PORTABLE EEG MONITOR SYSTEM WITH WIRELESS COMMUNICATION

• US 20120302858A1
• Filed: 07/25/2012
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2010
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: T&W Engineering A/S (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Widex A/S (WS Audiology A/S)
• Inventors: KIDMOSE, Preben, WESTERMANN, Soren Erik
• Application Number:
  US13/558,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20120302858A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/379
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 Ear lobe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system for remote surveillance of an EEG signal of a person susceptible of having a hypoglycemic seizure comprises an EEG sensor part with electrodes for measuring one or more EEG signals from the person, and a processing unit adapted to be arranged at the ear of said person. EEG signal processing means is adapted for analyzing the EEG signal, for identifying or predicting a hypoglycemic seizure in the person. The system comprises a first connection between the EEG sensor part and the processing unit, adapted for transmitting an EEG signal from the implantable EEG sensor to the processing unit. The system comprises an external part adapted to receive wirelessly an alarm from the processing part, where the external part is adapted to forward an alarm to a care-giver. The invention further provides a method of EEG surveillance.

Claims

1. A system for remote surveillance of an EEG signal of a diabetic person, said system comprising

an EEG sensor part having electrodes for measuring one or more EEG signals from said person,

a processing unit adapted to be arranged at the ear of said person, having EEG signal processing means for providing an analyzed EEG signal, said signal processing means being adapted for, based on the EEG signal, identifying or predicting a hypoglycemic seizure in said person, said processing part comprising decision means for deciding, based on said analyzed EEG signal, when an alarm or information must be provided,

a first connection between the EEG sensor part and the processing unit, adapted for transmitting an EEG signal from the EEG sensor part to the processing unit,

an external part adapted to receive wirelessly an alarm from said processing part, said external part being adapted to forward an alarm to a care-giver, and

a second connection between the processing unit and the external part, said second connection being wireless.

2. The system according to claim 1, comprising alarm means for providing said person with an alarm.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said EEG sensor part is adapted for implantation in the head, preferably subcutaneous implantation.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first connection is wireless, said EEG sensor part comprises a first coil, and said processing unit comprises a second coil, wherein said first wireless connection comprises an inductive coupling between said first and said second coils adapted for transferring power from the processing unit to the implantable EEG sensor part.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said external part is adapted for sending an alarm or information to a remote part.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said remote part is a mobile phone, and said alarm or information is sent over the standard mobile phone network.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein said remote part is set up to send instructions to said external part or to said processing unit.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said external part is provided with at least one further function selected from the group:

remote control, data logger, streaming of data to the processing unit, and terminal for entering information about the handling of an alarm.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second wireless connection between the processing unit and the external part is based on an inductive link.

10. A method of EEG surveillance for providing an alarm in the event of a risk of an imminent hypoglycemic seizure in a person, said method comprising the steps of

measuring EEG signals of said person by an EEG sensor part, said EEG sensor having electrodes for measuring one or more EEG signals,

transmitting the measured EEG signal from the EEG sensor part to a processing unit through a first connection between the EEG sensor part and the processing unit,

processing the EEG signal in said processing unit having EEG signal processing means for providing an analyzed EEG signal, said signal processing means being adapted for, based on the EEG signal, identifying or predicting a hypoglycemic seizure in said person, said processing unit comprising decision means for deciding, based on said analyzed EEG signal, when an alarm must be provided, and

transmitting an alarm from said processing unit to an external part through a second connection established wirelessly between the processing unit and the external part.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said first connection being wireless and said EEG sensor part has been implanted subcutaneous on the head of the person.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said first connection is wireless and said EEG sensor part comprises a first coil and said processing unit comprises a second coil, wherein said first wireless connection comprises an inductive coupling between said first and said second coils adapted for transferring power from the processing unit to the implantable EEG sensor part.

13. The method according to claim 10 comprising the step of the external part transmitting an alarm to a remote part.