FLEXIBLE HEADSET FOR SENSING BRAIN ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY

• US 20100041962A1
• Filed: 08/12/2008
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brainscope SPV LLC
• Original Assignee: Brainscope Company Inc.
• Inventors: Causevic, Elvir, Anderson, Craig, Rathgeber, Martin, Watt, Richard Comrie
• Granted Patent: US 8,473,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/377 using evoked responses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head

Abstract

A headset for detecting brain electrical activity is disclosed. The headset may have a flexible band having a first end and a second end. The flexible band may have at least one expansible region permitting a distance between the first end and the second end to selectably vary. The headset may also have flexible circuitry in the flexible band. The flexible circuitry may be operatively connected to at least one sensor configured to sense brain electrical activity. The headset may further have a stimulus emitter coupled to the flexible band.

Claims

1. A headset for detecting brain electrical activity comprising:

a flexible band having a first end and a second end, wherein the flexible band includes at least one expansible region permitting a distance between the first end and the second end to selectably vary;

flexible circuitry in the flexible band, the flexible circuitry operatively connected to at least one sensor configured to sense brain electrical activity; and

a stimulus emitter coupled to the flexible band.

2. The headset of claim 1, further including at least two securing devices coupled to the flexible band, wherein the at least two securing devices are configured to fit behind ears of a subject.

3. The headset of claim 2, wherein the at least two securing devices are proximal the first and second ends.

4. The headset of claim 2, further including at least one strengthening member.

5. The headset of claim 4, wherein the at least one strengthening member is embedded within the at least two securing devices.

6. The headset of claim 4, wherein the at least one strengthening member is positioned to fold over the bottom of a subject'"'"'s earlobes.

7. The headset of claim 4, wherein the at least one strengthening member is embedded in the flexible band and configured to hold the stimulus emitter close to a subject'"'"'s ear canal.

8. The headset of claim 4, wherein the at least one strengthening member is composed of at least one of metal or plastic.

9. The headset of claim 1, wherein the stimulus emitter is a piezoelectric transducer.

10. The headset of claim 1, wherein the at least one expansible region includes a flexure or corrugation in the flexible band.

11. The headset of claim 10, wherein the flexible circuitry passes through the flexures or corrugations.

12. The headset of claim 1, wherein the flexible band is composed of one or more layers of flexible materials including at least one of medical foam, polyamide, polyester, and aramid.

13. The headset of claim 1, wherein the flexible band is dimensioned to fit a human subject'"'"'s forehead.

14. The headset of claim 1, further including an adhesive layer located on an exterior side of the flexible band.

15. The headset of claim 1, further including a connecter coupled to the flexible circuitry.

16. The headset of claim 15, wherein the connecter is configured to communicate via one or more communication lines with a base unit, the base unit including software and hardware configured to analyze brain electrical activity data received from the at least one sensor.

17. The headset of claim 16, wherein the headset is configured to communicate wirelessly with the base unit.

18. The headset of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes a right temple sensor, a right forehead sensor, an upper middle forehead sensor, a lower middle forehead sensor, a left forehead sensor, and a left temple sensor.

19. The headset of claim 12, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of a right mastoid sensor, a left mastoid sensor, a right earlobe sensor, or a left earlobe sensor.

20. The headset of claim 1, wherein the flexible band is composed of a stretchable material.

21. The headset of claim 20, wherein the stretchable material includes at least one of rubber, silicone, or polyurethane.

22. The headset of claim 1, further including a pulse oximeter, wherein the pulse oximeter is configured to utilize at least two wavelengths.

23. The headset of claim 1, further including a near infrared spectroscopy device.

24. The headset of claim 23, wherein the near infrared spectroscopy device includes a thermal camera, wherein the thermal camera is positioned near a subject'"'"'s scalp.

