Head mounted medical device

• US 20020188216A1
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kayyali, Hani Akram, Yoder, Raymond Lloyd
• Application Number:
  US10/138,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188216A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/544
• 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 5/6814 Head

Abstract

A head mounted medical device for obtaining and processing EEG, EKG, and EOG/EMG signals from a wearer. The device utilizes electrodes organized into multiple electrode assemblies for ease of use and replacement, with the electrode assemblies being removably connected to the headband. The device includes processing and conditioning circuitry in the headband, the processing and conditioning including amplification, filtering, A/D conversion, and multiplexing of the analog signals generated by the electrodes, reducing noise influences and improving the handling and mobility of the device. The device connects to an external receiving device that then monitors and/or records the resulting serial, digital, and multiplexed data signal. The external device might also provide power and/or commands to the medical device.

Claims

1. A head mounted medical device comprising:

an electrode for outputting an electrode signal;

a circuit for inputting and conditioning said electrode signal into a data signal for output by said medical device into an external receiving device;

at least one module including some portion of said circuit; and

a flexible substrate for mounting said at least one module thereon, wherein said flexible substrate can be formed into a loop for mounting on the head of a user.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional module, wherein said circuit is distributed among said modules and further wherein said flexible substrate electrically connects at least two of said modules together.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said modules are substantially rigid, and further wherein said modules are mounted on said flexible substrate with gaps between said modules such that said flexible substrate can be formed into a loop by flexing said flexible substrate at the gaps.

4. The device of claim 2, further comprising:

at least 3 additional electrodes each for outputting a corresponding electrode signal; and

a plurality of electrode assemblies, each electrode assembly including at least two electrodes and an electrode connector, wherein said electrode connector electrically and mechanically connects to a corresponding headband connector mounted on a module;

wherein said circuit is further for inputting, conditioning, and multiplexing said electrode signals into said data signal.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said modules are substantially rigid, and further wherein said modules are mounted on said flexible substrate with gaps between said modules such that said flexible substrate can be formed into a loop by flexing said flexible substrate at the gaps.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least 3 additional electrodes each for outputting a corresponding electrode signal; and

a plurality of electrode assemblies, each electrode assembly including at least two electrodes and an electrode connector, wherein the electrode connector electrically and mechanically connects to a corresponding headband connector mounted on a module;

wherein said circuit is further for inputting and conditioning said corresponding electrode signals into said data signal.

7. The device of claim 1, said circuit including:

a controller/processor;

a conditioning circuit for inputting and conditioning and amplifying said electrode signal and also for outputting a conditioned electrode signal into an s input of said controller/processor, wherein said controller/processor converts said conditioned electrode signal into said data signal.

8. The device of claim 7, said circuit further including an impedance check circuit for outputting an impedance test signal to said electrode to determine an electrode impedance of said electrode, wherein said controller/processor monitors said electrode impedance.

9. The device of claim 8, said circuit further including a signal test circuit for outputting a signal test test signal into said conditioning circuit to determine an amplification gain of said conditioning circuit.

10. The device of claim 1, said circuit including an impedance check circuit for outputting an impedance test signal to said electrode to determine an electrode impedance of said electrode.

11. The device of claim 1, said electrodes including a plurality of EEG electrodes, each outputting an EEG electrode signal;

and a plurality of EKG electrodes, each outputting an EEG electrode signal.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said circuit includes a DC offset clamping circuit for clamping a DC offset in said electrode signal.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein each electrode signal is an analog electrode signal, and further wherein said headband circuit converts each analog electrode signal into a digital format all being multiplexed together into said EEG data signal output by said device, said EEG data signal being a serial data signal.

15. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

one or more additional electrode assemblies, each electrode assembly including at least two electrodes and an electrode connector, wherein each electrode connector electrically and mechanically connects to a corresponding headband connector mounted on one of said modules.

16. The device of claim 13, said headband circuit including:

a controller/processor;

a plurality of conditioning circuits, each conditioning circuit for inputting and conditioning and amplifying a corresponding electrode signal and also for outputting a conditioned electrode signal into an input of said controller/processor, wherein said controller/processor converts said conditioned electrode signals into said EEG data signal.

