Methods and apparatus for positioning and retrieving information from a plurality of brain activity sensors
First Claim
1. A system for acquiring data indicating brain activity comprising, in combination, a mechanical support frame adapted to be worn on a human head consisting of a plurality of mechanically connected rails, each of said rails including at least one data distribution conductor extending along substantially the entire length of said rail, the data distribution conductors in all of said rails being electrically connected together to form a data transmission network, at least one data acquisition node mounted on one of said rails, said node data node including a sensor for acquiring data indicating brain activity from a localized area on said human head, said data node including means for transmitting said data via said power distribution conductor, and a host node mounted on one of said rails for receiving data via said data distribution network for said data acquisition node and for relaying said data to an external utilization device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for acquiring brain activity data that includes a combined mechanical support frame and signal transmission network structure that consists of a plurality of intersecting, mechanically connected rails, each of which houses electrical signal and power distribution conductors. The conductors in the rails interconnect a variety of different functional node devices that are mechanically supported at adjustable positions on the rails. Each of the nodes houses functional components and include data nodes for acquiring brain activity data, a host node for receiving data from the data nodes and relaying information to an external device, a power node for supplying operating power to the other nodes. The position of the rails may be adjusted relative to each other, and the position of each node may adjusted on the rail upon which it is mounted. The data nodes include retractable probes which may be moved toward or away from the head to position electrodes or other sensors at precise desired locations on the head.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A system for acquiring data indicating brain activity comprising, in combination,
a mechanical support frame adapted to be worn on a human head consisting of a plurality of mechanically connected rails, each of said rails including at least one data distribution conductor extending along substantially the entire length of said rail, the data distribution conductors in all of said rails being electrically connected together to form a data transmission network, at least one data acquisition node mounted on one of said rails, said node data node including a sensor for acquiring data indicating brain activity from a localized area on said human head, said data node including means for transmitting said data via said power distribution conductor, and a host node mounted on one of said rails for receiving data via said data distribution network for said data acquisition node and for relaying said data to an external utilization device.
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28. A system for acquiring data indicating brain activity comprising, in combination,
a rigid helmet defining an interior cavity shaped to conform to and be worn on a human head, a plurality of data acquisition sensors attached to said helmet at adjustable spaced apart locations thereon, each of said sensors including a sensing element which extends inwardly from said helmet to a selected position on or near said human head, and a radio transceiver mounted on said helmet for transmitting data acquired by said sensors to a remote data utilization device.
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34. Apparatus for acquiring brain activity data comprising, in combination,
a rigid helmet anatomically shaped to conform to the human head of a wearer, a plurality of data acquisition sensors attached to an adjustable location on said helmet, each of said sensors including a probe mounted for movement toward and away from said human head to position a sensing element at or near a selected position on the head, and a communications unit attached to said helmet for receiving sensing data from each of said sensors and for transmitting said sensing data to a utilization device external to said helmet.
Specification