DRY ELECTRODE FOR DETECTING EEG SIGNALS AND ATTACHING DEVICE FOR HOLDING THE DRY ELECTRODE

• US 20110237923A1
• Filed: 03/24/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brain Products GmbH
• Original Assignee: Brain Products GmbH
• Inventors: Picht, Bernd, Svojanovsky, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 8,326,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/383
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/256 Wearable electrodes, e.g. having straps or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/685 Microneedles

Abstract

An electrode for detecting EEG signals comprises a body comprising a fixture on a first end of the body, and a sensor detachably held by the fixture, wherein the body has an external thread in a portion of the body extending from the first end of the body towards a second end of the body, and the sensor has a brush-like shape with pins protruding off the body. The electrode may be held by an attaching device for holding electrodes for detecting EEG signals, the attaching device comprising a strap including a plurality of holes for accommodating electrodes and a rotary closure connecting a first end of the strap and a second end of the strap.

Claims

1. An electrode for detecting EEG signals, comprising:

a body comprising a fixture on a first end of the body; and

a sensor detachably held by the fixture,

wherein the body has an external thread in a portion of the body extending from the first end of the body towards a second end of the body, and

the sensor has a brush-like shape with pins protruding off the body.

2. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the body includes a vibration element and a connector which transfers a vibration of the vibration element to the sensor.

3. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the body includes a circuit board which is casted watertight and comprises circuitry for impedance conversion of an electrical potential sensed by the sensor and for impedance display.

4. An attaching device for holding electrodes for detecting EEG signals, the attaching device comprising:

a strap including a plurality of holes for accommodating electrodes; and

a rotary closure connecting a first end of the strap and a second end of the strap.

5. The attaching device of claim 4, wherein the strap has a first portion at the first end and a second portion at the second end, wherein the first and second portions are formed as a rack-like closure aid, and the rotary closure includes an actuator cogging the rack-like closure aid and an operating element at a second surface of the rotary closure, which connects to the actuator so that a ring formed by the strap narrows or widens when the operating element is operated.

6. The attaching device of claim 4, wherein the strap is made of flexible material.

8. The attaching device of claim 4, wherein the rotary closure includes a reference electrode and a ground electrode which are arranged centrally and on top of each other on a first surface of the rotary closure, wherein the reference electrode and the ground electrode are in contact with a forehead when the attaching device is placed on a head and are positioned substantially centrally and on top of each other on a center line of the head.

7. An attaching device for holding electrodes for detecting EEG signals, the attaching device comprising:

a first strap and at least one second strap each including a plurality of holes for accommodating electrodes;

a first joint connecting a first end of the first strap and a first end of the at least one second strap, and a second joint connecting a second end of the first strap and a second end of the at least one second strap;

a third strap and a fourth strap; and

a rotary closure connecting a first end of the third strap and a first end of the fourth strap,

wherein a second end of the third strap is connected to the first joint and a second end of the fourth strap is connected to the second joint.

9. The attaching device of claim 7, wherein the third strap and the fourth strap each have a portion which extends from the first end towards the second end and is formed as a rack-like closure aid, and the rotary closure includes an actuator cogging the rack-like closure aid and an operating element at a second surface of the rotary closure, which connects to the actuator so that a ring formed by the third and fourth straps and the first strap narrows or widens when the operating element is operated.

10. The attaching device of claim 7, wherein the first and second joints comprise fixing screws.

11. The attaching device of claim 7, wherein the third and fourth straps include holes for accommodating electrodes in a portion extending from the second end towards the first end.

12. The attaching device of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first to fourth straps are made of flexible material.