Pupillary sensor for ocular cranial nerve monitoring

摘要

In humans, the pupillary light reflex (PLR) is the change in diameter of the pupil as a response to changes in lightintensity. By quantitatively monitoring the pupillary light reflex, there is potential to gain diagnostic knowledge forpatients in a variety of situations including those suffering from a traumatic brain injury as well as those undergoinginvasive neurosurgery proximal to the optic nerves. To improve the diagnostic capabilities of the PLR, a novelpupillometer was developed. The pupillometer is intended for direct placement on the eye and allows for the continuousstimulation and monitoring of pupillary light reflexes. Tests on anesthetized rabbits demonstrate real-time dataacquisition and display, including the pupil diameter and velocities of constriction and dilation. The sensor is indevelopment for implementation as a clinical device to monitor the status of the oculomotor nerves, and may also findapplications in the diagnostic assessment of traumatic brain injury or changes in intracranial pressure.