Methods and apparatus to gather and analyze electroencephalographic data

• US 9,622,703 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2015
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Consumer LLC (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Badower, Yakob, Lawrence, Bradley R., Male, Marcos, Jovanovic, Marko, Olrik, Jakob
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cardinal, Erin M
• Application Number:
  US14/859,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20160007918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 600383, 600544-545
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles

Abstract

Example headsets and methods for gathering electroencephalographic signals are disclosed herein. An example headset includes an adjustment assembly including a first support to be disposed on a first side of a head of a person and a second support to be disposed on a second side of the head of the person. The example headset also includes an adjustor operatively coupled to the first support. Further, the example headset includes an electrode strip and a tension strap having a first end operatively coupled to the adjustor and a second end operatively coupled to the second support.

Claims

1. A headset comprising:

a strip to be disposed over a head of a person;

an electrode unit operatively coupled to the strip, the electrode unit including a housing and an electrode pin, the electrode pin being retractable into the housing;

a first tension strap slidably coupled to the strip, the first tension strap disposed between the strip and the head of the person when the strip is disposed over the head of the person;

a first support to be disposed on a first side of the head of the person; and

a second support to be disposed on a second side of the head of the person, a first end of the first tension strap operatively coupled to the first support and a second end of the first tension strap operatively coupled to the second support.

2. The headset of claim 1, further including a first adjustor operatively coupled to the first support, the first end of the first tension strap operatively coupled to the first adjustor.

3. The headset of claim 2, wherein the first adjustor is detachable from the first support.

4. The headset of claim 2, further including a second adjustor operatively coupled to the second support, the second end of the first tension strap operatively coupled to the second adjustor.

5. The headset of claim 4, further including a second tension strap slidably coupled to the strip, a first end of the second tension strap operatively coupled to the first adjustor and a second end of the second tension strap operatively coupled to the second adjustor.

6. The headset of claim 1, further including a third support operatively coupled to the first support and the second support via a second tension strap.

7. The headset of claim 6, further including a first adjustor operatively coupled to the third support to change a tension of the second tension strap to move the first support and the second support in a first direction.

8. The headset of claim 7, wherein the first adjustor includes a wheel rotatably coupled to the third support.

9. The headset of claim 8, wherein rotation of the wheel changes the tension of the second tension strap.

10. The headset of claim 7, further including a second adjustor operatively coupled to the third support, the third support operatively coupled to the first support and the second support via a third tension strap, the second adjustor to change a tension of the third tension strap to move the first support and the second support in a second direction, different than the first direction.

11. The headset of claim 6, wherein the third support is to be disposed on a rear of the head of the person, the third support including a first guide section extending below a left ear of the person and a second guide section extending below a right ear of the person.

12. The headset of claim 11, wherein the first support is to be disposed above the left ear of the person and the second support is to be disposed above the right ear of the person.

13. The headset of claim 11, further including a fourth support operatively coupled to the first support, the second support and the third support via the second tension strap.

14. The headset of claim 13, wherein the fourth support is to be disposed on a forehead of the person.

15. The headset of claim 1, wherein the housing extends from the strip such that the housing is disposed between the strip and the head of the person when the strip is disposed over the head of the person, the housing including a channel, the first tension strap extending through the channel.

16. The headset of claim 15, wherein the electrode pin extends from a bottom surface of the housing, the bottom surface of the housing facing the head of the person when the strip is disposed over the head of the person, the bottom surface having a contoured profile.

17. The headset of claim 15, wherein the channel is a first channel, the housing including a second channel, and further including a second tension strap extending through the second channel.

18. The headset of claim 17, wherein the first tension strap and the second tension strap traverse along a longitudinal axis of the strip, and the first channel and the second channel are substantially parallel.

19. The headset of claim 1, wherein tightening the first tension strap pulls the electrode unit toward the head of the person, and the electrode pin retracts into the housing as the electrode unit is pulled toward the head of the person.

20. The headset of claim 1, wherein the electrode pin is biased against the head of the person.