Diagnosis of Vertigo

Vestibular disorders are a group of diseases whose symptoms emerge from injuries of the vestibular system. This system is found in the inner ear which is composed by saccule, utricle and the semicircular canals. The vestibular system is responsible for reporting the position of the head to allow the eyes to adjust to it.

Malfunctioning of this system generates the sensation of movement of objects whereas there is no real movement. This sensation is called vertigo, and is produced when the vestibular system does not adequately control the eyes and gives them an erroneous motion signal.

Analysis techniques of ocular and oculocephalic movements are an important aid in the diagnosis of vestibular disorders. Its use has been systematized, but only in specialized units.

One of the biggest problems caused by vertiginous symptoms is that they can be easily confused with those of vertebrobasilar stroke. Therefore, different exploratory maneuvers have been included into protocols to minimize this error, in some cases with the aid of eye-tracking techniques. However, eye-tracking devices currently on the market are complex to handle and expensive. AURA seeks to offer the medical community with an affordable and portable system, easy to use for non-specialists in the field (primary care consultations, emergency rooms, …), for the diagnosis of vertigo.