Adhesive-Mountable Head-Wearable EEG Apparatus

• US 20150374255A1
• Filed: 06/29/2014
• Published: 12/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Curzio Vasapollo
• Original Assignee: Curzio Vasapollo
• Inventors: Vasapollo, Curzio
• Application Number:
  US14/318,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20150374255A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/06 Arrangements of multiple sensors of different types
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches

Abstract

An adhesive-mountable head-wearable EEG apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes an EEG sensor for acquiring an EEG signal of a wearer, a central processing unit for receiving the EEG signal, a small circuit board including the EEG sensor and the central processing unit, and a compact enclosing shell for enclosing the small circuit board, the EEG sensor, and the central processing unit. An adhesive electrode assembly attaches to the compact enclosing shell, or to the small circuit board within the enclosing shell, via snaps or magnets. The adhesive electrode assembly includes two or more gel electrodes for acquiring an EEG signal, and for adhering to the forehead so as to wearably support the EEG apparatus on the forehead. The compact enclosing shell includes chamfered edges, and is sized so as to reduce lateral forces on the compact shell that would tend to detach the EEG apparatus from the wearer'"'"'s forehead.

Claims

1. An adhesive-mountable head-wearable EEG apparatus for EEG monitoring, the apparatus comprising:

an EEG sensor capable of acquiring an EEG signal of a wearer of the wearable EEG apparatus;

a central processing unit capable of receiving the EEG signal from the EEG sensor;

a circuit board including the EEG sensor and the central processing unit;

an enclosing shell capable of enclosing the circuit board, the EEG sensor, and the central processing unit; and

an adhesive electrode assembly, the assembly including;

two or more gel electrodes capable of acquiring an EEG signal and capable of adhering to the forehead; and

two or more respective electrically conductive connection elements, each connection element being electrically connected to one of the gel electrodes, each connection element additionally being capable of being mated with a corresponding connection element on one of;

the enclosing shell or the circuit board, so as to both electrically connect the circuit board to the electrodes, and structurally support the enclosing shell.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhesive electrode assembly further comprises at least one adhesive non-conductive area.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosing shell has a left chamfered edge and a right chamfered edge, so as to reduce lateral forces on the enclosing shell when the apparatus is worn during sleep.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a horizontal width of the enclosing shell is no greater than a width that would bring the edge of the enclosing shell in contact with a sleep surface supporting the wearer before the nose of the wearer contacts the sleep surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the depth of the enclosing shell is no more than 2 cm.

6. The electrode assembly of claim 1, wherein the connection elements are snap fasteners.

7. The electrode assembly of claim 1, wherein the connection elements are magnets.

8. The electrode assembly of claim 1, the adhesive electrode assembly further comprising:

an aperture capable of allowing light to be directed towards and reflected by the forehead of the wearer, so as to allow a reflectance oximetry sensor to acquire oximetry measurements from the forehead while the electrode assembly is affixed to the forehead.

9. The electrode assembly of claim 1, wherein the gel electrodes are Ag—

AgCl gel electrodes.

10. A method of simultaneously affixing and electrically connecting a forehead-worn EEG device to a person'"'"'s forehead, comprising:

connecting an adhesive electrode assembly to the forehead-worn EEG device using two or more contact elements; and

affixing the adhesive electrode assembly to the forehead, thereby creating two or more respective electrical connections between the person'"'"'s forehead and the forehead-worn EEG device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the contact elements are snap fasteners.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the contact elements are magnets.

13. The method of claim 10, additionally comprising:

capturing a headband between the forehead-worn EEG device and the electrodes, so as to enable the headband to support the electrode assembly and ensure its adherence to the forehead.

14. A method of simultaneously acquiring EEG and pulse oximetry from the forehead of a person, the method comprising:

connecting a multi-polar adhesive electrode assembly to a multi-sensor forehead-worn device using two or more contact elements;

affixing the electrode assembly to the forehead, thereby creating two or more distinct electrical connections between the forehead and the device;

acquiring an EEG signal by amplifying voltages measured on the electrical connections;

emitting light from the sensing device, such that the light reaches the forehead through an aperture in the electrode assembly; and

measuring the intensity of light reflected by the forehead.