Sensor means for detection of bioelectrical signals

• US 10,172,560 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2015
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cortec Gmbh
• Original Assignee: Cortec Gmbh
• Inventors: Schuttler, Martin, Rickert, Jorn, Henle, Christian, Ball, Tonio, Raab, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANU, ETSUB D
• Application Number:
  US14/628,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20150164425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,415 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6868 Brain

Abstract

Sensor means for detection of bioelectrical signals, in particular, for implantation into or onto a brain wherein the sensor means comprises a first number of electrodes which can be coupled to a biological organism, in particular, to neural cells of a nervous system for tapping a first plurality of electrical potentials at the biological organism. According to the invention, the sensor means comprises means for providing an averaged electrical reference potential. The averaged electrical reference potential is formed from a plurality of detected electrical potential that are tapped at the biological organism.

Claims

1. A sensor means for detection of bioelectrical signals for implantation into a brain wherein the sensor means comprises a pad with a first plurality of electrodes which can be coupled to neural cells of a nervous system of a biological organism, for tapping a first plurality of electrical potentials at the biological organism, characterized in that:

the sensor means comprises means for providing an averaged electrical reference potential,

wherein the means for providing an averaged electrical reference potential comprises a second plurality of reference electrodes arranged on the pad, the reference electrodes being connected to each other galvanically via conductor paths arranged on the pad such that an average potential is provided at a terminal of a reference electrode, and can be coupled to the biological organism, and

wherein the reference electrodes are arranged with respect to the electrodes of the first plurality of electrodes such that respective distances between a reference electrode and immediately adjacent electrodes of the first plurality of electrodes are the same.

2. The sensor means of claim 1, wherein the galvanic connections comprise mechanically extendable connections.

3. The sensor means of claim 1, wherein the galvanic connections comprise meandering conductor paths.

4. The sensor means of claim 1, wherein the first plurality is larger than the second plurality.