of a neurocognitive condition

Abstract

Provided are wearable systems and methods for treatment of a neurocognitive impairment, disease or disorder in a patient in need thereof comprising a visual field occluder useful, for example, in prism adaptation therapy.

1 . A wearable system for treatment of a neurocognitive impairment, disease or disorder in a patient in need thereof, comprising:
 a visual field occluder releasably worn by the patient during the treatment comprising an opaque screen and attachment system, the attachment system configured to releasably attach the visual field occluder onto the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable system according to  claim 1 , further comprising eyewear worn by the patient with at least one lens having a prism mounted thereon. 
     
     
         3 . The wearable system according to  claim 1 , wherein the neurocognitive impairment, disease or disorder comprises spatial neglect. 
     
     
         4 . The wearable system according to  claim 2 , wherein the prism is rotatable. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable system according to  claim 1 , wherein the opaque screen is comprised of a paperboard, fiberboard, foam board, plastic, metal, wood, fiberglass or textile material or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The wearable system according to  claim 1 , wherein the visual field occluder further comprises adjusting mechanism to adjust the opaque screen vertically, horizontally or angularly relative to the visual field of the patient. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable system according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment system is comprised of one or more straps, wires or tubing or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The wearable system according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment system releasably attaches the visual field occluder around the torso of the patient. 
     
     
         9 . The wearable system according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment system releasably attaches the visual field occluder around the neck of the patient. 
     
     
         10 . The wearable system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system is portable. 
     
     
         11 . The wearable system according to  claim 1 , wherein the wearable system is used in conjunction with a table-top device housing targets used in a prism adaptation procedure. 
     
     
         12 . A method of treating a neurocognitive impairment, disease or disorder in a patient in need thereof, comprising the steps of:
 placing eyewear onto the patient, the eyewear comprising at least one lens having a prism mounted thereon;   placing a visual field occluder onto the patient such that the visual field occluder is releasably worn by the patient to substantially block visual feedback of arm movement of the patient during the treatment; and   performing a prism adaptation procedure with the patient.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the neurocognitive impairment, disease or disorder comprises spatial neglect. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising an initial step of determining a pre-exposure baseline measurement of pointing performance prior to placing the eyewear onto the patient. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the prism adaptation procedure comprises the steps of:
 exposing the patient to prismatic displacement to produce adaptation; and   measuring post-exposure after-effect of adaptation persistence.   
     
     
         16 . Eyewear for treatment of a neurocognitive impairment in a patient in need thereof, comprising:
 a frame;   at least one lens having a prism mounted thereon; and   a visual field occluder attached to the frame comprising an opaque screen; the visual field occluder configured to substantially block visual feedback of arm movement of the patient when the eyewear is worn during the treatment.   
     
     
         17 . The eyewear according to  claim 16 , wherein the prism is rotatable. 
     
     
         18 . The eyewear according to  claim 16 , wherein the opaque screen is comprised of a paperboard, fiberboard, foam board, plastic, wood, fiberglass or textile material or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The eyewear according to  claim 16 , wherein the visual field occluder further comprises an adjusting system, the adjustment system configured to enable adjustment of the opaque screen vertically, horizontally or angularly relative to the visual field of the patient. 
     
     
         20 . The eyewear according to  claim 16 , wherein the opaque screen is retractable. 
     
     
         21 . The eyewear according to  claim 16 , wherein the eyewear is a pair of eye glasses. 
     
     
         22 . The eyewear according to  claim 16 , wherein the eyewear is a pair of goggles. 
     
     
         23 . A wearable system for treatment of a neurocognitive impairment, disease or disorder in a patient in need thereof, comprising:
 eyewear having at least one display screen configured to be visible by at least one eye of a patient and otherwise blocking a portion of the patient's view beyond the eyewear for the at least one eye;   at least one camera disposed on the eyewear configured to capture video images in front of the eyewear; and   a video processor coupled to the at least one display screen and the at least one camera, the video processor configured to provide video images captured by the camera to the at least one display screen; the video images including a selectable prismatic effect and blocking of substantial portions of arm movement of the patient when worn by the patient.   
     
     
         24 . The wearable system according to  claim 23 , wherein the at least one camera and at least one display screen includes at least one respective camera and display screen for each eye of the patient. 
     
     
         25 . The wearable system according to  claim 23 , wherein the coupling of the video processor to the at least one display screen and the at least one camera includes at least one wireless coupling. 
     
     
         26 . The wearable system according to  claim 23 , wherein the neurocognitive impairment, disease or disorder comprises spatial neglect. 
     
     
         27 . The wearable system according to  claim 26 , wherein the selectable prismatic effect is to select the magnitude and the direction of a visual-field shift. 
     
     
         28 . The wearable system according to  claim 23 , wherein the video processor enables adjustment of the blocking portion of the displayed video images vertically, horizontally or angularly. 
     
     
         29 . The wearable system according to  claim 24 , wherein the video processor further comprises an output configured for providing video display signals to a second display. 
     
     
         30 . The wearable system according to  claim 23 , wherein the eyewear is eye glasses. 
     
     
         31 . The wearable system according to  claim 23 , wherein the eyewear is goggles. 
     
     
         32 . A wearable system for treatment of a neurocognitive impairment, disease or disorder in a patient in need thereof, comprising:
 eyewear having at least one light transmissive panel configured to be visible by at least one eye of a patient, said panel having a first region without an obstructive view and a second region selectively blocking said patient's view;   a prism mounted on said panel; and   a processor coupled to the at least one panel, the processor configured to control the selective blocking of said second region to substantially block visual feedback of arm movement of the patient when the eyewear is worn during the treatment.