Mobile diagnostic goggles:
With MIPI Cameras &
Embedded Vision

The world's first wireless video oculography system
Merlin from Zeisberg GmbH

The challenge: measuring eye movements in milliseconds

Existing video oculography systems are wired and can only be used when connected to a PC. Zeisberg GmbH wanted to overcome this limitation with the development of new diagnostic goggles. They were intended to be mobile, self-sufficient and offer better data quality and diagnostic options.

The solution: stand-alone diagnostic goggles with VC MIPI and Raspberry Pi



The Merlin head impulse testing and video nystagmography system relies on embedded vision with VC MIPI Cameras and a Raspberry Pi processor board, making it PC-independent. With a high image resolution and a frame rate of 500 fps, it delivers more precise data and offers head and eye tracking in a medical device for the first time.

Requirements

play video

Independent of PC and laboratory:

Video oculography systems have existed for over 30 years, but are usually wired and can only be used in the laboratory. This makes it difficult to carry out tests.
Purpose of development:
The aim was to develop diagnostic goggles that work without cables and can be used independently. This considerably simplifies the test procedures and enables them to be used outside of a laboratory.

Solution with the Merlin goggles:

The Merlin system works with a novel method that fuses sensor data to provide 4-dimensional vector information about the position of the goggles in space.
Head and eye tracking:
Merlin enables combined head and eye tracking in a medical device for the first time. This supports the examiner in performing the tests and provides direct and better feedback.
Improved measurement data
Existing systems measure head movements via gyroscopes and acceleration data, but do not provide information on head position and movement in space. This can distort test results.

How it works:
Measuring the interaction of the vestibular organ and eyes

Human balance is based on a complex interplay of several senses and organs, controlled by the vestibular organ. It is located in the inner ear and consists, among other things, of three semicircular canals that are at a 90° angle to each other. They detect, for example, a rapid rotational movement of the head and transmit the information to the brain. The body reacts to the rotational stimuli with rapid eye movements, among other things, and thus enables stable images even during movement.
Zeisberg “Merlin”
The Zeisberg Merlin video oculography system measures the interaction between head movement and eye reaction. In the video head impulse test, the patient's head is first fixed and then rotated by the examiner.
VC MIPI® Cameras
VC MIPI® Cameras record the eye movement. The speed of the eye reaction and jumps in the readjustment movement (saccades) provide information about impairments and affected semicircular canals.
Raspberry Pi electronics
A Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 serves as integrated processor board in the diagnostic goggles. The camera data is evaluated onboard and transferred wireless to a PC or mobile device for visualization and further processing.

Advantages of the Merlin diagnostic goggles

The new video oculography system improves balance diagnostics in medical practices, clinics and research:
PC-independent
Higher data quality
Head & eye tracking
Use outside of laboratories
Direct feedback for examiners
New diagnostic possibilities

MIPI cameras with 500 fps and global shutter

With a frame rate of 500 fps, the VC MIPI IMX273 Camera Modules offer up to five times higher resolution than previous systems. Their global shutter enables image capture without artifacts caused by movement.

Only 15 months development time

The Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4, the compatible VC Cameras and the RPi development environment made it possible to develop the diagnostic goggles from concept to the first prototype in just 15 months. Thanks to the embedded vision components, the device is compact, lightweight and energy-efficient.

Zeisberg

For over three decades, Zeisberg GmbH has been a family-owned company focusing on research and development of medical tools for the diagnosis and treatment of hearing and balance as well as the digitalization of these processes. Based in Metzingen in southern Germany, the company has in-depth experience and comprehensive expertise in the fields of audiology and neurootology.
“We chose the VC MIPI IMX273 Cameras because they offer an extremely fast frame rate and, with their global shutter, enable image capture without artifacts.

The MIPI CSI-2 interface for connection to the Raspberry Pi as well as high quality and long-term availability were also important to us. Vision Components delivered on all of these points, as did the support of the team during all phases of the development.”

Sven Zeisberg,
Managing Director of Zeisberg GmbH

Embedded vision: enabling
autonomous medical devices

Embedded vision as a technology for the quick and easy development of autonomous smart devices can also be transferred to other medical and laboratory devices as well as other sectors and industries: systems with MIPI cameras
and compatible embedded processor boards make it possible to develop extremely compact, energy-efficient devices with onboard data processing, that are independent of external PCs.

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