ELECTRODE CONDUCTIVE ELEMENT

• US 20090105576A1
• Filed: 10/22/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Emotiv Systems Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Emotiv Systems Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Do, Nam Hoai, Washbon, Lori Ann, Mackellar, Geoffrey Ross
• Application Number:
  US11/876,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20090105576A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/382
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0217 Electrolyte containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]

Abstract

An apparatus and technique for sensing biopotential signals wherein a conductive element is formed from a non-adhesive hydrogel material and configured to provide a conductive path between an electrode and a subject'"'"'s skin for transmitting EEG signals from the subject to the electrode.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a conductive element formed from a non-adhesive hydrogel material and configured to provide a conductive path between an electrode and a subject'"'"'s skin for transmitting EEG signals from the subject to the electrode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element retains a desired shape and configuration after more than one use.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element can be hydrated and re-used repeatedly.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive element is configured to fit around at least a portion of the electrode.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element is flexible and conforms to the subject'"'"'s skin under a compressive force and maintains structural integrity for repeated use.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing configured to house at least a portion of the conductive element, where the housing is formed from a material to resist drying of the conductive element.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the housing is configured to facilitate penetration of a hair layer on the subject'"'"'s scalp.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a conductive element formed from a non-adhesive hydrogel material and configured to penetrate a hair layer above a subject'"'"'s scalp to provide a conductive path from the subject'"'"'s skin to an electrode in contact with the conductive element.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element retains a desired shape and configuration after more than one use.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element can be hydrated and re-used repeatedly.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the conductive element is configured to fit around at least a portion of the electrode.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element is flexible and conforms to the subject'"'"'s skin under a compressive force and maintains structural integrity for repeated use.

13. A conductive assembly comprising:

a housing providing a first opening on a distal surface, a second opening on a proximal surface and a cavity within the housing;

an electrode plate element positioned within the housing and including a contact surface exposed through the second opening of the housing; and

a conductive element formed from a non-adhesive hydrogel material and positioned about a distal portion of the electrode plate element, where a distal end of the conductive element is exposed through the first opening of the housing and is configured to provide a conductive path from a subject'"'"'s skin to the electrode plate element.

14. The conductive assembly of claim 13, further comprising:

a sensor circuit electrically connected to the contact surface of the electrode plate element.

15. The conductive assembly of claim 13, wherein the hydrogel material of the conductive element is selected such that the conductive element retains a desired shape and configuration after more than one use.

16. The conductive assembly of claim 13, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element can be hydrated and re-used repeatedly.

17. The conductive assembly of claim 13, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element is flexible and conforms to the subject'"'"'s skin under a compressive force and maintains structural integrity for repeated use.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a conductive element formed from a non-adhesive hydrogel material positioned at least partially within a housing;

the housing including a cavity to house the conductive element and an electrode plate and an opening from which a contact surface of the conductive element is exposed, where the housing tapers from a base region to a region including the opening such that the housing is configured to penetrate a hair layer above a subject'"'"'s scalp to expose the subject'"'"'s skin to the contact surface of the conductive element providing a conductive path to the electrode plate.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the hydrogel material of the conductive element is selected such that the conductive element retains a desired shape and configuration after more than one use.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element can be hydrated and re-used repeatedly.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element is flexible and conforms to the subject'"'"'s skin under a compressive force and maintains structural integrity for repeated use.

22. An apparatus comprising:

an electrode plate;

a sensor circuit electrically connected to the electrode plate;

a non-adhesive conductive element formed from a hydrogel material and including a contact surface configured to contact a subject'"'"'s skin, where the conductive element contacts at least a portion of the electrode plate and provides a conductive path between the subject'"'"'s skin and the electrode plate for transmitting EEG signals from the subject to the electrode plate.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element retains a desired shape and configuration after more than one use.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element can be hydrated and re-used repeatedly.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the conductive element is configured to fit around at least a portion of the electrode plate.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element is flexible and conforms to the subject'"'"'s skin under a compressive force and maintains structural integrity for repeated use.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB), wherein the sensor circuit is formed on the PCB.

28. An electrode assembly comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) contained within a substantially waterproof housing, the housing including a first aperture in a lower surface;

an electrode plate attached to a lower surface of a base, where an upper surface of the base is configured to attach to the housing containing the PCB and where the base includes a second aperture aligned with the first aperture included in the lower surface of the housing;

a conductive material positioned within the first and second apertures and in contact with the electrode plate and the PCB thereby providing an electrical connection therebetween; and

a conductive element formed from a non-adhesive hydrogel material including an upper surface in contact with the electrode plate and a lower surface configured to contact a subject'"'"'s skin, wherein the conductive element provides a conductive path from the subject'"'"'s skin to the PCB by way of the electrode plate therebetween for transmitting EEG signals from the subject to the electrode plate.

29. The electrode assembly of claim 28, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element retains a desired shape and configuration after more than one use.

30. The electrode assembly of claim 28, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element can be hydrated and re-used repeatedly.

31. The electrode assembly of claim 28, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element is flexible and conforms to the subject'"'"'s skin under a compressive force and maintains structural integrity for repeated use.

32. An electrode comprising:

an electrode plate;

a sensor circuit electrically connected to the electrode plate;

a gimbaled contact element configured to contact a subject'"'"'s scalp and comprising a non-adhesive hydrogel material for transmitting EEG signals from the subject'"'"'s scalp to the electrode plate;

a conductive flexure element connecting the electrode plate and the gimbaled contact element and providing a conductive path therebetween.

33. The electrode of claim 32, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element retains a desired shape and configuration after more than one use.

34. The electrode of claim 32, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element can be hydrated and re-used repeatedly.

35. The electrode of claim 32, wherein the hydrogel material is selected such that the conductive element is flexible and conforms to the subject'"'"'s skin under a compressive force and maintains structural integrity for repeated use.