BIOMEDICAL SENSING AND DISPLAY APPARATUS

• US 3,623,477 A
• Filed: 04/15/1969
• Issued: 11/30/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert L. Trent
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Trent
• Inventors: Trent, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US04/816,215
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.6B,2.6E,2.6G,2.6R,2.1B,2.1R,DIG.4,404,405,410,418
• US Class Current: 600/383
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16

Abstract

This disclosure describes a biomedical sensing and display apparatus wherein signals detected by a biomedical detecting means, such as electroencephalograph probes, are displayed on a suitable display means. In addition, the detected signals are converted from analog form into digital form and stored in a memory. Electrical system means are provided for comparing the stored signal with later detected signals and displaying the results of the comparison on a display means with the differences between the two signals being intensified. Further, electrical means are provided for applying active signals to some of the probes in order to invoke signals at other probes. In addition, an electroencephalograph probe housing wherein a plurality of probes are mounted in a semihemispherical structure is described. The housing houses microelectronic preamplifier means that are connected to the probes and includes a shielding means to prevent extraneous signals from disturbing the signals detected by the probes.

Claims

1. A biomedical sensing and display apparatus comprising:

a plurality of biomedical probes, suitable for attachment to a living body, for detecting signals generated by the living body and applying signals to the living body;

a channel multiplexer connected to receive biomedical signals from said plurality of biomedical probes and for applying the biomedical signals sequentially to an output terminal;

an analog-to-digital converter connected to the output terminal of said channel multiplexer for converting the biomedical signals at the output terminal of said channel multiplexer from analog form to digital form;

a digital data processor including a memory connected to the output of said analog-to-digital converter for storing said digital signals in said memory;

reconstitution means connected to said digital data processor for reconstituting signals stored in the memory of said digital data processor for digital form to analog form;

display means connected to said reconstitution means for displaying said reconstituted analog signals;

said digital data processor also including means for reading out signals stored in said memory and for comparing said signals, the results of said comparison being applied to said reconstitution means to modify the display signal also applied to said reconstitution means;

control means connected to said digital data processor for controlling the operation of said digital data processor, said digital data processor also being connected to said channel multiplexer and to said reconstitution means for controlling the operation of said channel multiplexer and said reconstitution means;

threshold limit indicators connected to receive said biomedical signals from said plurality of biomedical probes; and

, a threshold limit distributor connected to said digital data processor and to said threshold limit indicators for receiving control signals from said digital data processor and for applying threshold level control signals to said threshold limit indicators.

2. A biomedical sensing and display apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including sample and hold amplifiers connected to receive said biomedical signals from a plurality of probes, the output of said sample and hold amplifiers is connected to said channel multiplexer, said sample and hold amplifiers also connected so as to receive sample and hold control signals from said digital data processor.

3. A biomedical sensing and display apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including a real-time clock for generating clock pulses at a predetermined frequency and a program event counter connected to said real-time clock to count said clock pulses, said program event counter connected to said digital data prOcessor to apply control signals to said digital data processor and to receive control signals from said digital data processor.

4. A biomedical sensing and display apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including an active probe control connected to apply active electrical signals to said plurality of probes.

5. A biomedical sensing and display apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including signal conditioning amplifiers connected to receive said biomedical signals from said plurality of probes and to apply said signals to said threshold limit indicators, said sample and hold amplifiers and said channel multiplexer.

6. A biomedical sensing and display apparatus as claimed in claim 5 including control dials connected to said channel multiplexer to determine which probe signals of said plurality of probe signals are to be applied to said analog-to-digital converter;

and wherein said control means includes function keys connected to said digital data processor to control the operation of said digital data processor.

7. A biomedical sensing and display apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said reconstitution means includes a hybrid array connected to said digital data processor and a vector generator, said vector generator connected to the output of said hybrid array and to the input of said display means.

8. A biomedical sensing and display apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said display means includes a cathode-ray tube.

9. A biomedical sensing and display apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said threshold limit indicators are connected to apply a control signal to said program event counter and said sample and hold amplifiers when a predetermined threshold has been surpassed and, to said digital data processor to apply a sense signal to said digital data processor when said predetermined threshold has been surpassed.

10. A biomedical sensing and display apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said digital processor includes means for reading out signals stored in its memory and for comparing said signals, the results of said comparison being applied to said hybrid array to modify the display signal also applied to said hybrid array.

11. A biomedical sensing and display apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein each of said plurality of biomedical probes is an electroencephalographic probe;

and, further including an electroencephalographic probe housing suitable for supporting electroencephalographic probes adjacent to the head of a patient, said electroencephalographic probe housing being formed of two sections attached to one another, each of sections comprising;

an inner support member that is half-hemispherical in shape, said inner support member including a plurality of apertures formed between the surfaces thereof and arranged in a predetermined array, said plurality of electroencephalographic probes being mounted in said apertures in an inwardly and outwardly movable manner;

spacing means attached to said inner support member for maintaining said inner support member a predetermined distance from the head of said patient; and

, electrical shielding means formed similar to said inner support member and mounted about the outer surface of said inner support member in spaced relationship thereto so as to electrically shield said plurality of electroencephalographic probes from external electrical signals.

12. A biomedical sensing and display apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said inner support members of said two sections are attached together by springs that tend to force one of said inner support members toward the other of said inner support members.

13. A biomedical sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said spacing means includes adjustable cushioned spacers moveably mounted through apertures in said inner support members.

14. A biomedical sensing and display apparatus as claimed in claim 13 including:

a plurality of microelectronic preamplifiers mounted between said inner support members and said electricaL shielding means, the inputs of one of said plurality of microelectronic preamplifiers being connected to each of said electroencephalographic probes; and

, a connector attached to said sections and electrically connected to the outputs of said microelectronic preamplifiers and to the inputs of said signal conditioning amplifiers.

15. An electroencephalographic probe housing suitable for supporting electroencephalographic probes adjacent to the head of a patient, said electroencephalographic probe housing comprising:

two sections, each of said sections comprising;

an inner support member that is half-hemispherical in shape and includes a plurality of apertures formed between the surfaces thereof and arranged in a predetermined array;

a plurality of electroencephalographic probes, one of said probes being mounted in each of said plurality of apertures in said inner support member, said plurality of electroencephalographic probes being mounted so as to be movable inwardly and outwardly;

spacing means attached to said inner support member for maintaining said inner support member a predetermined distance from the head of said patient, said spacing means comprising a plurality of threaded shafts having cushions on their inner ends, said threaded shafts passing through threaded apertures in said inner support member; and

, electrical shielding means formed similar to said inner support member and mounted outside of said inner support member in spaced relationship thereto so as to electrically shield said plurality of electroencephalographic probes from external electrical signals; and

, springs attached to said inner support members for biasing one section of said two sections towards the other section of said two sections.

16. An electroencephalographic probe housing as claimed in claim 15 including:

a plurality of microelectronic preamplifiers mounted between said inner support members and said electrical shielding means, the inputs of one of said plurality of microelectronic amplifiers being connected to each of said electroencephalographic probes; and

, a connector attached to said sections and electrically connected to the outputs of said plurality of microelectronic preamplifiers.