ELECTROOCULOGRAPHY

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION
Electrooculography (EOG) is a technique for measuring the resting potential of the retina. The resulting signal is called the electrooculogram . The main applications are in ophthalmological stimuli. Eye movement measurements: Usually, pairs of electrodes are placed either above and below the eye or to the left and right of the eye. If the eye is moved from the center position towards one electrode, this electrode "sees" the positive side of the retina and the opposite electrode "sees" the negative side of the retina. Consequently, a potential difference occurs between the electrodes. Assuming that the resting potential is constant, the recorded potential is a measure for the eye position. Much experiment show that the corneal part is a positive pole and the retina part is a negative pole in the eyeball. Eye movement will respectively generates voltage up to16uV and 14uV per 1 degree in horizontal and vertical way diagnosis and in recording eye movements. Unlike the electroretinogram, the EOG does not represent the response to individual visual

GMIT.E&C Dept.

Page 1

ELECTROOCULOGRAPHY

Chapter 2

PRINCIPLE & WORKING PROCEDURE

2.1 Principle
` The eye acts as a dipole in which the anterior pole is positive and the posterior pole is negative. 1. Left gaze: the cornea approaches the electrode near the outer canthus of the left eye, resulting in a positive-going change in the potential difference recorded from it. 2. Right gaze: the cornea approaches the electrode near the inner canthus of the left eye, resulting in a negative-going change in the potential difference recorded from it (A, an AC/DC amplifier).The typical EOG waveform generated by eye movement are shown below.

Fig 2.1:Top figure shows 3 types of eye movement and bottom figure shows the original EOG waveform.

GMIT.E&C Dept.

Page 2

ELECTROOCULOGRAPHY

2.2 Working procedure and EOG detection

Positive or negative pulses will be generated when the eyes rolling upward or downward. The amplitude of pulse will be increased with the increment of rolling angle and width of the positive (negative) pulse is proportional to the duration of the eyeball rolling process. When the eyes are stationary or when the eyes are looking straight ahead, there is no considerable change in potential and the amplitude of signal obtained is approximately zero. When the eyes are made to move upwards, then there results an action potential, which when measured will give a value of -0.06V to +0.06V .similarly for downward movement of the eyes will give a similar voltage with opposite polarities to that obtained due to the left movement. EOG signal does not fall in the amplitude or frequency range of the EMG signal. Thus during process of measurement, the head or the other parts of body can be moved. DETECTION: The primary function of EOG signal estimation and processing is the detection of EOG signal. The below figure shows the method of detection of EOG signal using electrodes. As it can be seen from the figure, four to five electrodes are required for the detection of the EOG signals. In the process of detection, the electrodes act as a transducer converting the ion current. The derivation of the EOG is achieved placing electrodes on the outer side of the eyes to detect horizontal movement and another pair above and below the eye to detect vertical Fig 2.2::Position Of Sensors movement.

GMIT.E&C Dept.

Page 3

ELECTROOCULOGRAPHY

Chapter 3

MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES
3.1 Signals Measurement:
The electro-oculography (EOG) is a measurement of biopotentials produced by changes in eye position. The fact that electrical activity could be recorded by placing electrodes on the surface of the skin in the eye region. It was realized that the electrical potentials induced corresponded (almost linearly) to eye movement... It is accepted that the generated electrical potentials arise due to the permanent potential difference of between 10 to 30mV that exists between the cornea and the retina. This is commonly referred to as the cornea-retinal potential with the cornea being positive. An electrical field is set up in the tissues surrounding the eye and rotation of the eye causes a corresponding rotation of the field vector. For this reason, it is possible to detect eye movement with the Appropriate placement of electrodes on the skin surrounding the eyes. The EOG is one of the very few methods for recording eye movements that does not require a direct attachment to the eye itself. For this reason, the EOG technique is preferred for recording eye movements in sleep and dream research and when recording eye movements in infants. For instance Figure 3.1 illustrates the measurement of horizontal eye movements by the placement of a pair of electrodes at the outside of the left and right eye (outer acanthi). With the eye at rest the electrodes are effectively at the same potential and no voltage is recorded. The rotation of the eye to the right results in a difference of potential, with the electrode in the direction of movement (i.e., the right can thus) becoming positive relative to the second electrode. The opposite effect results from a rotation to the left, as illustrated. The calibration of the signal may be achieved by having the patient look consecutively at two different fixation points located a known angle apart and recording the appropriate EOGs.

