Systems and methods to gather and analyze electroencephalographic data

• US 9,215,978 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2015
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Consumer LLC (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Knight, Robert T., Gurumoorthy, Ramachandran, Badower, Yakob, Pradeep, A. K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Application Number:
  US14/610,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20150141789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 600/383
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0209 Special features of electrodes classified in A61B5/24, A61B5/25, A61B5/283, A61B5/291, A61B5/296, A61B5/053
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/182 Electrical shielding, e.g. using a Faraday cage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/026 for the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/163 by tracking eye movement, gaze, or pupil change
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/307 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/31 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/333 Recording apparatus specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/347 Detecting the frequency distribution of signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/37 Intracranial electroencephalography [IC-EEG], e.g. electrocorticography [ECoG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/372 Analysis of electroencephalograms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/374 Detecting the frequency distribution of signals, e.g. detecting delta, theta, alpha, beta or gamma waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/68 : Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 : specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 : Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 : Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6813 : Specially adapted to be attached to a specific body part A61B5/6802 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 : Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 : Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 : for noise prevention, reduction or removal

Abstract

Example methods are described herein that include obtaining electroencephalographic data from an example device worn by a subject. The device includes a central body portion and a plurality of extensions extending from the central body portion. Respective ones of the extension have ends carrying an electrode. The example device includes an adjustment band disposed along a longitudinal axis of the central body portion to adjust a position of the extensions. The example method also includes analyzing the data to determine a mental state of the subject.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining electroencephalographic data with a device worn by a subject, the device including;

a central body portion;

a plurality of extensions extending from the central body portion, respective ones of the extensions having corresponding ends carrying an electrode; and

an adjustment band slidably disposed along a longitudinal axis of the central body portion to adjust respective positions of the extensions; and

analyzing the data, with a processor, to determine a mental state of the subject.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment band is elastic.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment band has a circular cross section.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment band has a rectangular cross section.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the central body portion and the extensions includes one or more of silicone or rubber.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the device further includes a flexible printed circuit board encapsulated in the central body portion and extensions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the extensions is curved in a direction away from the central body portion.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the extensions is curved in a same direction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrodes include at least a portion of a ring.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the device further includes an array of electrodes disposed on one side of the central body portion.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a tightening of the adjustment band causes the electrodes to apply a force to a head of a subject wearing the device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the force is about the same at each electrode.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the central body portion and the extensions are flexible, but not elastic, and the adjustment band is flexible and elastic.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the device further includes a silver-coated nylon cover.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are springy.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are removable.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein a first extension is located directly across the central body portion from a second extension.

18. The method of claim 1, further including converting a signal obtained from an electrode to a digital signal.

19. The method of claim 1, further including at least one of amplifying a signal obtained from an electrode or removing noise from the signal.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the device further includes a cover partially surrounding an electrode so that a first portion of the cover is disposed on a first side of the electrode, a second portion of the cover is disposed on a second side of the electrode, and an end of the electrode to contact a tissue of a subject extends from the cover.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the electrode has a cross section of less than about 0.5 millimeter, a first outer end of the first portion of the cover and a second outer end of the second portion of the cover are separated by a distance of less than about 1 millimeter, and the end of the electrode to contact the tissues extends less than about 0.2 millimeter from the cover.

22. A method comprising:

obtaining electroencephalographic data with a device worn by a subject, the device including;

a central body portion including a first protrusion, a second protrusion, and a recess between the first protrusion and the second protrusion;

a plurality of extensions extending from the central body portion, respective ones of the extensions having an end carrying an electrode; and

an adjustment band disposed along a longitudinal axis of the central body portion to adjust respective positions of the extensions, the adjustment band disposed in the recess; and

analyzing the data, with a processor, to determine a mental state of the subject.

23. A method comprising:

obtaining electroencephalographic data with a device worn by a subject, the device including;

a central body portion;

a plurality of extensions extending from the central body portion, corresponding ones of the extensions having a respective end carrying an electrode; and

an array of electrodes disposed on one side of the central body portion, wherein the array is an embossed plate and the device includes up to 256 electrodes;

an adjustment band disposed along a longitudinal axis of the central body portion to adjust respective positions of the extensions; and

analyzing, with a processor, the data to determine a mental state of the subject.