EEG electrode headset

• US 7,551,952 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2005
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SAM Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SAM Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Sandoval, Art, Gevins, Alan, Howard, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen; Lee S
• Application Number:
  US11/259,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20070093706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 600/383
• US Class Current: 600/383
• 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

Abstract

An improved electrode headset is provided for the acquisition of electroencephalographic (EEG) brain signals detected at the scalp of a human subject. The headset includes an elastic fabric cap having a chinstrap, which cap is fitted closely to the scalp. The cap has openings at those selected locations on the scalp to which removable and disposable electrodes are to be removably connected to the scalp. A positioning unit, of a generally flat and flexible plastic material, is attachable to the cap by corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners on the outer surface of the cap and the inner surface of the positioning unit. The positioning unit has a base portion and two opposite leg portions, each with slits. Flat beams are adjustably connected through the slits to the leg portions and base portion. Each beam carries a screw member which adjustably applies pressure to electrode holders and a flexible electrode extractor strap to which the electrode holder is attached. Each electrode holder is snap fastened to an electrode positioned within a cap opening.

Claims

1. An electrode headset adapted to fit on the head of a human subject and to carry a plurality of electrodes which removably contacts the scalp of the subject, the headset comprising:

A. a cap adapted to fit closely over the scalp, the cap having an inner and an outer surface, a plurality of openings in the cap, each opening being located directly above a selected area of the scalp to which an electrode is adapted to be removably contacted, a plurality of fastening members on the outer surface of the cap;

B. a positioning unit adapted to adjustably apply pressure to the electrodes in order to provide their good electrical contact with the scalp, the positioning unit having a body portion and beams both composed of a flexible material, the beams being adjustably attached to the body portion, the body portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, a plurality of fastening members on said body portion inner surface which are adapted to be removably joined to corresponding fastening members on the outer surface of the cap;

C. a plurality of pressure adjusting members, each adjusting member being mounted on one of said beams; and

D. a plurality of electrode holders, each electrode holder being mounted on one of said beams and to be positioned within one of said cap openings, wherein each adjusting member is in contact with an electrode holder to adjust said holder in relationship to the scalp to vary the pressure of the electrode to the scalp.

2. An electrode headset as in claim 1 wherein the cap is of an elastic fabric.

3. An electrode headset as in claim 2 and including a chinstrap connected to the cap, the chinstrap being adjustable to attach the cap closely to the scalp.

4. An electrode headset as in claim 1 wherein the fastening members are fabric hook-and-loop fasteners.

5. An electrode headset as in claim 1 wherein the body portion is flat and has a base portion and at least first and second leg portions;

the headset including a flat central beam adjustably attached to said base portion, at least two flat front beams adjustably attached to the first leg portion, and at least two flat rear beams adjustably attached to the second leg portion.

6. An electrode headset as in claim 5 comprising three beams adjustably attached to the first leg portion and three beams adjustably attached to the second leg portion.

7. An electrode headset as in claim 5 wherein the leg portions and base portion have slits therein and wherein the beams are adjustably attached within said slits.

8. An electrode headset as in claim 1 wherein each electrode holder is attached to a flexible electrode extractor strap, which strap is connected to a beam.

9. An electrode headset as in claim 1 wherein each adjusting member comprises an adjusting screw, having a shaft with a turnable head thereon, and a screw-threaded hole within which the shaft rotates;

and the shaft has an end portion which applies pressure to an electrode holder, which pressure is adjustable by rotation of the head.

10. An electrode headset as in claim 1 wherein each electrode holder comprises a metal snap fastener member.

11. An electrode headset as in claim 1 and a wire electrode lead connected to each electrode holder.

12. An electrode headset as in claim 11 and a flat cable composed of a plurality of said wire electrode leads in contact with each other.

13. An electrode headset adapted to fit on the head of a human subject and to carry a plurality of electrodes which contact the scalp of the subject, the headset comprising:

A. a plurality of electrodes adapted to removably contact said scalp;

B. a cap adapted to fit closely over the scalp, the cap having an inner and an outer surface, a plurality of openings in the cap, each opening being located directly above a selected area of the scalp to which one of said electrodes is adapted to be removably contacted, a plurality of fastening members on the outer surface of the cap;

C. a positioning unit adapted to adjustably apply pressure to the electrodes in order to provide their good electrical contact with the scalp, the positioning unit having a body portion and beams both composed of a flexible material, the beams being adjustably attached to the body portion, the body portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, a plurality of fastening members on said body portion inner surface which are adapted to be removably joined to corresponding fastening members on the outer surface of the cap;

D. a plurality of pressure adjusting members, each adjusting member being mounted on one of said beams; and

E. a plurality of electrode holders, each electrode holder holding at least one of said electrodes and being mounted on one of said beams and within one of said cap openings, wherein each adjusting member is in contact with an electrode holder to adjust said holder in relationship to the scalp.

14. An electrode headset as in claim 13 wherein the cap is of an elastic fabric.

15. An electrode headset as in claim 14 and including a chinstrap connected to the cap, the chinstrap being adjustable to attach the cap closely to the scalp.

16. An electrode headset as in claim 13 wherein the fastening members are fabric hook-and-loop fasteners.

17. An electrode headset as in claim 13 wherein the body portion is flat and has a base portion and at least first and second leg portions;

the headset including a flat central beam adjustably attached to said base portion, at least two flat front beams adjustably attached to the first leg portion, and at least two flat rear beams adjustably attached to the second leg portion.

18. An electrode headset as in claim 17 comprising three beams adjustably attached to the first leg portion and three beams adjustably attached to the second leg portion.

19. An electrode headset as in claim 17 wherein the leg portions and base portion have slits therein and wherein the beams are adjustably attached within said slits.

20. An electrode headset as in claim 13 wherein each electrode holder is attached to a flexible strap, which strap is connected to a beam.

21. An electrode headset as in claim 13 wherein each adjusting member comprises an adjusting screw, having a shaft with a turnable head thereon, and a screw-threaded hole within which the shaft rotates;

and the shaft has an end portion which applies pressure to an electrode holder, which pressure is adjustable by rotation of the turnable head.

22. An electrode headset as in claim 13 wherein each electrode holder comprises a metal snap fastener member.

23. An electrode headset as in claim 13 and a wire electrode lead connected to each electrode holder.

24. An electrode headset as in claim 23 and a flat cable composed of leads in contact with other leads.