GMIT.E&C Dept.

Page 4

ELECTROOCULOGRAPHY

Fig 3.1:An illustration of the electro-oculogram. The signal generated by horizontal movement of the eyes. The polarity of the signal is positive at the electrode to which the eye is moving. An additional use of the EOG measurement system that is not directly associated with eye movement is a clinical test for retinal dysfunction. The EOG is not a very stable signal and measurements can vary as a result of varying ambient light conditions. By having a patient carries out eye movements of constant amplitude in the dark and then in the light, any change in the biopotential would reflect a change in the corneal-retinal potential. In normal eyes, this potential decreases during dark adaptation, and increases during light adaptation. When the above external factors are minimized and interference from biological signals such as EEG, EMG and ECG are appropriately filtered out, a resolution of about 1 degree can be achieved within the range 30 degrees for horizontal movement

3.2 Computer Automated Electrooculography

Clinical electrooculography requires a patient to track two points in the visual field separated by at least 30 visual angle in a horizontal plane while recording the concomitant change in potential from electrodes placed at the external canthi of the two eyes. This test is relatively lengthy, requiring long periods of light and dark adaptation. A minicomputer program has been written to automate the test and to analyze and reduce the data. Time required to administer the test, as well as time needed to analyze the data, has been significantly reduced by computer automation. The electrooculogram (EOG), a useful clinical test of retinal function, is not in widespread use due to tedious recording and analysis procedures. This paper describes an

GMIT.E&C Dept.

Page 5

ELECTROOCULOGRAPHY automated technique, using a minicomputer system, to simplify both recording and analysis of the EOG. In operation, the EOG automation program has been successful in significantly reducing operator time. Once the delay parameters are initialized, the system can run untended for the entire test if the EOG waveform does not drift appreciably. Little drift is encountered when electrodes are attached so that a minimum resistance is obtained. A possible simplification of the system would be to use ac amplification to counter dc drift problems. Such a modification would require the program to detect maximum and minimum values of the EOG waveform rather than averaging samples during the period when the eyes fixate on one target. Microprocessor application: An Intel 8080 microprocessor is used to control the running, and also analyze the results of a clinical test, the electrooculogram. From electrodes attached medial and lateral to the eyes, the sinusoidal signals generated by the stimulated lateral eye movements are monitored, digitized by the processor and the peak values stored for subsequent analysis. Results are plotted both numerically and graphically each minute of the test on a standard teletype. Throughout the test, systems faults are recognized and appropriate error messages produced. The test is automatically terminated and results calculated when sufficient data has been collected.

GMIT.E&C Dept.

Page 6

ELECTROOCULOGRAPHY

Chapter 4

APPLICATIONS
4.1 Electrooculogram for Efficient Human Computer Interfaces:
Electrooculogram signals can be used for human computer interface efficiently. Establishing an efficient alternative channel for communication without over speech and hand movements is important to increase the quality of life for patients suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or other illnesses that prevent correct limb and facial muscular responses. We have made several experiments to compare the P300-based BCI speller and EOG-based new system. A five-letter word can be written on average in 25 seconds and in 105 seconds with the EEG-based device. Giving message such as cleanup could be performed in 3 seconds with the new system. The new system is more efficient than P300-based BCI system in terms of accuracy, speed, applicability, and cost efficiency. Using EOG signals, it is possible to improve the communication abilities of those patients who can move their eyes. In this respect, the area of study related to the Human Computer Interaction and Brain Computer Interface (BCI) is very important in hopes of improving the medium term quality of the life for such patients. The human-machine interface which provides control of machines for disabled people is called the Man Machine Interface (MMI). Generally, if the control is computer-based, it is called the Human Computer Interface (HCI) instead of MMI. Is a direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device The BCI systems translate brain activity into electrical signals that control external devices. Thus they can represent the only technology for severely paralyzed patients to increase or maintain their communication and control options. Because EEG signals are characterized by low amplitude (V), their measurement is more difficult than EOG.

