Electrode harness and method of taking biopotential measurements

• US 10,058,259 B1
• Filed: 03/28/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orbital Research, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Orbital Research, Inc.
• Inventors: Kryzpow, David, Elliott, James, Rood, Aaron, Lisy, Frederick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Application Number:
  US15/082,356
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/182 Electrical shielding, e.g. using a Faraday cage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• 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 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/684 Indicating the position of the sensor on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7271 Specific aspects of physiological measurement analysis A61B5/316, A61B5/349 and A61B5/374 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrode harness and more particularly to an electrode harness with various features, which enhance the use and performance of the electrode harness. The present invention further relates to a method of taking biopotential measurements. The electrode harness and methods of the present invention allow for use with most applications where biopotential measurements are taken. The electrode harness can be used in ECG (or EKG), EEG, EMG, and other such biopotential measurement applications. Because of the versatility of various embodiments of the present invention, preferably the electrode harness can be adjusted for different applications or for application to various sized and shaped subjects. The electrode harness is further preferably part of a system, which includes either wireless or tethered bridges between the electrode harness and a monitor, and preferably includes various forms of processors for analyzing the biopotential signal.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring biopotential signals of a subject comprising:

a flexible substrate adapted to electrically interconnect sensors;

a track system attached to or integral to the flexible substrate;

at least two electrode sensors attached to and electrically interconnected by the flexible substrate with at least one electrode sensor moveable along the track system;

a transmitter adapted to transmit signals from the at least two electrically interconnected electrode sensors; and

a processor adapted to receive the transmitted signals and analyze a biopotential signal based at least in part on the transmitted signals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two electrode sensors is a dry electrode.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a harness comprised of the flexible substrate.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the harness comprises a marker adapted to line up the harness with an anatomical feature of the subject.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate further comprises an electrical pathway from the at least two electrode sensors, the electrical pathway being electrically shielded from large defibrillator voltages.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two electrode sensors comprises at least one surface feature with an aspect ratio of less than about 1.5.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least two electrode sensors are EEG electrodes.

8. A system for monitoring biopotential signals of a subject comprising:

a flexible substrate adapted to electrically interconnect sensors;

a track system attached to or integral to the flexible substrate;

at least two electrode sensors attached to and electrically interconnected by the flexible substrate with at least one electrode sensor moveable along the track system;

flexible electrical leads attached to or integrated into the flexible substrate connecting the at least one electrode sensor moveable along the track system to a lead connector;

a transmitter adapted to transmit signals from the electrically interconnected electrode sensors; and

a processor adapted to receive the transmitted signals and analyze a biopotential signal based at least in part on the transmitted signals.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the at least two electrode sensors is a dry electrode.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a harness comprised of the flexible substrate.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the harness comprises a marker adapted to line up the harness with an anatomical feature of the subject.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the flexible substrate further comprises an electrical pathway from the at least two electrode sensors, the electrical pathway being electrically shielded from large defibrillator voltages.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the at least two electrode sensors comprises at least one surface feature with an aspect ratio of less than about 1.5.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least two electrode sensors are EEG electrodes.

15. A system for monitoring biopotential signals of a subject comprising:

a reconfigurable harness comprising a flexible substrate adapted to electrically interconnect sensors, a track system attached to or integral to the flexible substrate, and at least two electrode sensors attached to and electrically interconnected by the flexible substrate with at least one electrode sensor moveable along the track system, and a transmitter adapted to transmit signals from the electrically interconnected electrode sensors; and

a processor adapted to receive the transmitted signals and analyze a biopotential signal based at least in part on the transmitted signals.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the at least two electrode sensors is a dry electrode.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the flexible substrate further comprises an electrical pathway from the at least two electrode sensors, the electrical pathway being electrically shielded from large defibrillator voltages.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the harness comprises a marker adapted to line up the harness with an anatomical feature of the subject.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the at least two electrode sensors comprises at least one surface feature with an aspect ratio of less than about 1.5.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least two electrode sensors are EEG electrodes.