Portable multi-focal visual evoked potential diagnostics for multiple sclerosis/optic neuritis patients

• DOI: 10.1007/s10633-024-09980-z
• Publication Date: 2024-07-03T02:01:26Z
• Authors: S. Mohammad Ali B...; Craig Versek; Kristen Babinski; Sagar Kamarthi; Deborah Green-LaR...; Srinivas Sridhar
• Keywords: Optic neuritis; Neuritis; Optic nerve diseases

Abstract Purpose Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuro-inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS), where immune targets and damages protective myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibers, inhibiting axonal signal transmission. Demyelinating optic neuritis (ON), common MS symptom, involves damage. We’ve developed NeuroVEP, portable, wireless diagnostic that delivers visual stimuli through smartphone in headset measures evoked potentials at cortex from scalp using custom electroencephalography electrodes. Methods Subject vision evaluated short 2.5-min full-field (ffVEP) test, followed by 12.5-min multifocal VEP (mfVEP) test. The ffVEP evaluates integrity of pathway analyzing P100 component each eye, while mfVEP 36 individual regions field for abnormalities. Extensive processing, feature extraction methods, machine learning algorithms were explored mfVEPs. Key metrics patients’ results statistically against data collected group subjects with normal vision. Custom simulated defects used to validate which yielded 91% accuracy classification. Results 20 subjects, 10 controls and/or ON tested NeuroVEP device standard-of-care (SOC) testing only stimuli. In cases, agreed between SOC device. Where available, good agreement Humphrey Automated Perimetry analysis. lesion locations deduced consistent Magnetic Resonance Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography findings. Conclusion This pilot study indicates has potential be reliable, objective electrophysiology analysis neuro-visual disorders.