17. The device of claim 16, said headband circuit further including at least one impedance check circuit for outputting an impedance test signal to each electrode to determine an electrode impedance of said electrode, wherein said controller/processor monitors said electrode impedance of each electrode.

18. The device of claim 17, said headband circuit further including at least one signal test circuit for outputting a signal test test signal into each conditioning circuit to determine an amplification gain of each conditioning circuit.

19. The device of claim 13, said headband circuit including at least one impedance check circuit for outputting an impedance test signal to each electrode to determine an electrode impedance of said electrode.

20. The device of claim 13, wherein said modules are substantially rigid, and further wherein said modules are mounted on said flexible substrate with gaps between said modules such that said flexible substrate can be formed into a loop by flexing said flexible substrate at the gaps.

21. The device of claim 13, said electrodes including a plurality of EEG electrodes and a plurality of EKG electrodes, wherein said electrode signal is an EKG electrode signal when outputted from any EKG electrode and further wherein said electrode signal is an EEG electrode signal when outputted from any EEG electrode.

22. The device of claim 13, wherein said headband circuit is also for clamping a DC offset in said electrode signal.

24. The device of claim 23, further comprising at least one impedance check circuit for outputting an impedance test signal to each electrode to determine an electrode impedance of each electrode, wherein said controller/processor monitors the electrode impedance of each electrode.

25. The device of claim 23, further comprising at least one signal test circuit for outputting a signal test test signal into each conditioning circuit to determine an amplification gain of each conditioning circuit.

26. The device of claim 23, said electrodes having a plurality of EKG electrodes and a plurality of EEG electrodes, wherein said electrode signal is an EKG electrode signal when outputted from the EKG electrode and further wherein said electrode signal is an EEG electrode signal when outputted from the EEG electrode.

27. The device of claim 23, wherein said conditioning circuit is further for clamping a DC offset in said electrode signal.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein said power conditioning circuit receives power from said external receiving device.

30. The device of claim 28, said plurality of channels further including a plurality of EKG electrodes, wherein said electrode signal is an EKG signal when outputted from the EKG electrode and further wherein said electrode signal is an EEG signal when outputted from the EEG electrode.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein said headband device comprises 32 total channels, two of which are EKG channels and 30 of which are EEG channels, and further wherein said plurality of modules includes:

8 electronic modules for mounting 32 conditioning circuits, 4 of said 8 electronic modules having a headband connector for connecting to corresponding electrode connectors included in said electrode assemblies

34 impedance check circuits;

32 signal test circuits; and

3 processor modules for mounting said controller/processor and said power conditioning circuit, with an output cable connected to one of said 3 modules, said output cable having less than 8 conductors, said output cable for connecting to said external receiver device and for carrying said multiplexed EEG serial signal and said commands;

wherein said EEG device further comprises 4 electrode assemblies each for connecting to a different one of said headband connectors on each of said 4 of said 8 electronic modules, each electrode assembly with 6 or more of said reference electrode, said ground electrode, and said EEG electrodes.

32. The device of claim 28, further comprising a reference impedance check circuit for outputting an impedance test signal to said reference electrode to determine a reference electrode impedance of said reference electrode, wherein said controller/processor monitors said reference electrode impedance;

wherein said medical device comprises 32 channels, and further wherein said plurality of modules includes;

8 electronic modules for mounting 32 conditioning circuits, 4 of said 8 electronic modules having a headband connector for connecting to corresponding electrode connectors included in said electrode assemblies

34 impedance check circuits;

32 signal test circuits; and

3 processor modules for mounting said controller/processor and said power conditioning circuit, with an output cable connected to one of said 3 modules, said output cable having less than 8 conductors, said output cable for connecting to said external receiver device and for carrying said multiplexed EEG serial signal and said commands;

wherein said medical device further comprises 4 electrode assemblies each for connecting to a different one of said headband connectors on each of said 4 of said 8 electronic modules, each electrode assembly with 6 or more of said reference electrode, said ground electrode, and said EEG electrodes.