The New EOG-Based HCI Device

In this subsection, as an HCI device, a novel EOG measurement system design is proposed. Horizontal and vertical eye movements are measured with two passive electrodes usually employed for the EEG acquisition. The system is microcontrollerbased and battery powered. The CMRR is 88dB, electronic noise is 0.6V(-), and sampling rate is 176Hz. 5Ag/AgCl electrodes are used (two for each channel and one is for GMIT.E&C Dept. Page 7

ELECTROOCULOGRAPHY ground). In order to remove the DC level and 50Hz power line noise, the differentiate approach is used. This approach is much more successful than classical methods After filtering and the amplification stages, the EOG signals are digitized (10bit) and then transferred to the PC. The EOG signals are then processed by a classification algorithm which is based on the nearest neighborhood (NN) relation, with a classification performance of 95%. The EOG measurement system, as an HCI, allows people to communicate with their environment, only by using eye movements, successfully and economically (180 USD). The systems initial electronic circuitry can be used for EOG, EMG, and EEG. After digitizing, horizontal and vertical EOG signals are then transferred to the PC serial port Microcode Studio program is used to write the embedded code; Winpic800 is used to program the microcontroller (C). The data transfer rate is enough for the sampling rate (176Hz), which is sufficient to process the EOG signals. To compare the systems we made experiments with the BCI system and new EOG system. The P300-based BCI speller based on the detection of P300 waveforms from the array of 8 electrodes returned in 21seconds (105seconds for 5 letters) for the selection of the word water in the experimental group (10 subjects) employed. In addition, the accuracy of the letter selection on average was 81% in the same group, with a standard deviation of 14%. Controls were then able to master the P300 BCI system after a session of 30minutes at the reported level of accuracy. The word water with the EOG-based device employed an average time of 24.7seconds, with 3.2seconds as a standard deviation. The accuracy percentage in this group was 100%, regarding writing of the selected word. Also in this case the subjects were able to master the device after a session of 5minutes. Notifying a need message could be performed in 3seconds. after considering noise reduction measures in designing of the biopotential data acquisition system, the EOG system performance is good. Electronic noise reduction is also successful. The circuit can be easily adapted for EMG and EEG measurements. As a future work, research is going on where using combined EOG and EEG and other inputs for efficient configuration of a multi-input hybrid HCI.

GMIT.E&C Dept.

Page 8

ELECTROOCULOGRAPHY

4.2 EOG technique to guide a wheelchair

This method to control and guide a wheelchair(mobile robots) for disabled people using electrooculography (EOG) . The system consists of a standard electric wheelchair with an on-board computer, sensors and graphical user interface running on a computer .In case of mobile robots, to send different commands we have used electrooculography (EOG) techniques, so that, control is made by means of the ocular position(eye displacement into its orbit). The EOG signal is recorded by means of an acquisition system and the data are sent to a PC, in which they are processed to calculate the eye gaze direction. Then, in accordance with the guidance control strategy, the control commands of the wheelchair are sent. It is possible to see that exists a visual feedback in the system by means of a tactile screen that the user has in front of him. The block diagram is shown in fig 4.1. EOG

Wheel chair
Eye model

Visual feedback

Eye position Fig 4.1: Guidance System

Command generator

stop

FORWA RD

stop

RIGHT

BACKW ORD LEFT

stop

stop

Fig 4.2: User Interface

GMIT.E&C Dept.

