Bioelectrode, and method and apparatus for processing biosignal using the same

• US 9,795,313 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Seoul National University R&DB Foundation (Seoul National University)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Seoul National University R&DB Foundation (Seoul National University)
• Inventors: Kim, Youn Ho, Kim, Jee Hoon, Park, Kwang Suk, Lee, Jeong Su, Lim, Yong Gyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US14/712,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20150366479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 600393, 600547, 600513, 607 42, 607 46, 607 72, 607142, 324686
• 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 2562/0214 Capacitive electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/04 Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/16 Details of sensor housings or probes; Details of structural supports for sensors A61B2560/0462 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/182 Electrical shielding, e.g. using a Faraday cage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1126 using a particular sensing technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/305 Common mode rejection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7225 Details of analog processing, e.g. isolation amplifier, gain or sensitivity adjustment, filtering, baseline or drift compensation A61B5/30, A61B5/316 take precedence; transformers for specific applications H01F38/00; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

A bioelectrode including a plate, a first electrode disposed on a first side of the plate, and a second electrode disposed on the first side of the plate and separate from the first electrode. The bioelectrode further includes a first guard portion disposed on a second side of the plate, a second guard portion disposed on the second side of the plate and separate from the first guard portion, and a preamplifier configured to output a voltage signal based on a biosignal measured between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Claims

1. A bioelectrode comprising:

a plate having a first side and a second side, the first side being on an opposite side of the plate to the second side;

electrodes in direct contact with the first side of the plate, the electrodes having no contact with each other and being configured to measure a biosignal; and

guard portions in direct contact with the second side of the plate directly opposite to the electrodes, the guard portions having no contact with each other and being configured to reduce external noise affecting the biosignal measured by the electrodes.

2. The bioelectrode of claim 1, wherein the electrodes comprise a first electrode disposed on the first side of the plate and a second electrode disposed on the first side of the plate and separate from the first electrode, and

wherein the guard portions comprise a first guard portion disposed on the second side of the plate and a second guard portion disposed on the second side of the plate and separate from the first guard portion.

3. The bioelectrode of claim 2, wherein:

the first guard portion is disposed vertically separate from the first electrode; and

the second guard portion is disposed vertically separate from the second electrode.

4. The bioelectrode of claim 2, wherein the first guard portion and the second guard portion are configured to reduce external noise affecting the biosignal measured between the first electrode and the second electrode.

5. The bioelectrode of claim 2, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to measure an electromyogram of a user without making direct electrical contact with a body of the user.

6. The bioelectrode of claim 1, further comprising:

a preamplifier configured to output a voltage signal based on the biosignal measured between the first electrode and the second electrode.

7. The bioelectrode of claim 6, wherein the first guard portion and the second guard portion comprise a conductive material, and are electrically connected to the preamplifier.

8. The bioelectrode of claim 1, further comprising:

a shield disposed externally to the preamplifier, the first guard portion, and the second guard portion adjacent to the second side of the plate.

9. The bioelectrode of claim 8, wherein the shield is configured to form an air layer between the shield and the plate.

10. The bioelectrode of claim 8, wherein the shield comprises a conductive material, and is connected to a ground.

11. The bioelectrode of claim 1, wherein one of the electrodes and the guard portions are disposed between the plate and an insulation layer.

12. The bioelectrode of claim 1, wherein one of the electrodes and the guard portions are disposed internally into the plate.

13. A biosignal processing apparatus comprising:

a bioelectrode configured to measure a biosignal without making direct electrical contact with a body of a user; and

a biosignal processing portion configured to filter the biosignal, and amplify the filtered biosignal,

wherein the bioelectrode comprises;

a plate having a first side and a second side, the first side being on an opposite side of the plate to the second side;

electrodes in direct physical contact with the first side of the plate and having no contact with each other, the biosignal being measured between the electrodes; and

guard portions in direct physical contact with the second side of the plate and having no contact with each other,

wherein the guard portions are positioned directly opposite to the electrodes and are configured to reduce external noise affecting the biosignal measured between the electrodes.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

the electrodes comprise a first electrode and a second electrode;

the guard portions comprise a first guard portion and a second guard portion;

the first guard portion is disposed to vertically overlap the first electrode; and

the second guard portion is disposed to vertically overlap the second electrode.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a signal converter configured to convert the biosignal output from the biosignal processing portion, into a digital signal; and

an interface configured to transmit the digital signal to an external area.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the bioelectrode further comprises:

a preamplifier configured to output a voltage signal based on a biosignal measured between the electrodes based on an input impedance.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the bioelectrode further comprises

a shield disposed externally to the guard portions and electrically separate from the guard portions.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the biosignal processing apparatus is configured to operate in a wearable device.

19. A biosignal processing apparatus comprising:

a bioelectrode configured to measure a biosignal without making direct electrical contact with a body of a user; and

a control signal generator configured to generate a control signal to be used to control an external device based on the biosignal,

wherein the bioelectrode comprises;

a plate having a first side and a second side, the first side being on an opposite side of the plate to the second side;

electrodes in direct physical contact with the first side of the plate and having no contact with one another, the biosignal being measured between the electrodes;

guard portions in direct physical contact with the second side of the plate and having no contact with one another;

the guard portions being positioned directly opposite to the electrodes and being configured to reduce external noise affecting the biosignal measured between the electrodes;

a preamplifier in direct physical contact with the first side of the plate and electrically connected to electrodes, the preamplifier being configured to amplify the biosignal measured between the electrodes; and

a shield positioned adjacent to the second side of the plate with no direct physical contact with the plate or electrodes, the shield being configured to reduce external noise affecting the biosignal measured between electrodes.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the guard portions are composed of a conductive material, and are electrically connected to the preamplifier;

and

the shield is composed of a conductive material and connected to a ground.