Device for neural sensor placement and reference system measurements

• US 7,231,723 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2006
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Barker, Richard A., O'Neill, Kenneth R.
• Primary Examiner(s): GUADALUPE, YARITZA
• Application Number:
  US11/463,093
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: 33511-512, 335/15, 606129-130
• US Class Current: 33/512
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6835 Supports or holders, e.g., articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/14 Fixators for body parts, e.g. skull clamps; Constructional details of fixators, e.g. pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms

Abstract

A device for at least one of neural sensor placement and taking reference system measurements may include a front frame member supportable by a person'"'"'s nose when the device is placed on the person'"'"'s head for at least one of neural sensor placement, taking reference system measurements or for other purposes. A pair of sidebar frame members may be attached to opposite ends of the front frame member. Each sidebar frame member may be respectively supported by one of the person'"'"'s ears when the device is placed on the person'"'"'s head. A back frame member includes opposite ends that may be respectively attached to each of the sidebar frame members. An angle measurement apparatus may be attached to at least one of the sidebar frame members. An arched member may be pivotably attached at one end to the angle measurement apparatus to determine an angle of the arched member relative to the sidebar frame member. An opposite end of the arched member may be attached to another of the sidebar frame members. The arched member may be adapted to arch over the person'"'"'s head when the device is placed on the person'"'"'s head for at least one of neural sensor placement, taking reference system measurements or for other purposes.

Claims

1. A device for at least one of neural sensor placement and taking reference system measurements, comprising:

a front frame member supportable by a person'"'"'s nose when the device is placed on the person'"'"'s head for at least one of a group including neural sensor placement and taking reference system measurements;

a pair of sidebar frame members attached to opposite ends of the front frame member, each sidebar frame member being respectively supportable by one of the person'"'"'s ears when the device is placed on the person'"'"'s head;

a back frame member including opposite ends being respectively attachable to each of the sidebar frame members;

an angle measurement apparatus attached to at least one of the sidebar frame members; and

an arched member pivotably attached at one end to the angle measurement apparatus to determine an angle of the arched member relative to the sidebar frame member and attached at an opposite end to another of the sidebar frame members, wherein the arched member is adapted to arch over the person'"'"'s head when the device is placed on the person'"'"'s head for at least one of the group including neural sensor placement and taking reference system measurements.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the sidebar frame members comprise:

an adjustable length to accommodate different sized human heads; and

an indexed scale to measure the adjusted position of each sidebar frame member.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the sidebar frame members comprise:

a first tube;

a second tube adapted to telescope relative to the first tube to accommodate different sized human heads; and

an indexed scale to measure the adjusted position of each sidebar frame member.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a receptacle for holding one of a locator rod, a sensor and a marker, wherein the receptacle is positionable along the arched member.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the arched member comprises an indexed scale to measure a position of one of the locator rod, the sensor and the marker along the arched member.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a receptacle positionable along the arched member;

a locator rod receivable by the receptacle;

a biasing means to urge the locator rod toward the person'"'"'s head; and

an indexed scale to measure a position of the locator rod relative to the person'"'"'s head.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the back frame member comprises:

an adjustable length; and

an indexed scale to measure the adjusted position of the back frame member.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the front frame member, each sidebar frame member and the back frame member are adjustable and wherein each of the front frame member, sidebar frame member and back frame member comprise a sensor to measure an adjusted position of each member.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising means to transmit position information to a computing device to convert the adjusted position information to coordinates of a predetermined reference system.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein coordinates of the predetermined reference system comprise one of 10-20 coordinates, Talairach coordinates, and Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) coordinates.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is non-invasively supported on the person'"'"'s head.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second arched member pivotably attached at one end to the angle measurement apparatus and attached at an opposite end to the other sidebar frame member.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the front frame member and the pair of sidebar frame members substantially resemble an eyeglass frame.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor to automatically determine a position each member capable of adjustment to accommodate different sized heads.

