Wearable system for detecting and measuring biosignals

• US 10,028,703 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2014
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EMOTIV Inc.
• Original Assignee: EMOTIV Inc.
• Inventors: Le, Tan, Mackellar, Geoffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoklosa, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANTISKAY, BRIAN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US14/447,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20160029958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 600372, 600382, 600384, 600386, 600388-393, 600544-545, 607115-118
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0533 Measuring galvanic skin response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1126 using a particular sensing technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/245 specially adapted for magnetoencephalographic [MEG] signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6835 Supports or holders, e.g., articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7217 of noise originating from a therapeutic or surgical apparatus, e.g. from a pacemaker

Abstract

A system for detecting bioelectrical signals of a user comprising: a set of sensors configured to detect bioelectrical signals from the user, each sensor in the set of sensors configured to provide non-polarizable contact at the body of the user; an electronics subsystem comprising a power module configured to distribute power to the system and a signal processing module configured to receive signals from the set of sensors; a set of sensor interfaces coupling the set of sensors to the electronics subsystem and configured to facilitate noise isolation within the system; and a housing coupled to the electronics subsystem, wherein the housing facilitates coupling of the system to a head region of the user.

Claims

1. A system for detecting bioelectrical signals of a user comprising:

a set of sensors configured to detect EEG signals from the user, each sensor in the set of sensors comprising a semi-dry hydrogel with a non-volatile fluid configured to provide non-polarizable contact, the set of sensors including a first anterior frontal sensor, a second anterior frontal sensor, a first temporal lobe sensor, a second temporal lobe sensor, and a central sensor;

an electronics subsystem comprising a power module configured to distribute power to the system and a signal processing module configured to process EEG signals from the set of sensors;

a housing configured to be worn at a head region of the user, configured to couple to the electronics subsystem, and comprising a set of arms, wherein the set of arms includes a first arm originating proximal a first temporal bone of the user and that positions the first anterior frontal sensor proximal an anterior portion of the frontal bone of the user, a second arm originating proximal the first temporal bone of the user and that positions the second anterior frontal sensor proximal a lateral portion of the frontal bone of the user, and a third arm originating proximal the first temporal bone of the user and that positions the first temporal lobe sensor proximal the first temporal bone of the user, upon coupling of the system to the user; and

a set of sensor interfaces coupling the set of sensors to the electronics subsystem through the set of arms of the housing, each sensor interface in the set of sensor interfaces comprising a pre-gain coupling and pre-gain level shift coupled to an amplifier, wherein the amplifier is coupled to a post-gain coupling and post-gain level shift coupled to the electronics system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of arms further comprises a fourth arm originating proximal the first temporal bone of the user and that positions the second temporal lobe sensor proximal the second temporal bone of the user, and a fifth arm, originating proximal the first temporal bone of the user and that positions the central sensor proximal a superior portion of the parietal bone of the user upon coupling of the system to the user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each sensor interface of the set of interfaces is mounted directly onto a corresponding sensor of the set of sensors, proximal to a set of sensor-user interfaces defined between the set of sensors and skin of the scalp of the user, upon coupling of the system to the user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each sensor of the set of sensor includes a sensor pad composed of a hypoallergenic polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate hydrogel saturated with non-volatile electrolyte configured to provide non-polarizable contact upon coupling of the system to the user.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein a distal portion of each arm of the set of arms includes an opening from which the sensor pad exudes, and a tapered end configured to facilitate hair displacement in coupling the set of sensors to skin of the user, upon coupling of the system to the user.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the distal portion of each arm of the set of arms is configured to be reversibly coupled from the housing, and comprises the sensor pad positioned between a cap and an electrical contact, wherein the cap is sealed to a top layer surrounding the electrical contact.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronics subsystem is configured to support input impedances from 1 MΩ

to 1 GΩ

, characteristic of an interface between the dry hydrogel and skin of the user upon coupling of the system to the user, by way of the set of sensor interfaces mounted directly to the set of sensors.