33. The device of claim 28, wherein each channel is sampled at a rate of at least 500 Hz.

34. The device of claim 28, wherein each channel is sampled at a rate of at least 2 kHz.

13. A head mounted medical device comprising:

a plurality of electrodes, each electrode for outputting an electrode signal;

a headband circuit for inputting said electrode signals;

wherein said headband circuit amplifies, filters, and multiplexes said electrode signals, further generating a headband data output signal therefrom for output by said device into an external receiving device;

an electrode assembly including two or more electrodes;

a plurality of modules, each module including a portion of said headband circuit;

wherein said electrode assembly can be mechanically and electrically removably connected to at least one of said plurality of modules; and

a flexible substrate for mounting said plurality of modules thereon, said flexible substrate electrically connecting at least some of said plurality of modules together, wherein said flexible substrate can flex, allowing said flexible substrate to be formed into a loop for mounting on the head of a user.

23. A head mounted medical device comprising:

a controller/processor;

a plurality of channels, each channel including;

an electrode for outputting an electrode signal; and

a conditioning circuit for inputting and conditioning said electrode signal;

said conditioning circuit also for outputting a conditioned electrode signal into an input of said controller/processor, wherein said controller/processor processes said conditioned electrode signal into a processed signal;

wherein said controller/processor multiplexes each processed signal together into a headband data output signal for output by said device into an external receiving device;

at least one electrode assembly including two or more electrodes and an electrode connector;

a plurality of modules, each module including one or more of said controller/processor and said conditioning circuits;

wherein said electrode connector can be mechanically and electrically removably connected to a corresponding headband connector mounted on at least one of said plurality of modules; and

a flexible substrate for mounting said plurality of modules thereon, said flexible substrate electrically connecting at least some of said plurality of modules together, wherein each of said plurality of modules is mounted some distance from another of said modules creating gaps between said modules, said gaps allowing said flexible substrate to flex at the gaps, allowing said flexible substrate to be formed into a loop for mounting on the head of a user.

28. A head mounted medical device comprising:

a reference electrode for mounting on the scalp, head, or body of a user and also for outputting a reference signal;

a ground electrode for mounting on the scalp, head, or body of said user, said ground electrode connected to a ground plane of said medical device;

a controller/processor;

a power conditioning circuit for conditioning and distributing power to said device;

a plurality of channels, each channel including;

an EEG electrode for mounting on the scalp of the user and also for outputting an analog electrode signal;

an impedance check circuit for outputting an impedance test signal to said EEG electrode to determine an EEG electrode impedance of said EEG electrode, wherein said controller/processor monitors said EEG electrode impedance;

a conditioning circuit for inputting and conditioning said analog electrode signal, said conditioning including amplifying, filtering, and clamping a DC offset;

said reference signal also being input to said conditioning circuit;

said conditioning circuit also for outputting a conditioned electrode signal into an input of said controller/processor, wherein said controller/processor converts said conditioned electrode signal into a digital electrode signal; and

a signal test circuit for outputting a signal test test signal into said conditioning circuit to determine an amplification gain of said conditioning circuit;

wherein said controller/processor multiplexes each digital electrode signal together into a headband data output signal for output by said medical device into an external receiving device, and further wherein said controller/processor is capable of receiving commands from said external receiving device;

a plurality of electrode assemblies, each electrode assembly including two or more EEG electrodes and an electrode connector;

a plurality of modules, each module including at least one printed circuit board;

each module also including, mounted on said at least one printed circuit board, one or more of the group consisting of said impedance check circuits, said signal test circuits, said conditioning circuits, said power conditioning circuit, and said controller/processor;

wherein said electrode connector can be mechanically and electrically removably connected to a corresponding headband connector mounted on at least one of said plurality of modules;

a flexible substrate for mounting said plurality of modules thereon, said flexible substrate having a first end and a second end, said flexible substrate electrically connecting at least some of said plurality of modules together, wherein each of said plurality of modules is mounted some distance from another of said modules, creating gaps between said modules, said gaps allowing said flexible substrate to flex at said gaps, allowing said flexible substrate to be formed into a loop for mounting on the head of the user, wherein said first end and said second end are removably connected together using an adjustable fastening means for securing said first end to said second end, said adjustable fastening means allowing said flexible substrate to be adjusted to fit the head of the user; and

a headband cover for covering and protecting said modules and said flexible substrate, said headband cover being flexible.