EEG ELECTRODE AND MULTI-CHANNEL EEG ELECTRODE SYSTEM

• US 20130261421A1
• Filed: 05/16/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brain Products GmbH
• Original Assignee: Alexander Svojanovsky
• Inventors: SVOJANOVSKY, ALEXANDER
• Granted Patent: US 10,368,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0209 Special features of electrodes classified in A61B5/24, A61B5/25, A61B5/283, A61B5/291, A61B5/296, A61B5/053
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence

Abstract

A device comprises an indicating unit configured to indicate information and a connecting unit configured to connect the indicating unit to an electrode operable to sense an EEG signal, such that the information is indicated at a position at which the electrode is placed. The electrode includes a circuit board and an indicating unit, such as an LED, encased in a water-proof housing.

Claims

1. An electrode operable to sense an electroencephalogram (EEG) signal, comprising:

a circuit board;

a pin connected to the circuit board;

an indicating unit configured to indicate information; and

a casing enclosing said circuit board and said indicating unit in a water-proof manner and enabling the information to be provided outside of said casing, said casing having a cylindrical hole passing therethrough, said hole being configured to receive an agent and to direct the agent to said pin.

2. The electrode according to claim 1, comprising a connecting unit configured to detachably connect the electrode to a plug connector.

3. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein said indicating unit includes an LED and said casing is at least partially translucent, enabling said LED to be visually observed from outside said casing.

4. The electrode according to claim 1, further comprising:

an interfacing unit configured to interface said indicating unit with an external apparatus;

wherein said indicating unit is configured to receive instructions from the external apparatus and display the information based on the instructions.

5. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein said indicating unit further is configured to also output at least one of audio information, vibration information and radio information.

6. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the information displayed by said indicating unit is visual information that is different from the EEG signal.

7. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the indicating unit is mounted on said circuit board and directly on top of a portion of the electrode effective to sense the EEG signal.

8. An electrode assembly for sensing EEG signals, comprising a plurality of electrodes according to claim 1, each being operable to sense an EEG signal and each having an indicating unit encased in a water-proof casing.

9. A display device, comprising:

an indicating unit configured to display information by illuminating; and

a connecting unit configured to connect said indicating unit to an electrode operable to sense an EEG signal, wherein said indicating unit is mounted on top of the electrode;

wherein the information is displayed at a position at which the electrode is placed; and

wherein said indicating unit illuminates in direct accordance with impedance information which is based on measurement results provided by the electrode.

10. The display device according to claim 9, wherein the electrode has a circuit board and said connecting unit is configured to connect said indicating unit to the circuit board of the electrode.

11. The display device according to claim 9, wherein the electrode has a casing and said connecting unit is configured to connect said indicating unit to the casing of the electrode.

12. The display device according to claim 9, further comprising:

an interfacing unit configured to interface said indicating unit with an external apparatus;

wherein said indicating unit is configured to receive instructions from the external apparatus and display the information based on the instructions.

13. The display device according to claim 12, wherein the measurement signals represent EEG measurement results.

14. The display device according to claim 9, wherein said indicating unit further is configured to also output at least one of audio information, vibration information and radio information.

15. The display device according to claim 9, wherein the information displayed by said indicating unit is visual information.

16. The display device according to claim 9, wherein the information displayed by said indicating unit is visual information that is different from the EEG signal.

17. The display device according to claim 9, wherein the indicating unit is mounted directly on top of the electrode.

18. The display device according to claim 9, wherein said electrode is one of a plurality of electrodes each operable to sense an EEG signal, said indicating unit is one of a plurality of indicating units respectively associated with said plurality of electrodes and configured to display information, and each one of said plurality of indicating units is mounted directly on top of a respective one of said plurality of electrodes.