Device For Detecting Electrical Potentials Using Frontal Electrodes

• US 20090105577A1
• Filed: 11/17/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Natus Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Natus Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Wu, Jianping, Kurtz, Ronald Leon
• Application Number:
  US12/272,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20090105577A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/383
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4806 Sleep evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence; devices for inducing sleep A61M21/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head

Abstract

Embodiments relate to devices for detecting electrical potentials corresponding to biological signals. The device comprises a flexible member for positioning over a forehead area of a human head and first, second and third electrodes located on the flexible member. The first electrode is located in a projecting portion of the flexible member to be positioned adjacent a nasion area of the head. The second electrode is to be positioned over a first lateral forehead area. The third electrode is to be positioned over a second lateral forehead area opposite the first lateral forehead area.

Claims

1. A device for detecting electrical potentials corresponding to biological signals, comprising:

a flexible member for positioning over a forehead area of a human head;

a first electrode located on a projecting portion of the flexible member for positioning adjacent a nasion area of the head;

a second electrode located on the flexible member for positioning over a first lateral forehead area; and

a third electrode located on the flexible member for positioning over a second lateral forehead area opposite the first lateral forehead area;

wherein the second and third electrodes have a separation of between 35 mm and 200 mm.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the separation is between 50 and 150 mm.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the separation is between 70 and 110 mm.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the separation is between 80 and 100 mm.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the separation is about 90 mm.

6. The device of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein conductors are formed on the flexible member for electrically coupling the first, second and third electrodes to an output connector.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the conductors comprise a printed flexible material.

8. The device of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the second and third electrodes are located on opposed lateral wings of the flexible member.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the output connector is coupled to one of the lateral wings.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the flexible member comprises a flexible limb extending from the one lateral wing and having the output connector coupled to the conductors at an end of the limb.

11. The device of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the second and third electrodes are located on the flexible member for positioning higher on the forehead than Fp1 and Fp2 electrode positions.

12. The device of any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a fourth electrode located on the flexible member intermediate the second and third electrodes for positioning over a central forehead area.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the fourth electrode is located on the flexible member for positioning above the first electrode.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the first and fourth electrodes are located on the flexible member for positioning along a vertical centerline of the head.

15. The device of any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the fourth electrode is located on the flexible member for positioning lower on the forehead than a Fz electrode position.

16. The device of any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the second, third and fourth electrodes are positioned along a line.

17. The device of any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the first, second, third and fourth electrodes are positioned in a T-shaped configuration.

18. The device of any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the first and fourth electrodes have a separation of between 35 and 70 mm.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the separation of the first and fourth electrodes is between 40 and 50 mm.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the separation of the first and fourth electrodes is about 44 mm.

21. The device of any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the second and third electrodes are located on the flexible member for positioning laterally beyond respective Fp1 and Fp2 electrode positions.

22. The device of any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the first, second and third electrodes are positioned in an isosceles triangular configuration.

23. The device of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the first, second and third electrodes are removably connectable to the flexible member.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein each first, second and third electrode comprises a connection part for electrically and mechanically connecting to a corresponding part on the flexible member.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein each first, second and third electrode has a portion of adhesive material disposed around the respective electrode for affixing the respective electrode to the skin of the forehead.

26. The device of claim 24 or claim 25, wherein the flexible member comprises a plurality of said corresponding parts grouped together, wherein the connection part of the first, second or third electrode is connected to one of the plurality of corresponding parts.

27. The device of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein each of the first, second and third electrodes is formed on a substrate of the flexible member.

28. The device of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the flexible member has an adhesive layer disposed on at least a part of an underside of the flexible member adjacent each of the first, second and third electrodes.

29. The device of any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein the first electrode is located on the flexible member for positioning immediately above the nasion and between the eyebrows.

30. The device of any one of claims 1 to 29, wherein the flexible member is approximately T-shaped.

31. The device of any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein a vertical separation of the first electrode and the second and third electrodes is between 35 and 70 mm.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the vertical separation is between 35 and 55 mm.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the vertical separation is between 40 and 50 mm.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the vertical separation is about 44 mm.

35. The device of any one of claims 1 to 34, wherein the biological signals are generated during a sleep study.

36. Use of the device of any one of claims 1 to 35 to determine a sleep stage of a wearer of the device.

37. Use of the device of any one of claims 1 to 35 to determine an ischemia of a wearer of the device.

38. Use of the device of any one of claims 1 to 35 to determine a level of consciousness of a wearer of the device.

39. A method of detecting electrical potentials corresponding to biological signals, comprising:

positioning the device of any one of claims 1 to 35 over the forehead area so that the first electrode is positioned adjacent the nasion area, the second electrode is positioned over the first lateral forehead area and the third electrode is positioned over the second lateral forehead area; and

detecting the electrical potentials using the first, second and third electrodes.