BIOMEDICAL ELECTRODE CONFIGURATION FOR SUPPRESSING MOVEMENT ARTIFACT

• US 20120190960A1
• Filed: 04/02/2012
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altec Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Altec Incorporated
• Inventors: De Luca, Gianluca, De Luca, Carlo J., GILMORE, L. Donald
• Granted Patent: US 9,351,660 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/393
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7214 using signal cancellation, e.g. based on input of two identical physiological sensors spaced apart, or based on two signals derived from the same sensor, for different optical wavelengths

Abstract

A biomedical sensor for detecting EMG signals may include a non-conducting fixed framework supporting a symmetrical arrangement of four electrode surfaces, configured as two signal detection contacts, each with a respective associated signal reference contact. The mechanical and electrical configuration act together to suppress movement artifact.

Claims

1. A biomedical sensor, comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of conductive areas arranged on the substrate and configured as signal detection contacts each with a respective associated signal reference contact, forming a plurality of signal detection/reference contact pairs, wherein each of the conductive areas is formed in the shape of at least one of;

a disc attached to and coplanar with the substrate and a dome whose cross-sectional profile exhibits a concave curved shape attached to and projecting from the substrate and wherein each of the conductive areas is formed from a conductive plastic; and

a differential sensing circuit, wherein each signal detection/reference contact pair reacts in response to an electrical artifact manifestation of an applied mechanical disturbance, and wherein at least one common electrical component of the artifact measured by the plurality of signal detection/reference contact pairs is cancelled out by the differential sensing circuit.

2. The biomedical sensor as in claim 1, wherein the substrate is rigid.

3. The biomedical sensor as in claim 1, further comprising:

a framework coupled to the substrate, wherein the substrate is a body-directed electrically insulating bottom surface of the framework.

4. The biomedical sensor as in claim 1, wherein the conductive areas are symmetrically arranged on the substrate.

5. The biomedical sensor as in claim 4, wherein the plurality of signal detection/reference contact pairs include two co-linear detection/reference contact pairs oriented in parallel with respect to each other and spaced apart so that the signal detection contact is aligned to be on the same side of each pair.

9. The biomedical sensor as in claim 1, wherein each of the conductive contact areas are formed of substantially identical material composition, size and shape.

12. The biomedical sensor as in claim 1, wherein the substrate is contoured in a concave shape to surround each of the conductive areas.

14. The biomedical sensor as in claim 1, further comprising:

a framework coupled to the substrate, wherein the substrate is a body-directed electrically insulating bottom surface of the framework and wherein the framework includes a protective enclosure retaining wireless communication circuitry, associated control circuitry, power supply, and amplifier interconnected with the coupling surface of the contacts so that only the conductive areas are exposed.

15. The biomedical sensor as in claim 3, wherein framework includes an indicating marker aligned in parallel with a preferred orientation of the sensor with respect to a direction of signal propagation and delineating a location of signal input contacts.

16. The biomedical sensor as in claim 1, wherein the substrate is attached to skin with a double-sided adhesive membrane sheet with cut-out areas aligned with and matching a perimeter of each of the conductive areas.

6-8. -8. (canceled)

10-11. -11. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

17. A biomedical sensor, comprising:

a fixed framework;

an electrically insulating substrate rigidly coupled to the fixed framework;

a plurality of conductive areas symmetrically arranged on the substrate and configured as signal detection contacts, each being associated with a signal reference contact to form a plurality of signal detection/reference contact pairs, wherein each of the conductive areas is formed in the shape of at least one of;

a disc attached to and coplanar with the substrate and a dome whose cross-sectional profile exhibits a concave curved shape attached to and projecting from the substrate; and

a differential sensing circuit coupled to the signal detection/reference contact pairs, wherein each signal detection/reference contact pair reacts in response to an electrical artifact manifestation of an applied mechanical disturbance, and wherein at least one common electrical component of the artifact measured by the plurality of signal detection/reference contact pairs is cancelled out by the differential sensing circuit.

18. The biomedical sensor as in claim 17, wherein each signal detection/reference contact pair reacts substantially similarly and in unison in response to the electrical artifact manifestation of the applied mechanical disturbance.

19. The biomedical sensor as in claim 17, wherein the plurality of signal detection/reference contact pairs include two co-linear detection/reference contact pairs oriented in parallel with respect to each other and spaced apart so that the signal detection contact is aligned to be on the same side of each pair.

20. (canceled)