METHOD AND DEVICE FOR QUICK PRESS ON EEG ELECTRODE

• US 20080294031A1
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rhythmlink International
• Original Assignee: Persyst Development Corp.
• Inventors: Clear, Scott, Wilson, Scott B., Scheuer, Mark, Johnson, Dale
• Granted Patent: US 8,112,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/383
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/293 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6839 Anchoring means, e.g. barbs

Abstract

Embodiments relate to methods and systems for monitoring bioelectric potentials. In some instances, an electrode is applied to a patient'"'"'s skin. The electrode may be at least partly inserted into the patient'"'"'s skin, such as by inserting at least part of one or more teeth underneath the skin.

Claims

1. An electrode comprising:

a main portion;

a plurality of legs extending from said main portion; and

a plurality of protrusions extending from each of said legs.

2. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said legs are bendable.

3. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said legs are configured to bend upon application of a force and to return towards an initial configuration upon release of said force.

4. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the length of said protrusions is between about 300 to about 600 microns.

5. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said protrusions comprise sharp points.

6. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said electrode comprises stainless steel.

7. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said electrode comprises a shape memory material.

8. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said electrode comprises an alloy.

9. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said electrode comprises a nitinol.

10. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said electrode is between about 0.002 and about 0.010 inches thick.

11. An electrode system, the system comprising:

a plurality of electrodes according to claim 1; and

support structure to support the plurality of electrodes,

wherein said system is configured to be worn on a patient'"'"'s head.

12. The electrode system of claim 11, further comprising a power supply.

13. The electrode system of claim 11, further comprising at least one of an amplifier, a filter and an A/D converter.

14. The electrode system of claim 11, further comprising a wireless transmitter.

15. The electrode system of claim 11, wherein said support structure comprises a plurality of straps configured to be wrapped around the patient'"'"'s head.

16. A kit comprising:

a plurality of electrodes according to claim 1;

support structure to support the plurality of electrodes;

a wireless transmitter; and

a receiver configured to receive signals from the wireless transmitter,

wherein said system is configured to be worn on a patient'"'"'s head.

17. A method for recording biopotentials, the method comprising:

inserting part of an electrode into a patient'"'"'s skin; and

receiving a plurality of biopotentials by the electrode.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said electrode comprises a plurality of protrusions, and

wherein said inserting comprises inserting part said protrusions into a patient'"'"'s skin.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said protrusions of said inserted electrode are approximately parallel to the surface of the patient'"'"'s skin.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said electrode comprises a main portion and a plurality of legs extending from said portion,

wherein each of said legs comprises a plurality of protrusions, and

wherein said inserting comprises inserting part said protrusions into a patient'"'"'s skin.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the main body of said inserted electrode lies substantially flat against the patient'"'"'s skin.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising bending the legs from an unbent position to a bent position prior to said insertion,

wherein said legs are bent at an angle between about 30 and about 45 degrees relative to the surface of the main body in the bent position.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said legs are configured to bend back towards said unbent position following said insertion.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein said inserting comprises puncturing a patient'"'"'s skin with said part of the electrode.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein no conductive gel or paste is applied to said skin prior to the inserting of said part of the electrode.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein said skin is non-abraded.

27. The method of claim 17, further comprising at least one of amplifying and filtering the biopotentials.

28. The method of claim 17, further comprising analyzing the biopotentials.

29. The method of claim 17, further comprising producing electroencephalograph, electrocardiograph, or electromyograph data based on said biopotentials.

30. An electrode comprising a plurality of protruding portions configured to stabilize the electrode upon attaching the electrode to a patient, wherein the electrode comprises a shape-memory material.

31. The electrode of claim 30, wherein at least two of said protruding portions are configured to be separated by a first distance upon application of a force and to be separated by a second distance upon release of said force, said first distance being greater than said second distance.

32. The electrode of claim 30, wherein the length of said protruding portions is between about 300 to about 600 microns.

33. The electrode of claim 30, wherein said protruding portions comprise sharp points.

34. The electrode of claim 30, wherein said electrode comprises stainless steel.

35. The electrode of claim 30, at least two of said protruding portions are connected by a flexible curved electrode component.

36. The electrode of claim 35, wherein the electrode is configured such that a radius of said flexible curved electrode component is larger during application of a force than during release of said force.

37. An electrode system, the system comprising:

a removal tool; and

the electrode comprising a plurality of protruding portions configured to stabilize the electrode upon attaching the electrode to a patient, wherein the electrode comprises a shape-memory material.

38. The electrode system of claim 37, wherein said removal tool comprises a pivot point.

39. The electrode system of claim 37, wherein said removal tool comprises at least one force application component and at least two electrode contact components,

wherein a distance between the at least two electrode contact components is at least partly dependent on force applied to the at least one force application component.

40. The electrode system of claim 39, wherein said at least one force application component comprises two force application components, and wherein said applicator is configured such that a distance separating the at least two electrode contact components increases as the distance between the two force application components decrease.