Two part EEG monitor with databus and method of communicating between the parts

• US 9,808,199 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2012
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T&W Engineering A/S (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Widex A/S (WS Audiology A/S)
• Inventors: Kilsgaard, Soren, Kidmose, Preben, Rank, Mike Lind
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cardinal, Erin M
• Application Number:
  US13/588,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20120316418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,908 Days
• Field of Search: 600372, 600373, 600379, 600383, 600393, 600544-545
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• 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 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0216 BTE hearing aids having a receiver in the ear mould
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/57 Aspects of electrical interconnection between hearing aid parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603

Abstract

A personal wearable EEG monitor comprises a base part (1) having signal processing means (23), and an electrode part (2) with at least two electrodes (11, 12) for measuring an EEG signal of a person. The electrode part (2) comprises means for converting the EEG signal into a digital signal. The EEG monitor comprises a databus for transferring data between the base part (1) and the electrode part (2) and for providing power from one part to the other. The databus is adapted for application of two electrical wires. The invention further provides a method for communicating between two parts of an EEG monitor.

Claims

1. A personal EEG monitor, comprising a base part having a signal processor, an electrode part with at least two electrodes for measuring an EEG signal of a person, said electrode part having an analog-to-digital converter for converting the EEG signal into a digital signal, and a two-wire databus for transferring data between said base part and said electrode part over two wires with said base part and electrode part located adjacent one ear, and for providing power over said two wires from one part to the other;

and for the application of at least four different states in respective time slots, where a first state is during a first period of time and is for transfer of power, a second state is during a second period of time and is for transmission of signal from said base part to said electrode part, a third state is during a third period of time and is for transmission of signal from said electrode part to said base part; and

a fourth state is during a fourth period of time and is set to low in order for the first state to start with a rising edge, with no power being transferred between said base part and electrode part during said second and third states, and wherein data to be transferred includes at least first and second values, and said databus represents said first value with a first signal level and represents said second value with a second signal level.

2. A personal EEG monitor, comprising

a base part having a signal processor,

an electrode part with at least two electrodes for measuring an EEG signal of a person, said electrode part having an analog-to-digital converter for converting the EEG signal into a digital signal, and

a two-wire databus for transferring data between said base part and said electrode part over two electrical wires with said base part and electrode part located adjacent one ear, and for also providing power from one part to the other over said two wires, wherein data to be transferred includes at least first and second values, and said databus represents said first value with a first signal level and represents said second value with a second signal level different from the first signal level.

3. The EEG monitor according to claim 2, wherein two different states of the databus are applied in different time slots, including at least a first state for transfer of power without transfer of data, and a second state for transmission of signal from said electrode part to said base part without transfer of power.

4. The EEG monitor according to claim 3, wherein said databus is configured such that said first state for transfer of power takes up at least 50% of the time on the databus.

5. The EEG monitor according to claim 4, wherein said first state for transfer of power takes up at least 70% of the time on the databus.

6. The EEG monitor according to claim 2, wherein at least three different states of the databus are applied in different time slots, where a first state is for transfer of power, a second state is for transmission of signal from said base part to said electrode part without transfer of power, and a third state is for transmission of signal from said electrode part to said base part without transfer of power.

7. The EEG monitor according to claim 2, wherein said electrode part includes a capacitor charged during said first state and for supplying power to components of said electrode part during said second and third states, said components including a receiver which is powered from said two-wire databus and not from said capacitor.

8. The EEG monitor according to claim 6, wherein said electrode part includes a receiver, and wherein supply of power to said receiver is disconnected during at least one of said second and third states.

9. The EEG monitor according to claim 2, wherein a power supply is arranged in said base part and a capacitor is arranged in said electrode part, said capacitor being adapted for being charged during a first state for transfer of power, and for supplying power in periods where no power is transmitted through the databus.

10. The EEG monitor according to claim 9, wherein said electrode part comprises a receiver for providing a sound signal to said person.

11. The EEG monitor according to claim 10, wherein said receiver is connected such that it will not draw any power in the time where data is transferred on the databus.

12. The EEG monitor according to claim 2, wherein said electrode part is adapted to be arranged in the ear canal of the person to be monitored.

13. The EEG monitor according to claim 2, wherein said electrode part comprises an electronic chip connected with the at least two electrodes, said electronic chip being connected with said databus.

14. The EEG monitor according to claim 13, wherein said electronic chip comprises a power supply and a voltage regulator for the power supply.

15. The EEG monitor according to claim 13, wherein said analog-to-digital converter is located on said electronic chip.

16. The EEG monitor according to claim 15, wherein said analog-to-digital converter is a sigma-delta converter.

17. The EEG monitor according to claim 2, comprising a clock frequency generator arranged in either the base part or in the electrode part of the EEG monitor, and a clock frequency regenerator in the part of the EEG monitor without the clock frequency generator.

18. The EEG monitor according to claim 17, wherein said clock frequency regenerator is synchronized with the clock frequency of said clock frequency generator.

19. The EEG monitor according to claim 18, comprising a phase-locked loop for synchronizing the clock frequency regenerator.

20. The EEG monitor according to claim 17, wherein said clock frequency generator is arranged in said base part of the EEG monitor.

21. The EEG monitor according to claim 2, wherein the electrode part is adapted to be arranged in the ear canal of the one ear of the person to be monitored and comprises a receiver, and said EEG monitor comprises sound amplification means and at least one microphone.

22. The EEG monitor of claim 2, wherein said two wires are used for transmission of data from said base part to said electrode part and from said electrode part to said base part, and for transfer of power.

23. The EEG monitor according to claim 2, wherein said two-wire data bus transfers power between said base part and said electrode part during a time when no data is being transferred between said base part and electrode part.

24. The EEG monitor according to claim 2, wherein each of said two wires provides an unbroken electrical path between said base part and electrode part.

25. The EEG monitor according to claim 2, wherein there is no electrical connection between said base part and electrode part that does not pass through said two wires.

26. A method for operating the EEG monitor of claim 2, comprising the steps of:

arranging said base part outside the ear canal of the one ear,

arranging said electrode part in the ear canal of the person, and

connecting said electrode part with said base part through said databus.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising a step of applying at least two different states of the two wire databus sequentially in different time spans, where a first state is for transfer of power, and a second state is for transmission of signal from said electrode part to said base part.

28. The method according to claim 26, comprising applying at least three different states of the two wire databus sequentially in different time spans, where a first state is for transfer of power, a second state is for transmission of signal from said base part to said electrode part, and a third state is for transmission of signal from said electrode part to said base part.