Flexible electrode assembly and apparatus for measuring electrophysiological signals
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for measuring electrophysiological signals in a human or animal body, said apparatus comprising:
- a support structure comprising a central portion and a plurality of elongated portions extending radially outwards from said central portion, the central portion having a plurality of openings passing entirely through the support structure at respective interfaces between the central portion and the elongated portions; and
a flexible electrode assembly comprising a central region having a plurality of electrical contacts, a plurality of elongated portions extending from the central region and each having a distal end spaced from the central region with an electrode disposed thereon, each electrode at the distal end coupled to one of the electrical contacts in the central region, said flexible electrode assembly mounted on said support structure such that said elongated portions of said flexible electrode assembly each extend through the openings and along a respective elongated portion of said support structure, wherein the electrode assembly is removably and repeatedly attached to the support structure; and
a flexible printed circuit board disposed on at least one side of at least one elongated portion of the support structure and connecting said electrical contacts and said electrode, the flexible circuit board having a plurality of electrically-conductive through holes.
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Abstract
A flexible electrode assembly comprises a central portion having electrical contacts disposed thereon and a plurality of elongated portions extending radially outwards from the central portion. One or more of the elongated portions has an electrode disposed in the vicinity of a distal end thereof. The electrodes are electrically coupled to respective ones of the electrical contacts disposed on the central portion. An apparatus for measuring electrophysiological signals in a human or animal body that incorporates the flexible electrode assembly is also disclosed.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring electrophysiological signals in a human or animal body, said apparatus comprising:
- a support structure comprising a central portion and a plurality of elongated portions extending radially outwards from said central portion, the central portion having a plurality of openings passing entirely through the support structure at respective interfaces between the central portion and the elongated portions; and
a flexible electrode assembly comprising a central region having a plurality of electrical contacts, a plurality of elongated portions extending from the central region and each having a distal end spaced from the central region with an electrode disposed thereon, each electrode at the distal end coupled to one of the electrical contacts in the central region, said flexible electrode assembly mounted on said support structure such that said elongated portions of said flexible electrode assembly each extend through the openings and along a respective elongated portion of said support structure, wherein the electrode assembly is removably and repeatedly attached to the support structure; and
a flexible printed circuit board disposed on at least one side of at least one elongated portion of the support structure and connecting said electrical contacts and said electrode, the flexible circuit board having a plurality of electrically-conductive through holes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- a support structure comprising a central portion and a plurality of elongated portions extending radially outwards from said central portion, the central portion having a plurality of openings passing entirely through the support structure at respective interfaces between the central portion and the elongated portions; and
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10. An apparatus for measuring electrophysiological signals in a human or animal body, said apparatus comprising:
- an electrode assembly having a plurality of electrodes for detecting electrophysiological signals, the electrode assembly further including a central portion having a plurality of electrical contacts and a plurality of elongated portions extending radially outwards from the central portion, one or more of said elongated portions having one of the electrodes disposed thereon and coupled to one of the electrical contacts;
a support structure for applying said electrodes to a human or animal body such that an electrically conductive path is maintained between said electrodes and said human or animal body, the support structure having a central portion and a plurality of elongated portions extending radially outwards from the central portion, wherein at least one of the central portion and the elongated portions of the support structure include a plurality of openings passing entirely through the support structure such that the elongated portions of the electrode assembly each extend through respective openings and along a respective elongated portion of the support structure; and
a flexible printed circuit board disposed on at least one side of at least one elongated portion of the support structure and connecting said electrical contacts, the flexible circuit board having a plurality of electrically-conductive through holes and having an electronic circuit for processing said electrophysiological signals detected by said electrodes;
wherein said electrodes and said electronic circuit are electrically connected by a solderless connection, and wherein the electrode assembly is removably and repeatedly attached to the support structure. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- an electrode assembly having a plurality of electrodes for detecting electrophysiological signals, the electrode assembly further including a central portion having a plurality of electrical contacts and a plurality of elongated portions extending radially outwards from the central portion, one or more of said elongated portions having one of the electrodes disposed thereon and coupled to one of the electrical contacts;
Specification