Pupil Size and Movement Tracking Through Closed Eyelids

Biomedical Engineering

Taylor Whitten

Abstract

This project presents the development of a wearable sleep mask system designed to enable infrared imaging of pupil dilation and movement through closed eyelids to enhance sleep studies. Currently, typical sleep studies use electrodes applied to the scalp and body to track sleep, breathing, cardio-respiratory activity, gross motor movement, and neural activity.

The system integrates near-infrared LEDs (light-emitting diodes) with an embedded camera to capture light transmitted through ocular tissue, offering a novel approach to noninvasive sleep monitoring. By enabling continuous measurement of pupil behavior during sleep, this technology has the potential to enhance the analysis of sleep stages and autonomic nervous system activity.

Video

Research poster

Faculty mentor

Portrait of Jennifer Blain

Jennifer Blain

Professor

School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering

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