US 12,383,178, filed under application 18/749,585 and issued on February 11, 2025, introduces a system and method developed by Dr. Wesley W.O. Krueger for using eye imaging on a wearable device to assess human health. This innovation integrates advanced eye-tracking technology into wearables such as smart glasses or headsets to monitor eye movements, pupil responses, and other ocular metrics in real-time, evaluating health conditions like fatigue, neurologic impairments, or substance use. Validated through NIH-supported research, this platform-agnostic technology leverages Dr. Krueger’s neurotology expertise to provide a portable and non-invasive health assessment tool for diverse applications.
Potential Applications
Medical Diagnostics: Monitors neurologic health (e.g., concussions, stroke) and physiologic states (e.g., fatigue, stress) for early detection and management.
Occupational Safety: Assesses worker health in high-stakes roles like trucking, aviation, and manufacturing, reducing $74 billion in annual accident costs (NHTSA, 2024).
Defense Health Monitoring: Evaluates soldier health and TBI recovery in the field, minimizing $1B+ mission risks.
Consumer Wellness: Supports personal health tracking for individuals monitoring fatigue or cognitive decline in daily life.
Pharmaceutical Research: Tracks ocular responses to evaluate drug efficacy for CNS disorders, providing objective clinical trial data.
Potential Users
Healthcare Providers: General practitioners, neurologists, and rehab specialists diagnosing and monitoring patient health.
Occupational Workers: 3.5 million U.S. truck drivers, air traffic controllers, and 10M+ safety-sensitive workers globally (BLS, 2024).
Military Personnel: Special ops, infantry, and pilots (1.3M active-duty U.S. forces) requiring portable health assessments.
Consumers: Individuals using wearables for personal health management (e.g., 100M+ wearable users globally in 2024).
Pharmaceutical Researchers: Clinical trial managers assessing CNS-affecting therapies.
Potential Buyers or Licensees
Medical Device Companies: Fitbit (Google) and Oura ($40M–$60M licensing) could integrate into health wearables, aligning with $50M+ medical tech investments.
Defense Contractors: Lockheed Martin and Thales ($50M–$70M licensing) may adopt for soldier wearables, leveraging the DoD’s $11.7B R&D budget (2025).
Big Tech: Apple (R&D $26B) and Samsung (R&D $15B+) could license for Apple Watch or Galaxy smart glasses ($20M–$50M), targeting the $635.82B wearable market (2034).
Industrial Safety Providers: Honeywell and Bosch ($25M–$40M licensing) could enhance workplace safety devices.
Pharma Giants: AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly ($30M–$50M licensing) could use for drug efficacy trials, tapping the $180.6B CNS market (2030).
Market Appeal and Valuation
This patent targets a $20B–$30B global market for health monitoring, occupational safety, and pharmaceutical research, with a per-patent value of $25M–$80M (average $52.5M), reflecting its wearable integration and broad health assessment capabilities. Licensing fees could range from $20M–$50M per deal, with royalties (1–5%) adding $5M–$15M annually. Within Dr. Krueger’s 20-patent portfolio, valued at US$750M–$1.68B, this patent strengthens the consumer and medical segments, with an upside to US$2.5B–$3B, enhanced by its synergy with ocular health patents.
Investment Rationale
US 12,383,178 offers a compelling appeal by disrupting traditional health assessments (e.g., clinic visits) with a rapid, objective, and wearable solution. Its integration into consumer and workplace wearables generates substantial downstream revenue, aligning with big tech’s health tech push, DoD safety priorities, and pharmaceutical needs. Potential buyers or licensees can leverage its validated efficacy and scalability to lead in health monitoring, safety, and performance innovation.