Wearable apparatus for brain sensors

• US 9,867,571 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2015
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InteraXon Inc.
• Original Assignee: InteraXon Inc.
• Inventors: Aimone, Christopher Allen, Coleman, Trevor, Garten, Ariel Stephanie, MacKenzie, Samuel Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cardinal, Erin M
• Application Number:
  US15/102,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20160367189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 600383, 600544-545, D2875
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal

Abstract

A wearable apparatus for wearing on a head of a user, the apparatus has a band assembly comprising an outer band member comprising outer band ends joined by a curved outer band portion of a curve generally shaped to correspond to the user'"'"'s forehead; a flexible inner band member comprising inner band ends joined by a curved inner band portion of a curve generally shaped to correspond to the user'"'"'s forehead, the inner band member is attached to the outer band member at least by each inner band end respectively attached to a respective one of the outer band ends; at least one brainwave sensor disposed inwardly along the curved inner band portion to provide a flexible conductive surface; and a deformable attachment that connects the flexible inner band member to the outer band, the deformable attachment allowing the inner band to conform to the user'"'"'s forehead shape, the deformable attachment having a biasing component to urge the at the at least one brainwave sensor towards the user'"'"'s forehead when worn by the user.

Claims

1. A wearable apparatus for wearing on a head of a user, the apparatus comprising:

a band assembly comprising;

an outer band member comprising outer band ends joined by a curved outer band portion of a first curve generally shaped to correspond to the user'"'"'s forehead;

a flexible inner band member comprising inner band ends joined by a curved inner band portion of a second curve generally shaped to correspond to the user'"'"'s forehead, the inner band member is attached to the outer band member at least by each inner band end respectively attached to a respective one of the outer band ends;

at least one brainwave sensor disposed inwardly along the curved inner band portion to provide a flexible conductive surface; and

a deformable attachment that connects the flexible inner band member to the outer band member, the deformable attachment allowing the inner band member to conform to the user'"'"'s forehead shape, the deformable attachment having a biasing component comprising opposing spring arms configured to collapse when force is applied to the flexible inner band member and return to a rest state spacing the flexible inner band member away from the outer band member by a distance to bias the flexible inner band member toward the user'"'"'s forehead to urge the at least one brainwave sensor disposed inwardly along the curved inner band portion towards the user'"'"'s forehead when worn by the user.

2. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the deformable attachment comprises a rubber spring strip that compresses along its length when the wearable apparatus is pulled tight on the user'"'"'s forehead.

3. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the deformable attachment further comprises at least one spring selected from the group consisting of a plastic leaf spring, a rubber leaf spring, a metal leaf spring, a plastic coil spring, a rubber coil spring, and a metal coil spring.

4. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the deformable attachment further comprises foam.

5. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the biasing component is disposed on the curved inner band portion at least at the at least one brainwave sensor.

6. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the biasing component further comprises a plurality of springs, wherein arrangement of the plurality of springs is such that when placed on the head the biasing component provides pressure at the at least one brainwave sensor to ensure good contact with the user'"'"'s head when in use.

7. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one brainwave sensor comprises at least five brainwave sensors comprising an outer brainwave sensor and a central brainwave sensor, wherein the biasing component further comprises a spring arranged at least at the outer brainwave sensors and at the central brainwave sensor.

8. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one brainwave sensor comprises at least seven brainwave sensors comprising a central brainwave sensor providing a reference measurement for other brainwave measurements, at least two brainwave sensors for providing a Driven Right Leg measurement to reduce noise of the reference measurement, at least two outer brainwave sensors for providing EEG channel measurements at FP1 and FP2 locations, and at least two earpiece brainwave sensors for providing EEG channel measurements at TP9 and TP12 locations.

9. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one earpiece shaped to secure the wearable apparatus to the user when in use, wherein the at least one earpiece comprises a conductive coating to provide at least one of the at least one brainwave sensors.

10. The wearable apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one earpiece is removable from the wearable apparatus.

11. The wearable apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one removable earpiece comprises a mushroom head with an attachment device that mates with a corresponding attachment device of the wearable apparatus.

12. The wearable apparatus of claim 9, further comprising at least one adjustable component to extend or retract in relation to the at least one earpiece to extend or retract a length of the band assembly.

13. The wearable apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one earpiece comprises a rubber earpiece having a mechanical holding on a back to tighten the band assembly.

14. The wearable apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one earpiece is rubber and deformable.

15. The wearable apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a flexible conductive ink coating on the at least one earpiece to provide at least one of the at least one brainwave sensors.

16. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the band assembly is flexible, stretchable and twists to adjust the first curve of the curved outer band portion and the second curve of the curved inner band portion.

17. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outer band member comprises a rigid member.

18. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one brainwave sensor is configured as at least one compressible key pad element, each key pad element having a conductive coating that connects to a flexible circuit.

19. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one brainwave sensors has a conductive coating that connects to a flexible circuit.

20. The wearable apparatus of claim 19, wherein each conductive coating connects to the flexible circuit via a conductive rivet.

21. The wearable apparatus of claim 19, wherein each conductive coating connects to the flexible circuit using mechanical pressure between the sensor and the flexible circuit.

22. The wearable apparatus of claim 19, wherein each conductive coating connects to the flexible circuit using a hydrogel that has been hydrated with a conductive solution.

23. The wearable apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a semi-rigid attachment for the at least one brainwave sensor to be attachable to the headband at a plurality of locations.

24. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner band member and the outer band member provide a stretch headband, wherein the at least one brainwave sensor is configured using a conductive polymer.