Abstract: Technology is adapted to enable improved collection of involuntary eyelid movement parameters, including collection of eyelid movement parameters to support analysis of neurological factors. For example, this may include methods and systems configured to enable improved analysis of involuntary eyelid movement parameters, including diagnosis of subject neurological conditions and/or other subject attributes from analysis of involuntary eyelid movement parameters. Some embodiments relate to testing, which provide a standardized environment for collection of involuntary eyelid movement data thereby to reduce influence of variable factors, which affect involuntary eyelid movement. For example, the standardized environment influences the subject to adopt a controlled cognitive and/or physiological state, thereby to improve comparability of test results.

Abstract: A system for measuring fitness for duty which includes a) a visual stimulus display b) eye monitoring equipment for measuring eye and eyelid movements c) a central processing unit and data storage device to collect and store the data from the eye monitoring equipment d) a data analysis device programmed to calculate one or more of the measures of blink latency, measures of the relative velocity of upper eyelid closing and opening movements during blinks, the product of the amplitude to velocity ratio of eyelid closing and opening, the duration of blinks, the variability of eyelid movements during blinks, the failure to respond appropriately with a voluntary blink following each said brief visual stimulus e) said data analysis device programmed to place the values for said measures into an algorithm for measuring fitness for duty.

Abstract: A head worn device for monitoring alertness and attention which includes a) sensors to monitor eyelid and eye movement, b) a motion sensor and c) data storage means for storing data from said sensors. The motion sensor is an accelerometer to provide data that allows the head position to be analyzed and to determine the direction of gaze. The device collects data from an accelerometer worn by the driver to detect if the vehicle is in motion and whether the head is tilted vertical plane. If the vehicle is not in motion data is not processed. When the direction of gaze is downward sensor signals from the eye movement sensors is ignored. However if the duration of downward gaze is greater than a predetermined minimum period and the vehicle is in motion, an alarm is triggered because the driver is inattentive. The device may be used to assess whether workers are sufficiently alert before they commence work.

Abstract: A system for measuring fitness for duty which includes a) a visual stimulus display b) eye monitoring equipment for measuring eye and eyelid movements c) a central processing unit and data storage device to collect and store the data from the eye monitoring equipment d) a data analysis device programmed to calculate one or more of the measures of blink latency, measures of the relative velocity of upper eyelid closing and opening movements during blinks, the product of the amplitude to velocity ratio of eyelid closing and opening, the duration of blinks, the variability of eyelid movements during blinks, the failure to respond appropriately with a voluntary blink following each said brief visual stimulus e) said data analysis device programmed to place the values for said measures into an algorithm for measuring fitness for duty.

Abstract: A method of monitoring incapacity of a subject which includes the steps of continuously monitoring eye and eyelid movement of at least one eye of the subject; analyzing eye and eyelid movements to obtain measures of ocular quiescence and the duration of an interval of no eye or eyelid movement; and if the duration of ocular quiescence exceeds a predetermined value providing a potential incapacity warning and requesting a response within a predetermined period, and applying an emergency procedure if no response is made within a predetermined interval.

Abstract: A head worn device for monitoring alertness and attention which includes a) sensors to monitor eyelid and eye movement, b) a motion sensor and c) data storage means for storing data from said sensors. The motion sensor is an accelerometer to provide data that allows the head position to be analysed and to determine the direction of gaze. The device collects data from an accelerometer worn by the driver to detect if the vehicle is in motion and whether the head is tilted vertical plane. If the vehicle is not in motion data is not processed. When the direction of gaze is downward sensor signals from the eye movement sensors is ignored. However if the duration of downward gaze is greater than a predetermined minimum period and the vehicle is in motion, an alarm is triggered because the driver is inattentive. The device may be used to assess whether workers are sufficiently alert before they commence work.

Abstract: Spectacles for use in an eye monitoring system include a pair of ocular frames and a sensor unit adapted to be positioned adjacent an eye of the wearer. A nose bridge connects the ocular frames and incorporates an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the vertical position of the sensor unit relative to the eye. A frame arm extends from the outer edge of each ocular frame and is adapted to fit over the ear of a wearer. The sensor unit incorporates two infra red emitters at different angles and an infra red detector recessed into the surface of the unit to reduce the proportion of signal received by said detector which is not from the signal emitter reflected by the eye or eyelids.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring drowsiness particularly in vehicle operators measures the amplitude to velocity ratio for eyelids closing and opening during blinking as well as measuring duration of opening and closing. The average values for the amplitude to velocity ratios for opening and closing are weighted and added to give a drowsiness measure that is compared to a scale of drowsiness based on data collected from alert and drowsy subjects. Other eye movements can be used in the weighted algorithm. The scale of drowsiness predicts the onset of drowsiness levels that render an operator unfit to continue.