25. The headset of claim 1, further including a temperature sensor.

26. The headset of claim 1, further including an integrated display located on the flexible band.

27. The headset of claim 26, wherein the integrated display embodies at least one LED strip.

28. The headset of claim 26, wherein the integrated display embodies an LCD display.

29. The headset of claim 1, wherein one or more components of the headset are disposable.

30. The headset of claim 29, wherein the at least one sensor is disposable.

31. The headset of claim 1, wherein the headset includes a chip with a unique identifier.

32. A headset for detecting brain electrical activity comprising:

a flexible band having a first end and a second end, wherein the flexible band includes at least one expansible region permitting a distance between the first end and the second end to selectably vary;

flexible circuitry in the flexible band, the circuitry operatively connected to at least one sensor configured to sense brain electrical activity; and

at least two securing devices coupled to the flexible band, wherein the at least two securing devices are configured to secure the headset in place by anchoring to a subject'"'"'s ears.

33. The headset of claim 32, further including a stimulus emitter coupled to the flexible band.

34. The headset of claim 33, wherein the stimulus emitter is a piezoelectric transducer.

35. The headset of claim 32, wherein the at least one expansible region includes a flexure or corrugation in the flexible band.

36. The headset of claim 32, wherein the flexible band is composed of one or more layers of flexible materials including at least one of medical foam, polyamide, polyester, and aramid.

37. The headset of claim 32, further including an adhesive layer located on an exterior side of the headset configured to secure the flexible band to a subject'"'"'s forehead.

38. The headset of claim 32, further including a connector, wherein the connecter is configured to communicate with a base unit, the base unit including software and hardware configured to analyze brain electrical activity data received from the at least one sensor.

39. The headset of claim 32, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of a right mastoid sensor, a left mastoid sensor, a right earlobe sensor, or a left earlobe sensor.

40. The headset of claim 39, wherein the at least one sensor further includes a right temple sensor, a right forehead sensor, an upper middle forehead sensor, a lower middle forehead sensor, a left forehead sensor, and a left temple sensor.

41. The headset of claim 32, wherein the at least two securing devices are proximal the first and second ends.

42. The headset of claim 32, wherein the flexible band is composed of a stretchable material.

43. The headset of claim 42, wherein the stretchable material includes at least one of rubber, silicone, or polyurethane.

44. A device for detecting brain electrical activity comprising:

a base unit; and

a headset that communicates with the base unit, the headset including;

a band composed of flexible material, wherein the band includes at least one expansible region;

flexible circuitry in the band, the flexible circuitry including at least one sensor; and

a stimulus emitter coupled to the band.

45. The device of claim 44, further including at least two securing devices coupled to the band, wherein the at least two securing devices are configured to fit behind ears of a subject.

46. The device of claim 44, wherein the stimulus emitter includes one or more piezoelectric transducers.

47. The device of claim 44, wherein the at least one expansible region includes a flexure or corrugation in the band.

48. The device of claim 44, wherein the at least one sensor includes a right temple sensor, a right forehead sensor, an upper middle forehead sensor, a lower middle forehead sensor, a left forehead sensor, and a left temple sensor.

49. The device of claim 48, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of a right mastoid sensor, a left mastoid sensor, a right earlobe sensor, or a left earlobe sensor.

50. The device of claim 44, wherein the base unit includes:

a pulse oximeter;

a user interface configured to receive user commands;

software and hardware configured to analyze brain electrical activity data received from the at least one sensor; and

a display configured to display results from the data analysis.

51. The device of claim 44, wherein the base unit is a handheld unit.

52. The device of claim 44, wherein the base unit is configured to communicate with at least one of an external computer, a printer, or an external memory.

53. The device of claim 44, wherein the headset includes a chip with a unique identifier.

54. The device of claim 44, wherein the base unit is integrated into the headset, and wherein the base unit and the headset are powered by an onboard battery.

55. A headset for detecting brain electrical activity comprising:

a band composed of stretchable material, the band having a first end and a second end, wherein the band permits a distance between the first end and the second end to selectably vary; and

flexible circuitry integrated into band, the flexible circuitry operatively connected to at least one sensor configured to sense brain electrical activity.

56. A headset for detecting brain electrical activity comprising:

a flexible band having a first end and a second end, wherein the flexible band includes at least one expansible region permitting a distance between the first end and the second end to selectably vary, the headset being composed of an electrically conductive material; and

at least one sensor associated with the headset and configured to sense brain electrical activity.