HEADSET FOR ELECTRODES

• US 20070225585A1
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Emotiv Systems Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Emotiv Systems Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Delic, Emir, Washbon, Lori
• Application Number:
  US11/689,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20070225585A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/393
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles

Abstract

An electrode headset in which electrodes can be mounted is described. The electrode headset can be formed from substantially rigid components including some flexibility to snugly embrace a variety of head shapes and sizes, while providing reliable positioning of electrodes according to an electrode placement scheme on a subject'"'"'s head. In another implementation, the electrode headset can be formed from soft and stretchable bands with voids created therebetween.

Claims

1. An electrode headset comprising:

a plurality of rigid bands, where the plurality of rigid bands are formed from a material including at least enough flexibility to flex in response to the electrode headset being positioned on a subject'"'"'s head such that the plurality of rigid bands embrace the subject'"'"'s head; and

one or more electrode mounts included within the plurality of rigid bands, where each electrode mount is configured to mount an electrode and when the electrode headset is positioned on the subject'"'"'s head, one or more electrodes mounted therein are positioned according to a desired electrode placement scheme relative to the subject'"'"'s head.

2. The electrode headset of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of voids formed between the plurality of rigid bands, such that portions of the top of the subject'"'"'s head are exposed when the subject is wearing the electrode headset.

3. The electrode headset of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more electrode mounts comprises an aperture formed within one of the rigid bands, the aperture configured to receive and securely hold an electrode in position against the subject'"'"'s head.

4. The electrode headset of claim 1, further comprising:

electronic circuitry configured to;

electrically connect to each of the one or more electrodes mounted within the electrode mounts;

receive signals from the one or more electrodes; and

provide an output signal to a processor.

5. The electrode headset of claim 4, wherein the electronic circuitry is embedded within one of the plurality of rigid bands.

6. The electrode headset of claim 4, wherein the electronic circuitry is mounted on one of the plurality of rigid bands.

7. An electrode headset comprising:

a plurality of rigid bands; and

one or more electrode mounts included within the plurality of rigid bands;

wherein the plurality of rigid bands are formed from a material with sufficient flexibility to flex in response to the electrode headset being positioned on a subject'"'"'s head and sufficient resilience such that when the electrode headset is positioned on the subject'"'"'s head and electrodes are mounted in the electrode mounts the plurality of rigid bands press the electrodes against the subject'"'"'s head.

8. The electrode headset of claim 7, wherein the plurality of rigid bands include a first band to position on a first side of the subject'"'"'s head and a second band to position on a second side of the subject'"'"'s head and the headset is configured to urge the first band and the second band toward each other.

9. The electrode headset of claim 8, wherein the first band comprises a left temporal band to extend from a back portion of the subject'"'"'s head toward the subject'"'"'s left temporal region and the second band comprises a right temporal band to extend from a back portion of the subject'"'"'s head toward the subject'"'"'s right temporal region.

10. The electrode headset of claim 8, wherein:

the plurality of rigid bands further includes a center band to position along a central back portion of the subject'"'"'s head; and

each of the first and second bands comprise a dorsal band extending from the back portion of the subject'"'"'s head toward opposite sides of the subject'"'"'s forehead.

11. The electrode headset of claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of voids formed between the plurality of rigid bands, such that portions of the top of the subject'"'"'s head are exposed when the subject is wearing the electrode headset.

12. The electrode headset of claim 7, wherein each of the one or more electrode mounts comprises an aperture formed within one of the rigid bands, the aperture configured to receive and securely hold an electrode in position against the subject'"'"'s head.

13. The electrode headset of claim 7, further comprising:

electronic circuitry configured to;

electrically connect to each of the one or more electrodes mounted within the electrode mounts;

receive signals from the one or more electrodes; and

provide an output signal to a processor.

14. The electrode headset of claim 13, wherein the electronic circuitry is embedded within one of the plurality of rigid bands.

15. An electrode headset comprising:

a plurality of rigid bands including;

a center band configured to position along a central back portion of a subject'"'"'s head;

a left dorsal band and a right dorsal band, where each dorsal band projects from the center band and extends from the back portion of the subject'"'"'s head toward the subject'"'"'s forehead;

a left temporal band and a right temporal band, where each temporal band projects from the center band and extends from the back portion of the subject'"'"'s head toward the subject'"'"'s left and right temporal regions respectively;

a plurality of electrode mounts formed within the plurality of rigid bands, where each electrode mount is configured to receive and mount an electrode and when the electrode headset is positioned on the subject'"'"'s head, one or more electrodes mounted therein are positioned according to a desired electrode placement scheme relative to the subject'"'"'s head.

16. An electrode headset comprising:

a plurality of rigid bands including;

a center band configured to position along a central back portion of a subject'"'"'s head, the center band comprising a middle portion positioned between a lower portion extending toward the lower rear of the subject'"'"'s head and a forked upper portion extending toward the upper back of the subject'"'"'s head and substantially symmetrical about a sagittal plane;

a left temporal band and a right temporal band, where each temporal band projects from the center band and extends from the rear of the subject'"'"'s head toward the subject'"'"'s left and right temporal regions respectively, where each temporal band includes at least a first and a second finger extending from the distal end of the temporal band and where the first and second fingers include distal ends terminating in the frontal region of the subject'"'"'s head; and

a plurality of electrode mounts formed within each of the center, left temporal and right temporal bands, where each electrode mount is configured to receive and mount an electrode and when the electrode headset is positioned on the subject'"'"'s head, one or more electrodes mounted therein are positioned according to a desired electrode placement scheme relative to the subject'"'"'s head.

17. The electrode headset of claim 16, wherein the second finger of each of the left and right temporal bands is forked at the distal end providing two distal termination points and where each distal termination point includes an electrode mount.

18. The electrode headset of claim 16, further comprising:

a chin strap extending from the left temporal band to the right temporal band and configured to position beneath a chin of the subject during use.

19. An electrode headset comprising:

a plurality of bands, where;

the plurality of bands are formed from a soft and stretchable material conformable to a subject'"'"'s head such that the plurality of bands embrace the subject'"'"'s head; and

a plurality of voids are formed between the plurality of bands, such that portions of the top of the subject'"'"'s head remain exposed when the subject is wearing the electrode headset; and

one or more electrode mounts included within the plurality of bands, where each electrode mount is configured to mount an electrode and when the electrode headset is positioned on the subject'"'"'s head, one or more electrodes mounted therein are positioned according to a desired electrode placement scheme relative to the subject'"'"'s head.

20. The electrode headset of claim 19, wherein each of the one or more electrode mounts comprises an aperture formed within one of the bands, the aperture configured to receive and securely hold an electrode in position against the subject'"'"'s head.

21. The electrode headset of claim 19, wherein each of the one or more electrode mounts comprises a pocket formed within one of the bands, the pocket configured to receive and securely hold an electrode in position against the subject'"'"'s head.

22. The electrode headset of claim 19, further comprising:

electronic circuitry configured to;

electrically connect to each of the one or more electrodes mounted within the electrode mounts;

receive signals from the one or more electrodes; and

provide an output signal to a processor.