Page 9

ELECTROOCULOGRAPHY Figure4.2 shows the user interface where the commands that the user can generate are: Forward, Backwards, Left, Right and Stop. To control the robot movements there are multiple options: direct access guidance, semiautomatic and Automatic sweep or interpretation of different commands generated by means of eye movements. We are going to use the semiautomatic sweep option because it allows us to generate simple code for controlling the wheelchair using the eye movements (a tick) to select among the different commands. The actions are Validated by time, this is, when a command is selected, if other tick is not generated during a time interval, the command is validated and the guidance action is executed. This control technique can be useful in multiple applications, severe disabilities.. Eye movements require minimum effort and allow direct selection techniques, and this increase the response time and the rate of information flow .This control technique can be useful in multiple applications, such as help to the mobility and the communication between handicapped persons.

4..3: Eye Movement Analysis for Activity Recognition Using Electrooculography

Here eye movement analysis as a new sensing modality for activity recognition. Eye movement data was recorded using an electrooculography (EOG) system. We first describe and evaluate algorithms for detecting three eye movement characteristics from EOG signals - saccades, fixations, and blinks - and propose a method for assessing repetitive patterns of eye movements. We then devise 90 different features based on these characteristics and select a subset of them using minimum redundancy maximum relevance feature selection (mRMR). We validate the method using an eight participant study in an office environment using an example set of five activity classes: copying a text, reading a printed paper, taking hand-written notes, watching a video, and browsing the web. We also include periods with no specific activity (the NULL class). Using a support vector machine (SVM) classifier and person-independent (leave-one-person-out) training, we obtain an average precision of 76.1% and recall of 70.5% over All classes and participants. The work demonstrates the promise of eye-based activity recognition (EAR) and opens up discussion on the wider applicability of EAR to other activities that are difficult, or even impossible, to detect using common sensing modalities.

GMIT.E&C Dept.

Page 10

ELECTROOCULOGRAPHY A rich source of information, as yet unused for activity recognition, is the movement of the eyes. The movement patterns our eyes perform as we carry out specific activity ties have the potential to reveal much about the activities themselves independently of what we are looking at. This includes information on visual tasks, such as reading, information on predominantly physical activities, such as driving a car, but also on cognitive processes of visual perception, such as attention or saliency determination . In a similar manner, location or a particular environment may influence our eye movements. However, these remain expensive, with demanding video processing tasks requiring bulky auxiliary equipment. Electrooculography (EOG) - the measurement technique used in this work - is an inexpensive method for mobile eye movement recordings; it is computationally light-weight and can be implemented using wearable sensors. HUMAN activity recognition has become an important application area for pattern recognition. The growing use of ambient and body-worn sensors has paved the way for other sensing modalities, particularly in the domain of ubiquitous computing. Important advances in activity recognition were achieved using modalities such as body movement and posture, sound, or interactions between people. There are however limitations to current sensor configurations. Accelerometers or gyroscopes, for example, are limited to sensing physical activity; they cannot easily be used for detecting predominantly visual tasks, such as reading, browsing the web, or watching a video. Common ambient sensors, such as reed switches or light sensors, are limited in that they only detect basic activity events, e.g. entering or leaving a room, or switching an appliance.

GMIT.E&C Dept.

Page 11

ELECTROOCULOGRAPHY

OTHER APPLICATIONS:
1.Biomedical instrumentation based on electrooculography (EOG) signal processing and application to a hospital alarm system: The electrooculogram (EOG) signal is acquired by a bi-channel signal acquisition system and prominent artifacts and interference are suppressed. It is then processed for use in biomedical instrumentation systems such as eyeball tracking and blinks detection and is extended to application of EOG signal processing to the control of a dual stage hospital alarm system. EOG based bio-control is found to be a suitable alternative to current control schemes, especially for quadriplegics and severely paralyzed patients. 2. nystagmus : characteristics fast phase/low phase eye moment measurable by 3. It helps in early indicator of Chloroquine toxicity EOG

GMIT.E&C Dept.

