Methods and apparatus to gather and analyze electroencephalographic data

• US 9,320,450 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Consumer LLC (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Badower, Yakob
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cardinal, Erin M
• Application Number:
  US13/829,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20140276183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 600/372, 600/382, 600/383, 600/390, 600/393, 600544-545, 439 38- 40, 439/909, 439/289, 439/291
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A41F 1/002 Magnetic fastening devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/04 Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/225 Connectors or couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 Ear lobe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

Example apparatus and methods for gathering electroencephalographic signals are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a band to be worn on a head of a person and a first strip adjustably coupled to the band. The example apparatus also includes a first set of electrodes coupled to the first strip to gather a first set of signals from the head and a magnetic fastener to couple the first strip to the band.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing having a first end, a second end and an intermediary portion, a wire retainer formed in the intermediary portion;

a first cavity adjacent the first end;

a second cavity adjacent the second end;

a first electrode removably disposed in the first cavity;

a first wire coupled to the first electrode, the first wire releasably retainable in the wire retainer such that the first wire and the wire retainer can be repeatedly coupled and uncoupled to secure the first wire when the first wire and the first electrode are to be coupled to the housing; and

a first magnet disposed in one of the first cavity or the second cavity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intermediary portion is elastically bendable to oppose the first cavity and the second cavity.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a magnetic force of the first magnet is to secure the apparatus to an ear of a subject.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first magnet is to magnetically couple the first end and the second end.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, further including a second magnet or a metallic plate disposed in the other of the first cavity or the second cavity not holding the first magnet, the first magnet magnetically couplable to the second magnet or the metallic plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second magnet or the metallic plate is disposed between the first electrode and a surface of the first cavity.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a second electrode removably disposed in the second cavity.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first electrode is coupled to a first terminal, the second electrode is coupled to a second terminal, and the second terminal is removably coupled to the first terminal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second terminal is magnetically coupled to the first terminal.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, further including a second wire coupled to the second electrode, the second wire releasably retainable in the wire retainer such that the second wire and the wire retainer can be repeatedly coupled and uncoupled to secure the second wire when the second wire and the second electrode are to be coupled to the housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wire retainer includes a plurality of slits.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wire retainer extends into the intermediary portion in a direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the intermediary portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electrode includes a first flange to couple the first electrode to the first cavity via friction fit.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a headset, the headset including:

a band to be worn on a head of a subject;

a strip adjustably coupled to the band, the strip carrying a plurality of electrodes, the strip to be disposed over the head of the subject; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the electrodes of the strip and the first electrode removably coupled in the first cavity of the housing.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first magnet is magnetically couplable to the band to dispose the first electrode against a forehead of the subject.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first electrode is coupled to a first terminal via the first wire, the first terminal couplable to the processor to transmit signals gathered by the first electrode to the processor.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first terminal is magnetically couplable to the processor.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first terminal includes a first magnetic pad and the processor includes a second magnetic pad, the first magnetic pad and the second magnetic pad to engage when the first terminal is coupled to the processor to hold the first terminal on the processor.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, further including a central support supporting the processor, the strip being adjustably coupled to the support.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the headset further includes a magnetic fastener to couple the strip to the band.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the magnetic fastener includes:

a first connector coupled to the band;

a second magnet or a first metallic plate coupled to the first connector;

a second connector coupled to the strip; and

a third magnet or a second metallic plate coupled to the second connector, the second magnet or the first metallic plate and the third magnet or the second metallic plate to couple the first and second connectors.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first connector includes an aperture to receive the band, the first connector slidable along the band.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first connector includes a leaf spring to engage the band.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the strip is adjustably coupled to the second connector.