Concept and associated device enabling multi-camera video and audio recording for synchronization with long term ambulatory electroencephalography (EEG) in the home, office, or hospital environment

• US 8,214,453 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Natus Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steven Charles Estes
• Inventors: Estes, Steven Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thu
• Assistant Examiner(s): WIDHALM, ANGELA M
• Application Number:
  US12/048,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20080226255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

The concept and associated device enabling multi-camera video & audio recording for synchronization with long term ambulatory electroencephalography allows for multiple cameras and microphones to be used in a home setting monitoring from various locations in the home for long term ambulatory EEG monitoring. No longer is Video EEG monitoring with multiple cameras and microphones limited to a cabled hospital type setting. This device could also be utilized by hospitals to conduct video monitoring from any hospital type room.

Claims

1. A device for enabling multi-camera video and audio recording for synchronization with long term ambulatory electroencephalography comprising:

a first video camera which records local audio and local video in the local space when a subject is disposed in the local space, said first video camera having an analog audio output and an analog video output providing local analog audio signals and local analog video signals, respectively;

a second video camera which records remote audio and video in the remote space when the subject is disposed in the remote space, said second video camera having a digital audio output providing remote digital audio signals and a digital video output providing remote digital video signals;

a video decoder connected which receives said remote digital audio signals and said remote digital video signals and in response thereto emitting remote analog video signals and remote analog audio signals;

a mixer which receives said remote analog video signals from said video decoder and said local analog video signals from said first video camera and emitting combined analog video signals in response thereto; and

a video grabber which receives said combined analog video signals, said remote audio signals, and said local audio signals and outputs digital signals in response thereto into EEG equipment, the digital signals to be temporally correlated with recorded EEG data; and

an enclosure containing the video decoder, the mixer, and the video grabber.

2. The device for enabling multi-camera video and audio recording for synchronization with long term ambulatory electroencephalography (EEG) in the home, office, or hospital environment of claim 1, wherein the device for video EEG uses the resident home power lines for networking said first and second cameras, and further comprises:

a first power line adapter and a second power line adapter, said first power line adapter connected to an electrical outlet in the local space and said second power line adapter connected to another electrical outlet in the remote space, said second power line adapter connected to the second video camera, wherein said remote digital audio signals and said remote digital video signals from said digital audio output and said digital video output are transmitted from said second power line adapter to said first power line adapter via a network connecting the first and second power line adapters.

3. The device for enabling multi-camera video and audio recording for synchronization with long term ambulatory electroencephalography (EEG) in the home, office, or hospital environment of claim 1, wherein the device mixes both local and remote audio and video signals for use by an EEG recording instrument.

4. The device for enabling multi-camera video and audio recording for synchronization with long term ambulatory electroencephalography (EEG) in the home, office, or hospital environment of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is completely custom for ease of use by technologists.

5. The device for enabling multi-camera video and audio recording for synchronization with long term ambulatory electroencephalography (EEG) in the home, office, or hospital environment of claim 1, wherein all functional parts including at least the video decoder, the mixer, and the video grabber are housed within the enclosure.

6. The device for enabling multi-camera video and audio recording for synchronization with long term ambulatory electroencephalography (EEG) in the home, office, or hospital environment of claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes a USB powered cooling capacity.

7. The device for enabling multi-camera video and audio recording for synchronization with long term ambulatory electroencephalography (EEG) in the home, office, or hospital environment of claim 1, wherein the device mixes the analog video and audio signals from the first camera and the analog video and audio signals from the video decoder and outputs the mixed audio and video signals into a digital format.

8. An apparatus for simultaneously recording video and audio in a local space and a remote space for synchronization with a long term ambulatory electroencephalography (EEG), the apparatus comprising:

a first video camera which records local audio and local video in the local space when a subject is disposed in the local space, said first video camera having an analog audio output and an analog video output providing local analog audio signals and local analog video signals, respectively;

a second video camera which records remote audio and video in the remote space when the subject is disposed in the remote space, said second video camera having a digital audio output providing remote digital audio signals and a digital video output providing remote digital video signals;

a first power line adapter and a second power line adapter, said first power line adapter connected to an electrical outlet in the local space and said second power line adapter connected to another electrical outlet in the remote space, said second power line adapter connected to the second video camera, wherein said remote digital audio signals and said remote digital video signals from said digital audio output and said digital video output are transmitted from said second power line adapter to said first power line adapter via power lines that are connecting the two outlets to which the first and second power line adapters are connected;

a video decoder connected to said first power line adapter, such that said remote digital audio signals and said remote digital video signals and in response thereto remote analog video signals and remote analog audio signals are output from said video decoder;

a mixer which receives said remote analog video signals from said video decoder and said local analog video signals from said first video camera and emitting combined analog video signals in response thereto; and

a video grabber which receives said combined analog video signals, said remote audio signals, and said local audio signals and outputs digital signals in response thereto into EEG equipment, the digital signals to be temporally correlated with recorded EEG data; and

an enclosure containing the video decoder, the mixer, and the video grabber.