Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The potential of infrared pupillography in routine police traffic checks

Das Potenzial der Infrarot-Pupillographie im Rahmen polizeilicher Routineverkehrskontrollen

  • Originalien
  • Published:
Rechtsmedizin Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

In order to evaluate driving abilities of each traffic participant, standardized and objective measurement methods are still needed. The applicability and value of infrared pupillography as an objective measurement method to indicate possible influence of central nervous acting substances has been demonstrated in former publications.

Objectives

To tie in with first results of the study, the aim was to extend the statistical analysis to further parameters of the pupillary light reflex (PLR) in order to demonstrate their relevance and to substantiate the value of infrared pupillography for possible implementation in the framework of routine police traffic checks.

Materials and methods

We exposed the iris of healthy test subjects (n = 41), as well as of persons who were under the influence of drugs and/or medication (n = 105), to different light stimuli using infrared technology. After measuring and splitting the PLR into single parameters a statistical analysis was performed.

Results

The pupillary light reflex was significantly alterated when the examined person was under the influence of central nervous acting substances. In concordance with former reported results, the majority of the parameters approved the high value of the PLR as a reliable indicator of previous consumption of drugs and/or central nervous acting medication. The most appropriate parameters of the pupillary light reflex for identification of drivers under the influence of central nervous acting substances are indicated in the study.

Conclusions

Infrared pupillography represents an objective method of measuring the pupil function to indicate a possible influence by central nervous acting substances. As we were able to prove the applicability of the device used in the present study during routine police traffic controls, we suggest that infrared pupillography should become a regular method in scheduled traffic controls in the future, preferably in cooperation with forensic medical centers.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Um die Fahrtüchtigkeit eines Teilnehmers am Straßenverkehr evaluieren zu können, sind objektive und standardisierte Messmethoden notwendig. Auf die Anwendbarkeit und Wertigkeit der Infrarot-Pupillographie als objektive Messmethode für die Erkennung einer etwaigen Beeinflussung durch zentral-nervös wirksame Substanzen wurde bereits in mehreren Publikationen eingegangen.

Ziel der Arbeit

Um an erste Ergebnisse unserer Studie anzuknüpfen war Ziel dieser Arbeit, die statistische Analyse auf weitere Parameter des Pupillenlichtreflexes (PLR) auszuweiten, um deren Relevanz und die Wertigkeit der Infrarot-Pupillographie für eine mögliche Implementierung in polizeiliche Routineverkehrskontrollen demonstrieren zu können.

Material und Methoden

Die Iris gesunder Probanden (n = 41) sowie von Personen, die unter dem Einfluss zentral-nervös wirksamer Substanzen standen (n = 105), wurden unter Verwendung von Infrarottechnologie unterschiedlichen Lichtreizen ausgesetzt. Nach entsprechender Messung und Aufsplitten des PLR in Einzelparameter erfolgte die statistische Auswertung.

Ergebnisse

Der PLR zeigt sich bei Personen, die unter der Wirkung zentral-nervös wirksamer Substanzen stehen, als signifikant verändert. In Übereinstimmung mit vorpublizierten Daten konnte bei der Mehrheit der Parameter die hohe Wertigkeit des PLR als verlässlicher Indikator für einen vorangegangenen Konsum von Drogen und/oder zentral-nervös wirksame Medikamente nachgewiesen werden. Die dafür aussagekräftigsten Parameter werden in der vorliegenden Studie präsentiert.

Diskussion

Infrarot-Pupillographie repräsentiert eine objektive Untersuchungsmethode der Pupillenfunktion, die es ermöglicht, Hinweise auf eine mögliche Beeinflussung durch zentral-nervös wirksame Substanzen zu liefern. Die vorliegende Studie belegt die Anwendbarkeit des verwendeten Messinstrumentes für den mobilen Einsatz im Rahmen polizeilicher Routineverkehrskontrollen, so dass unseres Erachtens die Infrarot-Pupillographie künftig als ständige Methode in geplanten Polizeikontrollen, vorzugsweise in Zusammenarbeit mit rechts- bzw. verkehrsmedizinischen Zentren, zum Einsatz kommen sollte.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alexandridis E (1971) Pupillographie. Anwendungsmöglichkeiten als objektive Untersuchungsmethode der Netzhautsinnesfunktion. Hüthig, Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bergamin O, Kardon RH (2003) Latency of the pupil light reflex: sample rate, stimulus intensity, and variation in normal subjects. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 44:1546–1554

