Blink monitor for detecting blink occurrence in a living subject

摘要

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a blink monitor for detecting blink occurrence in a living subject. For example, a blink sensor comprising a snap or tab electrode is positioned over one or more eye muscles known to assist in closing the eye. The electrode detects the electrical current in the muscle(s) and transmits a signal representative of the electrical current to a signal processing device. The device processes the signal to determine the occurrence of a blink, thereby producing an accurate blink electromyogram (EMG). The device and/or a caregiver may advantageously monitor the blink EMG, before and/or after occurrence processing, to determine the onset or actual occurrence of a patient condition. In an embodiment, the device monitors the blink EMG to determine the onset or occurrence of drowsiness in, for example, a driver, pilot, captain, doctor, soldier, or the like. In an embodiment, a caregiver monitors the blink EMG for one or more muscles in one or both eyes to determine the onset or occurrence of eye disease, such as, for example, strabismus.