8. A system for detecting bioelectrical signals of a user comprising:

a set of sensors configured to detect bioelectrical signals from the user, each sensor in the set of sensors comprising a semi-dry hydrogel with a non-volatile fluid configured to provide non-polarizable contact;

an electronics subsystem comprising a power module configured to distribute power to the system and a signal processing module configured to process bioelectrical signals from the set of sensors;

a set of sensor interfaces configured to couple the set of sensors to the electronics subsystem and configured to block direct current signals in preprocessing signals transmitted to the electronics subsystem; and

a housing coupled to the electronics subsystem and comprising a set of arms, each arm in the set of arms housing a sensor of the set of sensors and configured to guide the sensor toward a terminal position at a head region of the user.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein each sensor interface in the set of sensor interfaces comprises a pre-gain AC coupling and pre-gain level shift coupled to an amplifier, wherein the amplifier is coupled to a post-gain coupling and post-gain level shift, configured to center an output of the post-gain coupling and post-gain level shift about a midrail voltage provided by the electronics subsystem.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the set of sensors comprises a first anterior frontal sensor configured to detect EEG signals from a first frontal lobe region, a second anterior frontal sensor configured to detect EEG signals from a second frontal lobe region, a first temporal lobe sensor configured to detect EEG signals from a first temporal lobe region, a second temporal lobe sensor configured to detect EEG signals from a second temporal lobe region, and a central sensor configured to detect EEG signals from a parietal lobe region upon coupling of the system to the user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the set of arms includes:

a first arm, originating proximal a first temporal bone of the user and terminating proximal the frontal bone of the user, that positions the first anterior frontal sensor proximal an anterior portion of the frontal bone of the user; and

a second arm, originating proximal the first temporal bone of the user and terminating proximal the frontal bone of the user, that positions the second anterior frontal sensor proximal a lateral portion of the frontal bone of the user upon coupling of the system to the user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the set of arms includes:

a third arm, originating proximal the first temporal bone of the user and terminating proximal an inferior portion of the first temporal bone of the user, that positions the first temporal lobe sensor proximal the first temporal bone of the user; and

a fourth arm, originating proximal the first temporal bone of the user and terminating proximal a second temporal bone of the user, that positions the second temporal lobe sensor proximal the second temporal bone of the user.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the set of arms includes a fifth arm, originating proximal the first temporal bone of the user and terminating proximal the parietal bone of the user, that positions the central sensor proximal a superior portion of the parietal bone of the user.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein each sensor interface of the set of interfaces is mounted directly onto a corresponding sensor of the set of sensors, proximal to a set of sensor-user interfaces defined between the set of sensors and skin of the scalp of the user, upon coupling of the system to the user.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the set of interfaces is in communication with the electronics subsystem by way of the set of arms of the housing.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein each sensor of the set of sensors includes a sensor pad composed of a polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate hydrogel saturated with non-volatile electrolyte configured to provide non-polarizable contact upon coupling of the system to the user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein a distal portion of each arm of the set of arms includes an opening from which the sensor pad exudes, and a tapered end configured to facilitate hair displacement in coupling the sensor pad to skin of the scalp of the user, upon coupling of the system to the user.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the distal portion of each arm of the set of arms is configured to be reversibly coupled from the housing, and comprises the sensor pad positioned between a cap and an electrical contact, wherein the cap is sealed to a top layer surrounding the electrical contact.

19. The system of claim 8, wherein the electronics subsystem is configured to support input impedances from 1 MΩ

to 1 GΩ

, characteristic of an interface between the dry hydrogel and skin of the user upon coupling of the system to the user, by way of the set of sensor interfaces coupled to the set of sensors.

20. The system of claim 8, wherein the set of arms extend from the housing from a position adjacent to a single temporal bone of the user, upon coupling of the system to the user, such that the housing is asymmetric about the head region of the user.