Method and apparatus for measuring representational motions in a medical context

摘要

Disclosed is an apparatus and corresponding method to capture individual representational motions made by a person while performing a neuropsychological test. A user of the apparatus and method may be allowed to view, edit, classify, and retrieve any captured and recorded motions made by the person. In one embodiment, a capture unit, such as a digitizer, captures the motions made by a person while performing a Clock Drawing Test, and the captured data may then be reported in a myriad of ways. The apparatus and method also provide a means to standardize administration and scoring of writing utensil and paper based neuropsychological testing administered to a person or control and test groups for domestic or international applications. By analyzing individual representational motions made by a person while performing a neuropsychological test, unexpectedly more information may be gleaned from the test than was available to physicians from only a completed drawing.

主权项

1. A computer implemented method for processing graphomotor motion in a diagnostic task, the method comprising:
receiving, at a computing device, first data representing graphomotor motion made by a first subject during a first execution of a graphomotor diagnostic task performed in a medical context, wherein the data representing the motion comprises data representing dynamic characteristics of said motion; processing, using the computing device, prior data characterizing motion made during one or more prior executions of the diagnostic task to determine characteristics of one or more motion element classes; processing, using the computing device, the first data representing the motion to identify a plurality of elements in the motion, including classifying at least some of said elements according to the one or more motion element classes; and determining, using the computing device, using the processed first data and the determined characteristics of the one or more motion element classes, a quantitative, qualitative and/or categorical assessment of the first execution of the diagnostic task associated with neurocognitive mechanisms underlying said motion.