15. A system for at least one of neural sensor placement and taking reference system measurements, comprising:

an adjustable frame adapted to be non-invasively supportable by a person'"'"'s head for at least one of a group including repeatable neural sensor placement and taking reference system measurements; and

a computing device to perform at least one of a group including;

converting measurements from the adjustable frame to coordinates of a predetermined reference system; and

converting coordinates of the predetermined reference system to position adjustments on the adjustable frame.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

an application operable on the computing device to convert measurements from the adjustable frame to coordinates of the predetermined reference system; and

another application to convert coordinates of the predetermined reference system to position adjustments on the adjustable frame.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the adjustable frame comprises:

a front frame member supportable by a person'"'"'s nose when the device is placed on the person'"'"'s head for at least one of a group including neural sensor placement and taking reference system measurements;

a pair of sidebar frame members attached to opposite ends of the front frame member, each sidebar frame member being respectively supportable by one of the person'"'"'s ears when the device is placed on the person'"'"'s head;

a back frame member including opposite ends being respectively attachable to each of the sidebar frame members;

an angle measurement apparatus attached to at least one of the sidebar frame members; and

an arched member pivotably attached at one end to the angle measurement apparatus to determine an angle of the arched member relative to the sidebar frame member and attached at an opposite end to another of the sidebar frame members, wherein the arched member is adapted to arch over the person'"'"'s head when the device is placed on the person'"'"'s head for at least one of the group including neural sensor placement and taking reference system measurements.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the adjustable frame comprises a receptacle for holding one of a locator rod, a sensor and marker, wherein the receptacle is positionable at different locations on the adjustable frame.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising a sensor to automatically determine a position of each adjustable component of the adjustable frame.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising means to transmit adjustment information associated with the adjustable frame to the computing device.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a wireless transmitter to transmit adjustment information associated with the adjustable frame to the computing device.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein coordinates of the predetermined reference system comprise one of 10-20 coordinates, Talairach coordinates, and Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) coordinates.

23. A method for at least one of neural sensor placement and taking reference system measurements, comprising:

fitting an adjustable frame on a person'"'"'s head for at least one of a group including repeatable neural sensor placement and taking reference system measurements, wherein the adjustable frame is formed to be non-invasively supportable by the person'"'"'s head; and

performing at least one of a group including;

converting measurements from the adjustable frame to coordinates of a predetermined reference system; and

converting coordinates of the predetermined reference system to position adjustments on the adjustable frame.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein converting measurements from the adjustable frame to coordinates of a predetermined reference system comprises converting measurement from the adjustable frame to one of a group including 10-20 coordinates, Talairach coordinates, and MNI coordinates.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising transmitting position information from the adjustable frame to a computing device to convert the adjusted position information to coordinates of the predetermined reference system.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising determining a position of each adjustable component of the adjustable frame.

27. A method for at least one of neural sensor placement and taking reference system measurements, comprising:

providing an adjustable frame formed to be non-invasively supportable by a person'"'"'s head for at least one of a group including repeatable neural sensor placement and taking reference system measurements;

providing a computing device;

providing an application operable on the computing device to convert measurements from the adjustable frame to coordinates of a predetermined reference system; and

providing an application to convert coordinates of the predetermined reference system to position adjustments on the adjustable frame.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein providing the adjustable frame comprises:

forming a front frame member supportable by the person'"'"'s nose when the device is placed on the person'"'"'s head for at least one of the group including neural sensor placement and taking reference system measurements;

attaching a pair of sidebar frame members to opposite ends of the front frame member, each sidebar frame member being respectively supportable by one of the person'"'"'s ears when the device is placed on the person'"'"'s head;

providing a back frame member including opposite ends being respectively attachable to each of the sidebar frame members;

attaching an angle measurement apparatus to at least one of the sidebar frame members;

pivotably attaching an arched member at one end to the angle measurement apparatus to determine an angle of the arched member relative to the sidebar frame member; and

pivotably attaching an opposite end of the arched member to another of the sidebar frame members, wherein the arched member is adapted to arch over the person'"'"'s head when the device is placed on the person'"'"'s head for at least one of the group including neural sensor placement and taking reference system measurements.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising providing a receptacle for holding one of a locator rod, a sensor and marker, wherein the receptacle is positionable at different locations on the adjustable frame.