Head sensor positioning network

• US 5,291,888 A
• Filed: 08/26/1991
• Issued: 03/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Electrical Geodesics, Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Electrical Geodesics, Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Tucker, Don M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US07/750,107
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 128/644, 128/639, 128/802, 128/803, 128/791, 607/149, 607/153
• US Class Current: 600/383
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]

Abstract

A method for positioning measurement sensors on the human head in which the surface of the head is partitioned into geodesic triangles by elastic lines connecting the sensors in a mutually-balanced tension network. The number of regularly-spaced sensor positions is selected by varying the number of geodesic partitions of the basic triangles of the icosohedron (10) or dodecohedron that form the initial solid polygonal partitioning of a sphere. The hemispherical structure of the network may be anchored at the perimeter by a headband (11). As the network is applied to a person'"'"'s head, its balanced tension lines systematically conform its geodesic structure and thus the sensor positions, to achieve an even surface distribution of the sensors for that person'"'"'s unique head geometry.

Claims

1. An apparatus for positioning sensors on the surface of a human head comprising:

(a) a plurality of sensors used for measuring brain anatomy or function,

(b) a plurality of means for creating tension between pairs of said sensors,

(c) means for arranging a tension network that systematically balances said plurality of means for creating tension based on partitioning the surface of a sphere into polygons, thereby causing said means of creating tension to adapt the positioning apparatus to the geometry of an individual head through a systematic conformation of the geometry of a sphere.

2. The invention of claim 1 further including the vertices of each polygon located equidistant from the vertex of each adjacent polygon whereby said equidistant position creates equal tension on each of said sensors resulting in equal radial compression being directed on each of said sensors.