Electroencephalographic apparatus for exploring responses to quantified stimuli

• US 5,788,648 A
• Filed: 03/04/1997
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quantum Devices Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quantum Interference Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Nadel, Eric Tab
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahr, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUANG, STEPHEN D
• Application Number:
  US08/812,115
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 600/544, 600/545, 600/546, 600/300
• US Class Current: 600/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/377 using evoked responses

Abstract

An electroencephalographic apparatus for exploring a person'"'"'s response to external stimuli, which includes electroencephalographic sensing apparatus for sensing brainwave signals from the person; stimulating apparatus for generating the stimuli; and processing apparatus having at least a first input operative for receiving the brainwave signals, at least a second input for monitoring the stimuli; the processing apparatus including computing apparatus operative for computing a correlation quotient of the brainwave signals and the stimuli.

Claims

1. Electroencephalographic apparatus for exploring a person'"'"'s response to external stimuli, comprising:

electroencephalographic sensing means for sensing brainwave signals from the person;

stimulating means for generating the stimuli;

processing means having at least a first input operative for receiving said brainwave signals, at least a second input for monitoring said stimuli;

said processing means including computing means operative for computing a correlation quotient of said brainwave signals and said stimuli, said processing means including a microprocessor, and a memory coupled to said processor for storing processing programs for said microprocessor;

a Fourier algorithm stored in the memory for transforming said brainwave signals into Fourier signals, said Fourier algorithm being a fast Fourier algorithm;

further including a correlation quotient transform stored in said memory for generating a correlation coefficient between said brainwave signals and said stimuli; and

an encryption algorithm stored in said memory for encrypting said correlation coefficient.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electroencephalographic sensing means include brainwave signals sensing means coupled to the person'"'"'s brain, amplifying means coupled to said brainwave signals, and means for amplifying and conditioning said brainwaves for entry to said processing means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stimulating means include quantizing means for quantizing said stimuli.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said stimuli include at least one of visual, oral, tactile, acoustic and olfactory stimuli.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said quantizing means include a quantifier having an output coupled to said processing means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said brainwave signals is divided into phases including an early phase before receipt of said stimuli, and a later phase following said stimuli, and wherein said correlation transform algorithm is operative for generating an auto-correlation coefficient based on said correlation between said early and said later phase.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, further including data transmission means for transmitting said correlation factor to a receiving entity spaced apart from said processing means.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, including a data base in said memory for storing computing data for said microprocessor.