1. A vestibular and oculomotor function testing device comprising:
a curved track supported by a plurality of bearings;
an engine configured to selectively displace the track;
a bite block coupled to the track, the bite block configured to convey a movement generated by the engine to a subject’s head so as to rotate the subject’s head about an axis outside the device and through the subject’s cranio-cervical junction region;
one or more angle-adjustable connectors adapted and configured to facilitate rapid reorientation of the track to align its center of rotation with axes that are outside the device and through the cranio-cervical junction region of the subject’s head and substantially parallel to axes of one or more semicircular canals in the subject’s inner ears; and
a sensor adapted and configured to measure and report motion of the engine, the track, andor the head.
2. The vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 1, further comprising:
an oculographic device configured to measure the subject’s vestibular and oculomotor function by capturing and comparing motion of the subject’s eyes and head in one or more dimensions.
3. The vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 2, wherein the oculographic device is a video-oculographic device.
4. The vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 3, wherein the video-oculographic device comprises:
one or more cameras; and
an analysis module in communication with the camera for analyzing movement of the subject’s eyes.
5. The vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 4, wherein the video-oculographic device further comprises:
one or more markers for affixation to the subject’s head;
wherein the analysis module is configured to correct partial decoupling of the subject’s head from the camera through analysis of motion of the one or more markers.
6. The vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 2, wherein the oculographic device is a search coil.
7. The vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 2, wherein the oculographic device is an electro-oculographic device.
8. The vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 1, further comprising:
a device configured to record the subject’s myogenic potentials or electro-oculographic potentials.
9. The vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 1, wherein the engine is selected from the group consisting of: an electric motor, a hydraulic piston, and a pneumatic piston.
10. The vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 9, wherein the electric motor is one selected from the group consisting of: a stepper motor, a servomotor, and a linear actuator.
11. A method for eliciting vestibular function in a subject, the method comprising:
providing the vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 1;
positioning the subject in contact with the bite block;
instructing the subject to visually fixate or track one or more targets; and
selectively actuating the engine to convey a movement to the subject’s head about axes parallel to axes of one or more of the semicircular canals of the inner ears.
12. A method for testing vestibular and oculomotor function in a subject, the method comprising:
providing the vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 1;
positioning the subject in contact with the bite block;
instructing the subject to visually fixate or track one or more targets;
selectively actuating the engine to convey a movement to the subject’s head about axes parallel to axes of one or more semicircular canals of the subject’s inner ears;
measuring movement of the subject’s head with a motion sensor; and
capturing movement of the subject’s eyes with an oculographic device.
13. The vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 1, wherein the bite block includes one or more posts, each of the one or more posts lying in a first plane that is angled with respect to a second plane defined by a portion of the bite block that is adapted and configured to be received within the subject’s mouth, when seated, so as to facilitate orientation of the track’s rotation axis approximately parallel to axes of horizontal semicircular canals of the subject’s inner ears.
14. The vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 13, wherein the bite block includes three posts spaced by about 45\xb0 within the first plane and the three posts are adapted and configured for removable coupling with the track so as to facilitate orientation of the track’s rotation approximately parallel to axes of the anterior and posterior semicircular canals of subject’s inner ears.
15. The vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 1, further comprising:
an electronic display adapted and configured to present stationary or moving visible targets, characters, high contrast bands or other marks as required to test oculomotor functions including saccades, smooth pursuit, optokinetic responses, vergence, alignment, pupil reflexes, dynamic visual acuity, and gaze stability.
16. A method for testing vestibular and oculomotor function in a subject, the method comprising:
providing the vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 15;
positioning the subject in contact with the bite block;
instructing the subject to visually fixate or track one or more targets;
actuating the electronic display to present targets that alternate in location to facilitate testing of the subject’s saccades;
actuating the electronic display to present targets that move to facilitate testing of the subject’s smooth pursuit eye movements;
actuating the electronic display to present moving high-contrast bands to facilitate testing of the subject’s optokinetic eye movements;
actuating the electronic display to present targets that appear to move along the naso-occipital axis to facilitate testing of the subject’s vergence eye movements;
actuating the electronic display to modulate its brightness to facilitate testing of the subject’s pupillary constriction or dilatation response;
instructing the subject to indicate the identity and orientation of a character or other mark presented on the display while the subject’s head is stationary and while the subject’s head is moved by the engine;
selectively actuating the engine to convey a movement to the subject’s head about axes parallel to the axes of one or more of the semicircular canals of the inner ears;
actuating the electronic display to present characters or other marks only with the head stationary or only during head movement within a range of nonzero velocities to facilitate testing of the subject’s static and dynamic visual acuity;
measuring movement of the subject’s head with a motion sensor;
capturing movement of the subject’s eyes with an oculographic device;
recording the subject’s responses during visual acuity testing;
repositioning the vestibular function testing device to repeat testing while conveying head movement around another axis; and
producing a diagnostic report.
