Abstract: A system and method for determining a subject's level of fatigue. The method includes measuring microsaccadic eye movement dynamics of the subject, calculating a current microsaccade peak velocity from the measured microsaccadic eye movement dynamics, and comparing the current microsaccade peak velocity to a baseline microsaccade peak velocity. The method further includes determining the level of fatigue based on a difference between the current microsaccade peak velocity and the baseline microsaccade peak velocity.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a subject's attentional response to a stimulus. The method includes measuring microsaccadic eye movement dynamics of the subject, detecting whether a microsaccadic signature (a suppression in microsaccadic rate) is present in the measured microsaccadic eye movement relative to a time of the stimulus, and correlating the subject's attentional response to the stimulus based on the detection. The method further includes determining that the stimulus was sensed if the microsaccadic signature is present and determining that the stimulus was not sensed if the microsaccadic signature is absent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the differential diagnosis of a patient with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) from a patient with Parkinson's disease (PD). One method includes identifying a plurality of partially repetitive eye movements that over time define square wave jerks, each square wave jerk of the plurality of square wave jerks defined by a first horizontal saccadic movement that moves the eye away from a fixation target followed by a corrective saccadic movement towards the target shortly thereafter, measuring a vertical component associated with the plurality of square wave jerks, comparing the vertical component with a threshold value. PSP or PD is identified by comparison of the vertical component with the threshold value. In another embodiment, a patient's saccade rate is determined and compared to a threshold value, and PSP or PD is identified based upon the comparison of the saccade rate with the threshold value.

Abstract: Various systems, devices, processes, and techniques may be used for marksmanship training In particular implementations, motion data for a firearm may be acquired during live operation by a firearm operator using a sensor assembly coupled to a firearm. The motion data may be analyzed to detect a firing event, and the firing event may be used to pretrigger recording of the motion data. In certain implementations, the recorded motion data may be analyzed to determine inappropriate firing control actions, if any, and to provide corrective actions to a firearm operator about inappropriate firing control actions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for processing light from a light source. The method includes the steps of measuring a predetermined set of characteristics of the light source and detecting flicker when the predetermined set of characteristics exceed a corresponding flicker fusion threshold value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for characterizing square wave jerks in the eye movements of a person, which may provide a powerful tool in the differential diagnosis of oculomotor and neurological disease. The method includes the steps of a) providing a sequence of saccades, b) identifying pairs of consecutive saccades of the sequence, c) determining whether each saccade of each identified pair is opposite the direction of the other saccade and, if not, then discarding the pair, d) determining whether a magnitude of each saccade of each identified pair is comparable and, if not, then discarding the pair, e) determining whether the pair of saccades of each identified pair are temporally related by a predetermined time period and, if not, then discarding the pair and f) collecting any remaining pairs of saccades as square wave jerks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the differential diagnosis of a patient with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) from a patient with Parkinson's disease (PD). One method includes identifying a plurality of partially repetitive eye movements that over time define square wave jerks, each square wave jerk of the plurality of square wave jerks defined by a first horizontal saccadic movement that moves the eye away from a fixation target followed by a corrective saccadic movement towards the target shortly thereafter, measuring a vertical component associated with the plurality of square wave jerks, comparing the vertical component with a threshold value. PSP or PD is identified by comparison of the vertical component with the threshold value. In another embodiment, a patient's saccade rate is determined and compared to a threshold value, and PSP or PD is identified based upon the comparison of the saccade rate with the threshold value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for identifying the covert foci of attention of a person when viewing an image or series of images. The method includes the steps of presenting the person with an image having a plurality of visual elements, measuring eye movements of the subject with respect to those images, and based upon the measured eye movements triangulating and determining the level of covert attentional interest that the person has in the various visual elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for characterizing square wave jerks in the eye movements of a person, which may provide a powerful tool in the differential diagnosis of oculomotor and neurological disease. The method includes the steps of a) providing a sequence of saccades, b) identifying pairs of consecutive saccades of the sequence, c) determining whether each saccade of each identified pair is opposite the direction of the other saccade and, if not, then discarding the pair, d) determining whether a magnitude of each saccade of each identified pair is comparable and, if not, then discarding the pair, e) determining whether the pair of saccades of each identified pair are temporally related by a predetermined time period and, if not, then discarding the pair and f) collecting any remaining pairs of saccades as square wave jerks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for identifying the covert foci of attention of a person when viewing an image or series of images. The method includes the steps of presenting the person with an image having a plurality of visual elements, measuring eye movements of the subject with respect to those images, and based upon the measured eye movements triangulating and determining the level of covert attentional interest that the person has in the various visual elements.