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Ellis CJ (1981) The pupillary light reflex in normal subjects. Br J Ophthalmol 65:754–759

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Hill T, Lewicki P (2006) Statistics methods and applications. StatSoft, Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  5. Lindauer A, Siepmann T, Oertel R, Jung A, Ziemssen T, Jaehde U et al (2008) Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modelling of venlafaxine: pupillary light reflex as a test system for noradrenergic effects. Clin Pharmacokinet 47:721–731

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Loewenfeld IE (1999) The Pupil. Anatomy, Physiology, and Clinical Applications. Butterworth Heinemann, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  7. Monticelli F, Priemer F, Hitzl W, Keller T (2010) Pupil function as an indicator for being under the influence of central nervous acting substances from a traffic-medicine perspective. Med Sci Law 50:75–83

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Müller-Jensen A, Hagenah R (1976) Untersuchungen zur Variabilität des phasischen Pupillenlichtreflexes. J Neurol 212:123–132

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Murillo R, Crucilla C, Schmittner J, Hotchkiss E, Pickworth WB (2004) Pupillometry in the detection of concomitant drug use in opioid-maintained patients. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 26:271–275

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Ostrin LA, Glasser A (2004) The effects of phenylephrine on pupil diameter and accommodation in rhesus monkeys. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 45:215–221

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Priemer F, Sachs H (2000) The compact integrated pupillograph CIP (AMTech)—its value on detection of psychophysical disorder caused by drugs, Abstract 219: 15th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs, and Traffic Safety, Stockholm

  12. Priemer F, Büchler J, Schwab M, Spitzer M, Kovar KA (2003) Pupillenfunktion unter akuter MDE-Wirkung. BASt M 152. In: Rainer Mattern, Dieter Krause. German Society of Traffic Medicine, 32nd Annual Meeting: 143–146

  13. Pürstl G (2011) Strassenverkehrsordnung Austrian Road Traffic regulations—With explanatory notes in the light of its legislative history and an overview of the law, 13th ed. Manz, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  14. Verster JC, Veldhuijzen DS, Volkerts ER (2006) Effects of an opioid (Oxycodone/Paracetamol) and an NSAID (Bromfenac) on driving ability, memory functioning, psychomotor performance, pupil size, and mood. Clin J Pain 22:499–504

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Volpe NJ, Plotkin ES, Maguire MG, Hariprasad R, Galetta SL (2000) Portable pupillography of the swinging flashlight test to detect afferent pupillary defects. Ophthalmology 107:1913–1922

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Wilhelm H (1991) Pupillenreaktionen—Pupillenstörungen. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  17. Wilhelm H (2008) The pupil. Curr Opin Neurol 21:36–42

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Wilhelm H, Wilhelm B (2003) Clinical applications of pupillography. J Neuroophthalmol 23(1):42–49

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

    S.N. Kunz

  2. Institute of Forensic Experts Reports, University Nürtingen-Geislingen, Nürtingen, Germany

    F. Priemer

  3. Département de la Médicine Légale, Laboratoire National de Santé, Service médico-judiciare, Dudelange, Luxembourg

    U. Preiss

  4. Interfacultary Department of Legal Medicine and Forensic Neuropsychiatry, Salzburg University, Ignaz Harrer Str. 79, 5020, Salzburg, Austria

    F.C. Monticelli & T. Keller

  5. Research Office, Biostatistics, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

    W. Hitzl

Authors
  1. F.C. Monticelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. Hitzl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F. Priemer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. U. Preiss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S.N. Kunz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. T. Keller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to F.C. Monticelli.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

There is no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this article concerning all authors involved.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Monticelli, F., Hitzl, W., Priemer, F. et al. The potential of infrared pupillography in routine police traffic checks. Rechtsmedizin 25, 466–473 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00194-015-0023-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00194-015-0023-8

Keywords

Schlüsselwörter

Search

Navigation