Abstract: Spectacles for use in an eye monitoring system include a pair of ocular frames and a sensor unit adapted to be positioned adjacent an eye of the wearer. A nose bridge connects the ocular frames and incorporates an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the vertical position of the sensor unit relative to the eye. A frame arm extends from the outer edge of each ocular frame and is adapted to fit over the ear of a wearer. The sensor unit incorporates two infra red emitters at different angles and an infra red detector recessed into the surface of the unit to reduce the proportion of signal received by said detector which is not from the signal emitter reflected by the eye or eyelids.

Abstract: An alertness monitoring system uses reflectance measurement of infrared light pulses to monitor eye movement of a vehicle or machine operator. The data is used to measure eye and eyelid movement for presence slow or drifting eye movements, and/or eyelid closure and optionally one or more of, absence of saccadic movement, loss of eye co-ordination, wavering eyelids, partial eye closure, and drooping eyelids as indicators of loss of attention and drowsiness. The eye movements of a subject are analyzed using reflected infra red light to obtain measures of the blink amplitude velocity ratio and the saccade amplitude velocity ratio. The readings are continuously compared with eye movement data indicative of degrees of alertness so that the monitor provides an indication of the operator's fitness to operate the vehicle or machine from the point of view of drowsiness no matter how it is caused.

Abstract: A method of monitoring incapacity of a subject which includes the steps of continuously monitoring eye and eyelid movement of at least one eye of the subject; analyzing eye and eyelid movements to obtain measures of ocular quiescence and the duration of an interval of no eye or eyelid movement; and if the duration of ocular quiescence exceeds a predetermined value providing a potential incapacity warning and requesting a response within a predetermined period, and applying an emergency procedure if no response is made within a predetermined interval.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring drowsiness particularly in vehicle operators measures the amplitude to velocity ratio for eyelids closing and opening during blinking as well as measuring duration of opening and closing. The average values for the amplitude to velocity ratios for opening and closing are weighted and added to give a drowsiness measure that is compared to a scale of drowsiness based on data collected from alert and drowsy subjects. Other eye movements can be used in the weighted algorithm. The scale of drowsiness predicts the onset of drowsiness levels that render an operator unfit to continue.

Abstract: An alertness monitoring system uses reflectance measurement of infrared light pulses to monitor eye movement of a vehicle or machine operator. The data is used to measure eye and eyelid movement for presence slow or drifting eye movements, and/or eyelid closure and optionally one or more of, absence of saccadic movement, loss of eye co-ordination, wavering eyelids, partial eye closure, and drooping eyelids as indicators of loss of attention and drowsiness. The eye movements of a subject are analysed using reflected infra red light to obtain measures of the blink amplitude velocity ratio and the saccade amplitude velocity ratio. The readings are continuously compared with eye movement data indicative of degrees of alertness so that the monitor provides an indication of the operator's fitness to operate the vehicle or machine from the point of view of drowsiness no matter how it is caused.

Abstract: An alertness monitoring system includes: means to measure velocity and amplitude of eyelid and eye movement; and storage means to continuously record the measurements. A data processor calculates the blink amplitude to velocity ratio and/or the saccade amplitude to velocity ratio and compares the measurements against a predetermined scale. The scale is derived from averaged measurements of the eye and eyelid movement parameters for a sample population measured against predetermined incremental blood alcohol levels. The output of the system can include a display for showing the alertness measurement based on the scale, or an alarm means triggered by the scale reading reaching a predetermined limit based an the blood alcohol level scale.

Abstract: An alertness monitoring system uses reflectance measurement of infrared light pulses to monitor eye movement of a vehicle or machine operator. The-data is used to measure eye and eyelid movement for presence slow or drifting eye movements, and/or eyelid closure and optionally one or more of, absence of saccadic movement, loss of eye co-ordination, wavering eyelids, partial eye closure, and drooping eyelids as indicators of loss of attention and drowsiness. The eye movements of a subject are analysed using reflected infra red light to obtain measures of the blink amplitude velocity ratio and the saccade amplitude velocity ratio. The readings are continuously compared with eye movement data indicative of degrees of alertness which correlate to blood alcohol content values so that the monitor provides an indication of the operator's legal fitness to operate the vehicle or machine from the point of view of drowsiness no matter how it is caused.