Page 12

ELECTROOCULOGRAPHY

Chapter 5

ADVANTAGES, DISADVANTAGES & METHODS TO OVERCOME DISADVANTAGES

Advantages: The EOG is easy to use, also in children and patients confined to bed It helps in knowing of eye movement of patient during the sleep time and closed eye lids The EOG output will be directly proportional to eye movement Eye movement data is analog and sampling rate for ADC can be chosen freely Artifacts from eyelid blinking can be detected easily Eye movement data are analog and the sampling rate of a following analogdigital-converter (ADC) can be chosen freely With naso-temporal electrode application the linearity amounts to 20 degrees, with bi-temporal up to 30 degrees

Disadvantages: The EOG signal is a result of number of factors, including eye ball movement and rotation, eyelid movement, electrode placement and head movement EOG signals increases if luminous increases The EOG detected signal is easily contaminated with drift in long-term measurement Superposition of signals from mimic or chewing muscles

GMIT.E&C Dept.

Page 13

ELECTROOCULOGRAPHY

Overcoming the disadvantages The influence of EMG artifacts can be reduced by instructing the subject to mouth open and avoid innervations of the mimic musculature keep

The drifts can be reduced by careful application of the Ag/AgCl-electrodes and filling them bubble free with electrode-cream

GMIT.E&C Dept.

Page 14

ELECTROOCULOGRAPHY

Chapter 6

Conclusion
In this report a new system to use the EOG signals for the realization of an HCI device able to restore some communication abilities to patients not able to move their limbs and facial muscles. After our experiments, it is observed that the new EOG-based system can be used for HCI, efficiently. From a technical point of view the highlights of the presented system are the following (a)Horizontal and vertical EOG signals are measured successfully. CMRR is 88 dB, sampling rate is 176Hz, and electronic noise is 0.6V(-). According to the specifications, the present system can measure the EOG signals properly. (b)The EOG signals, for different eye movements, are classified on-line. The NN algorithm (with Euclidean distance) is used. The signals do not need complex and timecostly classification algorithms. (c)The realized virtual keyboard allows the user to write messages and to communicate other needs relatively in an efficient way. The EOG-based system seems more efficient than EEG-based (P300 BCI). It must be noted that the solution for the EOG system is extremely cheap when compared to the EEG solution (one order of magnitude) and then can be used as a first step for the hybrid device for the final users

GMIT.E&C Dept.

Page 15

ELECTROOCULOGRAPHY

REFERENCES
1. Electra-oculography: A recording semi-automatic procedure. Brit. J. Ophthal. 52, 122-126 (1968). IMAIZUMA, K. The clinical application of electro-oculography (EOG). In Clinical Electro- retinography. Proc 3rd Int. Symp. (H. M. Burian and J. H. Jacobson, Eds.), pp. 311-326. 2. 3. New York,Pergamon, 1966.4. KELSEY, J. H. Clinical electrooculgraphy S. Venkataramanan, P. Prabhat, S. R. Choudhury, H. B. Nemade, and J. S. Sahambi, Biomedical instrumentation based on Electrooculogram (EOG) signal processing and application to a hospital alarm system, in Proceedings of the 2nd IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Sensing and Information Processing (ICISIP '05), pp. 535540, Chennai, India, January 2005. 4. 5. Sonar-Based Real-World Mapping and Navigation. Alberto Elfes. IEEE Journal of Robot and Automation, Vol. RA-3, No. 3, June 1987. Y. Kim, N. L. Doh, Y. Youm, and W. K. Chung, Robust discrimination method of the electrooculogram signals for human-computer interaction controlling mobile robot, Intelligent Automation and Soft Computing, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 319336, 2007.

GMIT.E&C Dept.

Page 16