17. The vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 1, further comprising:
one or more alternative tracks having a different radius of curvature or a different shape,
wherein the curved track can be removed and replaced with the one or more alternative tracks.
18. The vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 1, wherein the track is sized such that the track will disengage from the engine before an unsafe amount of head movement occurs.
19. The vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 1, further comprising:
one or more additional tracks supported by one or more additional sets of bearings, the additional tracks being adapted and configured to share the same axis of rotation and to prevent undesired head movement in directions other than a desired axis of movement.
20. The vestibular and oculomotor function testing device of claim 1, further comprising:
a rubber wheel coupled to the engine and in contact with the track, wherein rotation of the rubber wheel is translated through frictional contact to selectively displace the track.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A rotating vehicle spin rate tracking system, comprising:
a guidance system suitable for adjusting a flight path of a vehicle; and
a signal reception system configured for receiving signal information from a plurality of navigation signals, the signal reception system including an antenna and a receiver, the receiver configured to determine positional information of the vehicle and track a substantially harmonic pattern produced amongst said plurality of navigation signals, the receiver determining a spin rate of the vehicle based upon the substantially harmonic pattern produced amongst said plurality of navigation signals by periodically measuring the plurality of navigational signals according to a particular timing scheme and deriving a rotation of the vehicle according to the particular timing scheme to determine the spin rate of the vehicle, wherein said guidance system is coupled to said signal reception system and is configured to adjust the flight path of the vehicle based upon the spin rate of the vehicle and the position information of the vehicle, the guidance system configured to adjust a portion of the vehicle to adjust the flight path of the vehicle based upon the spin rate and positional information of the vehicle.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the substantially harmonic pattern is a harmonic pattern at the spin rate of the vehicle.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the spin rate is derived from the substantially harmonic pattern utilizing at least one digital signal processing technique executed by the receiver.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the guidance system is configured to adjust at least one of a pivotable nose-cone, moveable exterior fins, propeller, fan, or gas thrust system to adjust the flight path of the vehicle.
5. A method for tracking a spin rate for a vehicle, the method executable by a navigation signal receiver within said vehicle, comprising;
tracking a plurality of navigational signals;
operating a channel for acquisition of spin rate data;
tracking harmonics, the tracking harmonics including measuring the plurality of navigational signals according to a particular timing scheme and deriving a rotation of the vehicle according to the particular timing scheme; and
determining a spin rate based on the tracking of the harmonics, wherein
the spin rate is provided to a guidance system of the vehicle.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein tracking of at least one navigation signal is utilized to derive additional navigation information.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the spin rate based upon tracking of the harmonics is accomplished by utilizing at least one digital signal processing technique.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the navigation signal is from at least one GPS satellite.
9. A vehicle with enhanced spin rate tracking, comprising:
a housing;
a guidance system within the housing for adjusting the flight path of the vehicle;
an antenna located on an exterior of the housing; and
a GPS receiver connected to the antenna, the GPS receiver coupled to the guidance system, the GPS receiver configured to acquire and track GPS signals and determine positional information based upon said GPS signals, said GPS receiver configured to track a substantially harmonic pattern produced amongst said GPS signals, wherein the GPS receiver determines a spin rate of the vehicle based upon from the substantially harmonic pattern produced amongst the GPS signals by rotation of said antenna by periodic measurement of GPS signals according to a particular timing scheme to determine rotation of the vehicle, wherein said guidance system is coupled to said GPS receiver and is configured to adjust the flight path of the vehicle based upon the spin rate of the vehicle and the positional information of the vehicle, the guidance system configured to adjust a portion of the vehicle to adjust the flight path of the vehicle based upon the spin rate and positional information of the vehicle.
10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the substantially harmonic pattern is a harmonic pattern at the spin rate of the vehicle.
11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the guidance system is configured to adjust the flight path of the vehicle based on the positional information of the vehicle produced by the GPS receiver.
12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein a channel of said plurality of channels of said GPS receiver is utilized for tracking said substantially harmonic pattern.
13. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein said GPS receiver includes a plurality of channels.
14. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the guidance system is configured to adjust at least one of a pivotable nose-cone, moveable exterior fins, propeller, fan, or gas thrust system to adjust the flight path of the vehicle.