ELECTRODE ARRAY

• US 20090018427A1
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brainscope SPV LLC
• Original Assignee: Brainscope Company Inc.
• Inventors: Christiansen, Christian, Metzger, Daniel, Causevic, Elvir
• Granted Patent: US 8,391,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/383
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/38 Acoustic or auditory stimuli
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head

Abstract

A disposable electrode array 100, 200 including a flexible member 106, 206 in which a plurality of electrodes 102, 202 are disposed, having a shape adapted to contact the forehead skin surface on a human patient. A pair of ear loops 104, 204 coupled to the disposable electrode array 100, 200 secure the disposable electrode array 100, 200 about the patient'"'"'s ears, with the flexible member 106, 206 disposed across the patient'"'"'s bow, retaining the electrodes 102, 202 against the skin surface. Additional electrodes 102, 202 are disposed in proximity to the ear loops 104, 204 and are configured to contact the skin surface behind the patient'"'"'s ears. An auditory stimulus delivery element 116, 216 is coupled with each of the ear loops 104, 204, and positioned to seat in proximity to the patient'"'"'s ear canal for the delivery of auditory stimulus. Electrical conductors associated with the electrodes 102, 202 and the stimulus delivery elements 116, 216 are routed within the flexible member 106, 206 to a common external connection point 118, 218 for connection to an external system. The disposable electrode array 100, 200 may be configured for both evoking and measuring evoked bio-potentials in the human subject, or for measuring bio-potentials evoked using a separate stimulus delivery system.

Claims

1. An electrode array for measuring bio-potential signals from a skin surface, comprising:

a pair of ear loops, each ear loop configured to fit around a ear of a human patient;

a flexible web coupled between said pair of ear loops, said flexible web configured to span a forehead of said human patient; and

a plurality of electrodes coupled to said flexible web, said plurality of electrodes configured for placement against a skin surface of said human patient.

2. The electrode array of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of electrodes is operatively coupled via an associated electrical conductor to a common external connection point.

3. The electrode array of claim 2 wherein each of said associated electrical conductors is disposed within said flexible web.

4. The electrode array of claim 1 further including an auditory stimulator centrally disposed within each of said pair of ear loops for placement adjacent an ear canal, each of said auditory stimulators configured to generate an auditory stimuli.

5. The electrode array of claim 4 wherein each of said auditory stimulators is operatively coupled via an associated electrical conductor to a common external connection point.

6. The electrode array of claim 1 wherein each ear loop further includes at least one associated ear loop electrode, each associated ear loop electrode disposed about said ear loop substantially opposite from said flexible web.

7. The electrode array of claim 1 further including an adhesive material disposed around each of said electrodes.

8. The electrode array of claim 1 further including an external connection for establishing an electrical connection to each of said plurality of electrodes.

9. The electrode array of claim 1 wherein each of said ear loops are composed of a flexible material.

10. The electrode array of claim 1 wherein each of said ear loops are composed of a substantially rigid material.

11. The electrode array of claim 1 wherein at least one electrode in said plurality of electrodes is secured to said flexible web with at least one break-away tab and supported on least one flexible connector coupled to said flexible web, said flexible connector configured to permit a range of movement of said electrode following severing of said at least one break-away tab to facilitate placement of said electrode on said skin surface.

12. The electrode array of claim 11 wherein at least four electrodes are disposed within a central portion of said flexible web in a fixed configuration;

and

wherein at least two electrodes are supported on said flexible connectors.

13. The electrode array of claim 11 wherein each ear loop further includes at least one associated ear loop electrode, each associated ear loop electrode disposed about said ear loop substantially opposite from said flexible web.

14. The electrode array of claim 13 wherein each of said ear loop electrodes are supported on an associated flexible connector coupled to said associated ear loops, and are secured to said associated ear loops with at least one break-away tab, said flexible connector configured to permit a range of movement of said ear loop electrode following severing of said at least one break-away tab to facilitate placement of said ear loop electrode on said skin surface.

15. A method for using the electrode array having a pair of ear loops, each ear loop configured to fit around a ear of a human patient, a flexible web coupled between the pair of ear loops to span a forehead of the human patient, and a plurality of electrodes coupled to the flexible web for placement against a skin surface of the human patient, the method including the steps of:

positioning a first ear loop in the pair of ear loops about an ear of the human patient;

disposing the flexible web across the brow of the human patient; and

positioning a second ear loop in the pair of ear loops about an opposite ear of the human patient;

whereby the flexible member is retained against the brow by tension between the pair of ear loops; and

whereby the plurality of electrodes within said flexible web are disposed against a skin surface of the human patient.

16. The method of claim 15 further including the step of altering a position of at least one of said plurality of electrodes independent of the position of said flexible web against said brow.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of altering said position includes severing at least one break-away connector between at least one of said plurality of electrodes and said flexible web.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of position said first ear loop includes positioning an associated ear loop electrode against the patient'"'"'s skin in proximity to a mastoid bone;

and wherein said step of positioning said second ear loop includes positioning a second associated ear loop electrode against the patient'"'"'s skin in proximity to the mastoid bone opposite from the first ear loop electrode.