BI-HEMISPHERIC BRAIN WAVE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PERFORMING BI-HEMISPHERICAL BRAIN WAVE MEASUREMENTS

• US 20130184552A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T&W Engineering A/S (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Widex A/S (WS Audiology A/S)
• Inventors: WESTERMANN, Soren Erik, KIDMOSE, Preben, RANK, Mike Lind, UNGSTRUP, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,178,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/378
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/374 Detecting the frequency distribution of signals, e.g. detecting delta, theta, alpha, beta or gamma waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/38 Acoustic or auditory stimuli
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00

Abstract

A system (100) for bi-hemispheric brain wave measurements including a first device (102) and a second device (103), wherein at least said first device (102) is adapted to be worn in or at a first ear of a person subject to the measurements and wherein the first (102) and second (103) device exchange data using a wireless link (104). The invention also provides a method for measuring a bi-hemispherical brain wave signal.

Claims

1. A system for bi-hemispheric brain wave measurements, including a first device and a second device, wherein said first device is adapted to be worn in or at a first ear of a person subject to the measurements, and wherein:

said first device comprises a first and a second electrode adapted for measuring a first brain wave signal, first data acquisition means adapted for providing first digital data representing said first brain wave signal, first brain wave signal processing means configured for analyzing at least said first digital data, and first wireless link means;

said second device comprises a third and a fourth electrode adapted for measuring a second brain wave signal, second data acquisition means adapted for providing second digital data representing said second brain wave signal, and second wireless link means;

wherein said first and second wireless link means are adapted to establish a wireless connection between said first and said second device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second device is adapted to be worn in or at a second ear of said person.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and said second device of said system comprises a first part implanted subcutaneously outside the skull of said person and a second part adapted to be carried behind the ear of said person, wherein said first part comprises at least two electrodes.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and said second device of said system is adapted to be worn at least partly within an ear canal of said person, and wherein said device comprises at least two surface electrodes adapted to be placed in said ear canal.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein at least one of said first and said second device of said system comprises a shell, wherein the contours of the outer surface of said shell and said electrodes are individually matched to at least part of said ear canal.

6. The system according to claim 1, comprising a fifth electrode adapted for attachment to the scalp of said person, hereby providing a third brain wave signal.

7. The system according to claim 6 comprising means for providing a detachable connection between said fifth electrode and said first or said second device of the system.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first brain wave signal processing means is adapted to derive a characteristic feature of a brain wave signal based on an analysis method selected from a group including time-frequency analysis, time-domain analysis and data-driven signal decomposition.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said first brain wave signal processing means is adapted to combine a first characteristic feature and second characteristic feature, wherein the first characteristic feature is derived unilaterally from the first device of the system and the second characteristic feature is derived unilaterally from the second device of the system, whereby a combination of unilateral signal features is provided.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein said first brain wave signal processing means is adapted for combining a first brain wave signal from the first device with a second brain wave signal from the second device and deriving a characteristic feature based on the two signals, whereby a bilateral signal feature is provided.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein said first brain wave signal processing means is adapted to combine a first characteristic feature and a second characteristic feature, using a method selected from a group including difference, ratio, correlation, coherence, higher order moments and conditional expectations.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system comprises a first speaker, and wherein said wireless connection provides co-ordination between said first and said second device such that a brain wave measurement can be performed based on a contra-lateral auditory stimulation by said first speaker.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said brain wave measurement provides a measurement of an auditory brainstem response.

14. The system according to claim 12, comprising a first speaker accommodated in said first device, and a second speaker being accommodated in said second device, wherein said first device is adapted to provide a first auditory signal that is frequency shifted relative to a second auditory signal provided by said second device, whereby a binaural beat is provided to the user.

15. A method for performing bi-hemispherical brain wave analysis, comprising the steps of:

providing a first device adapted for measuring a first brain wave in, or in the vicinity of, a first ear of a person subject to the analysis;

providing a second device adapted for measuring a second brain wave in, or in the vicinity of, a second ear of said person;

measuring said first and said second brain wave;

wirelessly transmitting data representing at least one of said first and said second measured brain wave using a wireless connection between said first device and said second device; and

analyzing data representing said first and said second measured brain wave, hereby providing a bi-hemispherical brain wave analysis.

16. The method according to claim 15, comprising the steps of providing a first audio stimulation of the first ear of said person, providing a second audio stimulation of the second ear of said person, and synchronizing in time said first and second audio stimulation hereby providing binaural audio stimulation.

17. A method for performing bi-hemispherical brain wave analysis, comprising the steps of:

providing a first device adapted for measuring a brain wave in, or in the vicinity of, a first ear of a person subject to the analysis;

providing a second device adapted for providing an audio stimulation of a second ear of the person;

providing a wireless connection between said first and said second device;

exchanging data using said wireless connection in order to synchronize in time said first and said second device;

providing an audio stimulation of said person;

measuring a brain wave; and

analyzing said brain wave measurement with respect to the audio stimulation.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said brain wave measurement and a contra-lateral audio stimulation are synchronized in time.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said brain wave measurement provides an auditory evoked brainstem response.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein said brain wave measurement provides an EEG measurement.