Electrode-supporting headset

• US 4,928,696 A
• Filed: 07/26/1989
• Issued: 05/29/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mindcenter Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mindcenter Corporation
• Inventors: Brady, Robert, Hardt, James V., Salerno, Don, Henderson, Don J., Sansing, Maureen R., Friedfeld, Howard, Swanson, Tad, Gamble, Foster R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott
• Application Number:
  US07/385,595
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• Field of Search: 128/89 A, 128/97.1, 128/380, 128/791, 128/639, 128/644, 128/731, 128/802
• US Class Current: 600/383
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles

Abstract

A headset is provided for holding electrodes against a subject'"'"'s head for extended periods of time which has several pairs of support poles or rods whereon several flexible electrode supporting bands attach that allow variable placement and holding of various electrodes in various regions on the head. The regions for placement are the occipital, the central and the frontal regions of the head. The electrode supporting bands are elastic and are attached by hook and eye means to opposing rods so that the bands can be slidably and flexibly adjustably mounted on the headset apparatus. This allows tension holding the electrodes against the subject'"'"'s head to be adjusted for an optimum balance of comfort and contact.

Claims

1. A headset apparatus for detecting electrical signals from a head of a subject for extended periods comprising:

a tubular support member having a base end and a frontal end, said tubular support member shaped to extend from a base to a forehead of said head along a central distal contour;

a first tubular mount member rigidly attached to a right occipital side of said base end, said first tubular mount member comprising a first suspension segment, a second suspension segment and a first half of a third suspension segment, each said suspension segment comprising opposing parallel pole members separated by a space, said first suspension segment being disposed between said base end and a right vertical side pole member disposed behind a right ear position, said second suspension segment being disposed between said frontal end and a right horizontal pole member above said right ear position, and said first half of said third segment being disposed at a right forward position adjacent a right temple portion;

a second tubular mount member rigidly attached to a left occipital side of said base end, said second tubular mount member comprising a fourth suspension segment, a fifth suspension segment and a second half of said third suspension segment, each said suspension segment comprising opposing parallel pole members separated by a space, said fourth suspension segment being disposed between said base end and a left vertical side pole member disposed behind a left ear position, said fifth suspension segment being disposed between said forward end and a left horizontal pole member above said left ear position, and said second half of said third segment being disposed at a left forward position adjacent a left temple portion; and

a plurality of flexible electrode supporting band means, including at least one electrode mounted to each said band means, each of said band means are for pressing said electrodes against said head at occipital, frontal and central portions of said head, each said band means having at each end means for forming a tube slidably attachable on opposing pairs of said pole members and including means for adjusting the length of said band means between said opposing pole member pairs to adjust pressure between the band means and the head.

2. The headset apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said base end of said tubular support member comprises first opening extending the length of said tubular support member;

a second opening in said frontal end connecting said first opening;

a third opening between said base end and said frontal end; and

a plurality of wires disposed in said tubular support member and exiting at said openings and connecting to said electrodes.

3. The headset apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said electrodes demountably attach to at least one of said flexible electrode supporting band means by hook and eye fastener means.

4. The headset apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an attachment means attaching said electrodes and said wires wherein said attachment means comprises a male-female electrical union joint.

5. The headset apparatus according to claim 1, further including U-shaped rod means attaching a frontal end of said first tubular mount member to a corresponding frontal end of said second tubular mount member for maintaining separation between said first and second tubular mount members.

6. The headset apparatus according to claim 5, further including a wiring harness extending from said tubular support member to at least one of said band means and wherein said U-shaped rod means includes means for suspending said wiring harness.

7. The headset apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said u-shaped rod means is removably telescopically attachable to said frontal end of said first tubular mount member and to said corresponding frontal end of said second tubular mount member whereby spacing between said first tubular mount member and said second tubular mount member can be selected in accordance with variations in head size.

8. The headset apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said flexible electrode supporting band means demountably attach by hook and eye fastener means.

9. The headset apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said band means comprise an elastic ribbon strap.