Mobile electroencephalograph data collection and diagnosis system

• US 20070255127A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Mintz, Frederick, Moynihan, Philip
• Application Number:
  US11/726,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20070255127A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/383
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0217 Electrolyte containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7267 involving training the classification device

Abstract

Described is an electroencephalograph (EEG) data collection system. The system includes a helmet with a plurality of data collection electrodes. Each data collection electrode has a housing and a pressurized probe affixed with the housing. The pressurized probe includes an electrically conductive base for electrical communication with the scalp of a user for detecting EEG signals of the user. The pressurized probe is pressurized such that the electrically conductive base is forced away from the housing and toward a user'"'"'s scalp. The data collection electrode is further formed to hold a discrete amount of an electrically conductive gel therein and dispense the gel proximate the electrically conductive base to facilitate an electrical communication between the user'"'"'s scalp and the electrically conductive base. The system also includes Relational Data Base Management System that allows for in vivo EEG data collection, analysis, and diagnosis.

Claims

1. An electroencephalograph (EEG) data collection system, comprising:

a data collection electrode, the data collection electrode having a housing and a pressurized probe affixed with the housing, the pressurized probe having an electrically conductive base for electrical communication with the scalp of a user for detecting EEG signals of the user, the pressurized probe being pressurized such that the electrically conductive base is forced away from the housing and toward a user'"'"'s scalp, and where the data collection electrode is further formed to hold a discrete amount of an electrically conductive gel therein and dispense the gel proximate the electrically conductive base to facilitate an electrical communication between the user'"'"'s scalp and the electrically conductive base.

2. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pressurized probe is formed to have a reservoir therein with a dispensing hole formed at the electrically conductive base, where the reservoir is used to hold the electrically conductive gel with the gel being dispensed from the reservoir through the dispensing hole.

3. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a helmet with a plurality of electrodes that are fixedly attached in predetermined patterns to the helmet that is stabilizable about a user'"'"'s skull by shock absorbing pads and a chin strap.

4. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the dispensing hole contains an electrically conductive captive ball dispenser that is free to rotate and limits the flow of electrically conductive gel out of the dispensing hole.

5. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the pressurized probe is fixedly attached to a spring that maintains the pressurization of the probe.

6. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the data collection electrode is configured to acquire data and send it along signal wires to a Signal Processor and Transmitter.

7. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the Signal Processor and Transmitter is formed to transmit data to a data repository via a radio transmitter for near-real-time data analysis.

8. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a data repository configured to receive data from the Signal Processor and Transmitter and analyze the data in a manner selected from a group consisting of professional collaborative diagnosis and automated diagnosis.

9. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the electrically conductive captive ball dispenser is formed of gold.

10. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a helmet with a plurality of electrodes that are fixedly attached in predetermined patterns to the helmet that is stabilizable about a user'"'"'s skull by shock absorbing pads and a chin strap.

11. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the dispensing hole contains an electrically conductive captive ball dispenser that is free to rotate and limits the flow of electrically conductive gel out of the dispensing hole.

12. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the electrically conductive captive ball dispenser is formed of gold.

13. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pressurized probe is fixedly attached to a spring that maintains the pressurization of the probe.

14. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data collection electrode is configured to acquire data and send it along signal wires to a Signal Processor and Transmitter.

15. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the Signal Processor and Transmitter is formed to transmit data to a data repository via a radio transmitter for near-real-time data analysis.

16. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 15, further comprising a data repository configured to receive data from the Signal Processor and Transmitter and analyze the data in a manner selected from a group consisting of professional collaborative diagnosis and automated diagnosis.

17. An electroencephalograph (EEG) data collection system, comprising:

a data collection electrode, the data collection electrode having a housing and a spring-loaded probe attached with the housing, the probe having an electrically conductive base for electrical communication with the scalp of a user for detecting EEG signals of the user, the spring-loaded probe positioned such that the electrically conductive base is forced away from the housing and toward a user'"'"'s scalp, and where the data collection electrode is further formed to hold a discrete amount of an electrically conductive gel therein and dispense the gel proximate the electrically conductive base to facilitate an electrical communication between the user'"'"'s scalp and the electrically conductive base.

18. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 17, wherein the spring-loaded probe is formed to have a reservoir therein with a dispensing hole formed at the electrically conductive base, where the reservoir is used to hold the electrically conductive gel with the gel being dispensed from the reservoir through the dispensing hole.

19. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 17, further comprising a helmet with a plurality of electrodes that are fixedly attached in predetermined patterns to the helmet that is stabilizable about a user'"'"'s skull by shock absorbing pads and a chin strap.

20. an EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 17, wherein the dispensing hole contains a captive ball that is free to rotate and limits the flow of electrically conductive gel.

21. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 20, wherein the captive ball is gold.

22. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 17, wherein the data collection electrode is configured to acquire data and send it along signal wires to a Signal Processor and Transmitter.

23. An EEG data collection system as set forth in claim 22, wherein the Signal Processor and Transmitter is formed to transmit data to a data repository via a radio transmitter for near-real-time data analysis.

24. An electroencephalograph (EEG) data collection system, comprising:

a data collection electrode, consisting of a hollow electrically conductive tube, wherein the proximal end is in direct contact with the users scalp;

an reservoir in the data collection electrode for containing an electrically conductive gel;

an electrically conductive ball pivotally attached to the proximal end of data collection electrode, with the ball being operable to dispense the electrically conductive gel in small aliquots when the electrically conductive ball is rotated as a result of user movements,

a hemispherical electrical contact surface with displaceable shoulder attached at its proximal end to the distal end of the data collection electrode and in direct contact with the electrically conductive gel;

a spring fixedly attached to the distal end of the hemispherical electrical contact surface with displaceable shoulder;

an electrically insulating slider sheathing a portion of the medial region and the distal end of the data collection electrode;

an electrically insulating slider fixedly attached to the data collection electrode;

an electrically conductive wire that is fixedly attached to the electrical contact surface with displaceable shoulder; and

a housing that limits the degrees of freedom of the movement of the data collection electrode.