Portable rapid neurological and motor function screening apparatus

Abstract

In an aspect, a neurological data collecting apparatus is described. A plurality of electronically interconnected interface panels configured to selectively display stimuli and accept input is provided. An interface panel frame supports the plurality of interface panels and aggregates the plurality of interface panels into a user interface screen 6 that extends into the user's peripheral vision when the user is standing within a predetermined distance from the user interface screen. A supporting stand is connected to the user interface screen. The supporting stand includes a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the user interface screen to eye level of the user. A control unit electronically connects the user interface screen to a computer.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A neurological data collecting apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of electronically interconnected interface panels configured to selectively display stimuli and accept input;   an interface panel frame supporting the plurality of interface panels and aggregating the plurality of interface panels into a user interface screen that extends into the user's peripheral vison when the user is standing within a predetermined distance from the user interface screen;   a supporting stand connected to the user interface screen, including a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the user interface screen to eye level of the user; and   a control unit electronically connecting the user interface screen to a computer.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each interface panel includes an electronically controlled stimulus display and corresponding input sensors that may be associated with individual stimuli. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the stimulus display includes a plurality of LEDs embedded into a printed circuit board and the input sensors includes a resistive touch screen that covers the entire stimulus display. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each interface panel attaches to at least one other interface panel via at least one hinge, and the plurality of interface panels being aggregated into a user interface screen configured to fold in at least one of an accordion manner and a map-like manner. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the user interface screen comprises at least one organic light-emitting diode (OLED) flexible display. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein computer is at least one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, and a hand-held computer device. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the computer may be electronically connected to the control unit by at least one of a wired or wireless personal area network (PAN); local area network (LAN) technology; radio frequency (RF) technology; and wide area network (WAN) technology. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the supporting stand is an adjustable stand that has a variable height above the ground corresponding to the placement of the user interface screen at eye level of the user. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the supporting stand is a flat display mounting interface that is adjustably attached to a vertical surface to allow the user interface screen to be placed at eye level of the user. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , including at least one more external sensors that records tactile, visual, or audio sensations generated by the user or the environment. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 10 , at least one of the external sensors is a camera configured to record at least one of the user's eye and body movements. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the user interface screen, interface panel frame, and supporting stand are configured for repeated disassembly and reassembly by the user. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , including at least one external sensor for collecting at least one environmental, physiological, and/or health data including one or more of body temperature, pulse, blood pressure, blood oxygen, ambient temperature, light, atmospheric pressure, lactic acid levels, and heart rate. 
     
     
         14 . A method for analyzing neurocognitive data, comprising:
 providing a portable user interface screen that extends into the user's peripheral vision on a supporting stand at a user's eye level and a computer electronically connected to the user interface screen via a control unit;   programmatically generating a neurocognitive test to be sent from the computer to the user interface screen via the electronic connection to the control unit;   displaying at least one neurocognitive test on the user interface screen;   accepting and recording input from the user responsive to at least one neurocognitive test;   sending the input from the user interface screen through the control unit to the computer and from the computer to a data collection and aggregation system;   analyzing the neurocognitive data derived from the input using algorithms;   creating results responsive to the neurocognitive data;   sending the results from the data collection and aggregation system to the computer to be displayed on the computer in a user-perceptible format.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each neurocognitive test displays stimuli correlated with at least one of complex reaction time and memory neurocognitive data types, responsive to the input. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a neurocognitive test measures at least one of a peripheral awareness and a depth perception of the user responsive to the presence of the user interface screen in the user's peripheral vision. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the neurocognitive test directly characterizes a user's psychomotor ability responsive to measurements of simple reaction time, peripheral awareness, and depth perception. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the neurocognitive test indirectly characterizes a user's balance ability responsive to measurements of at least one of vision, peripheral awareness, and depth perception. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein input includes data collected from multiple types of sensors that record tactile, visual, or audio sensations generated by the user or the environment. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the data collection and aggregation system is at least one of a remote Internet-connected data collection and aggregation system and a local data collection and aggregation system. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the data collection and aggregation system creates results by using the method further comprising:
 creating a longitudinal data set of neurocognitive data for the user from at least one previously administered neurocognitive test;   creating event data of neurocognitive data for the user from at least one neurocognitive test administered in conjunction with an event that may cause a change in neurocognitive function;   comparing the longitudinal data set with the event data;   determining, responsive to the compared longitudinal data set and event data, a potential change in neurocognitive function by the user over time; and   creating, responsive to the determination of potential change in neurocognitive function, at least one of the following results:
 a recommendation for a user activity restriction, 
 a recommendation for user to see a medical professional, 
 and relevant neurocognitive data statistical information. 
   
     
     
         22 . A method of  claim 21 , wherein the event that may cause a change in neurocognitive function is a suspected concussion. 
     
     
         23 . A method of  claim 21 , wherein the event that may cause a change in neurocognitive function is the beginning or conclusion of an event where a concussion may occur. 
     
     
         24 . A method of  claim 21  wherein the event that may cause a change in neurocognitive function is a period of user restricted activity.