Abstract: A treatment is disclosed for alleviation or prevention of abnormal blood flow to various organs such as the eye, brain, kidneys, heart, feet and other tissues of organs with fine vascular networks that can lead to neurodegeneration as is seen in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), epilepsy and diabetes, in which an effective amount of a blood flow regulatory drug is administered to a subject in need of it. Illustrative blood flow regulatory drugs include anticoagulants and vasodilators, and their mixtures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical device for placement at a predetermined location within a vessel of the human body, and more particularly, relates to a collapsible aneurysm embolization device that is delivered through the lumen of a catheter and exits the catheter at a predetermined position within the vessel to thereby embolize a blood vessel defect, such as an aneurysm.

Abstract: A dilation catheter suitable for use in medical procedures is provided which includes a balloon disposed on an elongated flexible tube. The tube is capable of passing fluid between the balloon and the tube for varying the balloon between a collapsed and expanded condition. The catheter includes a brace fitted over the balloon for restricting expansion of a selected portion of the balloon for forming a perfusion channel that allows fluid to be perfused past the balloon when it is expanded in a body vessel. A medical procedure for dilation under perfusion conditions is also provided.

Abstract: A medical device for placing an embolic coil at a preselected location within a vessel comprising a positioning catheter having a distal tip for retaining the embolic coil which when pressurized with a fluid expands outwardly to release the coil at the preselected position. The positioning catheter includes a coaxial stiffening tube and helically wound coil transition zone to provide improved positioning of the embolic coil.

Abstract: The stent delivery method and apparatus uses an elongate sheath having a rounded or tapered distal end portion which has a central opening and which is constructed in a manner that permits the distal end portion to expand easily. The method comprises the steps of: placing a stent on a balloon catheter or a balloon on a balloon guidewire thereby forming a stent on a balloon assembly; placing the stent on a balloon assembly in the elongate sheath having an elongate axis; pushing the sheath and stent on a balloon assembly to a desired site in the lumen of a vessel; positioning the stent on a balloon assembly at the desired site; withdrawing the sheath from the stent on a balloon assembly causing the distal end portion of the sheath to expand to pass over the stent and leaving the stent and balloon at the desired site in the lumen; expanding the balloon and stent to expand the stent to a desired diameter; collapsing the balloon; and, removing the balloon and the sheath from the lumen.

Abstract: A dilation catheter suitable for use in medical procedures is provided. The catheter includes a balloon disposed on an elongated tube. The tube is capable of passing fluid between the balloon and the tube for varying the balloon between an inflated expanded condition and a deflated collapsed condition. The balloon includes a longitudinally extending spiral wall which forms a longitudinally extending spiral channel spaced inwardly from the exterior surface of the balloon when the balloon is in its expanded condition to allow fluid to be perfused past the balloon.

Abstract: The stent delivery method and apparatus uses an elongate sheath having a rounded or tapered distal end portion which has a central opening and which is constructed in a manner that permits the distal end portion to expand easily. The method comprises the steps of: placing a stent on a balloon catheter or a balloon on a balloon guidewire thereby forming a stent on a balloon assembly; placing the stent on a balloon assembly in the elongate sheath having an elongate axis; pushing the sheath and stent on a balloon assembly to a desired site in the lumen of a vessel; positioning the stent on a balloon assembly at the desired site; withdrawing the sheath from the stent on a balloon assembly causing the distal end portion of the sheath to expand to pass over the stent and leaving the stent and balloon at the desired site in the lumen; expanding the balloon and stent to expand the stent to a desired diameter; collapsing the balloon; and, removing the balloon and the sheath from the lumen.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for cloning the gene which encodes a DNA polymerase-exonuclease of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Plasmid pSM22, the vector containing the pneumocccal polA gene, facilitates the expression of 50-fold greater amounts of the PolI enzyme.