Electric device for measuring EEG signal or electric stimulation
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Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10245425-B2
Publication Date
2019-04-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
Disclosed is an electronic device for measuring Electroencephalogram (EEG) signal or electronic stimulation, including at least: electrode modules that measures the EEG signal from a subject's head or apply current to the head; a control module that controls each of the electrode modules or applying current thereto; an EEG signal processing module that processes the EEG signal; an electric stimulation module that provides the electrode modules with a current for electric stimulation. The control module is further configured to: control each electrode module for measuring the EEG signal from the subject's head by controlling a switching module such that the each electrode module is connected with the EEG signal processing module; and control the each electrode module for applying current to the subject's head by controlling the switching module such that the each electrode module is connected with the electric stimulation module.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an electric device that measures an Electroencephalogram (EEG) signal from a subject's head and provides electric stimulation to the subject's head. A plurality of electrode units is configured to be attached to each different position of the head and includes a plurality of microelectrodes forming an electric array for detecting the EEG signal and supplying electric current to each different position. An electric stimulation unit supplies electric current for electric stimulation, while a switching unit and a controller coordinate which electrode units and which microelectrodes are selectively connected.
The controller controls the switching unit to receive EEG signals from connected electrode units and to simultaneously supply electric current from the electric stimulation unit through selected microelectrodes. The selection of at least one microelectrode is performed based on received EEG signals detected from a first plurality of microelectrodes included in a first electrode unit. In embodiments, the selection is based on comparing the received EEG signals to a standard EEG signal and/or based on signal strength, thereby enabling optimizing measuring position and optimizing stimulation position by choosing microelectrodes for simultaneous EEG reception and stimulation current supply.
The invention further includes database-based functionality for recognizing wearing position and estimating an attachment area from subject EEG data, providing adjustment guidance, and using stored detected position information to determine the position of a head area based on stored EEG data and newly detected EEG signals. Additional features described include optional filtering to block stimulation artifacts during EEG acquisition, computing a number of microelectrodes for stimulation area coverage, and estimating EEG signals for separated head areas not directly under electrodes. Embodiments also cover packaging/frame/band attachment configurations for the electrode modules.
The disclosed device architecture uses multiple electrode modules and a switching or multiplexer-like function to connect selected electrode modules or microelectrodes either to an EEG signal processing module or to an electric stimulation module, including the possibility of simultaneously. This supports fine adjustment of EEG measuring and stimulation positions by selecting microelectrodes according to EEG signal comparison to a standard and/or signal strength, while maintaining coordinated control over simultaneous EEG measurement and electric current delivery through the selected microelectrodes.
Claims Coverage
The document provides coverage for one independent claim that defines an electric device combining EEG measurement and electric stimulation using microelectrode arrays, with a switching unit and controller that selectively connect electrode units and microelectrodes, and simultaneously supply stimulation current through selected microelectrodes. The dependent claims refine microelectrode selection criteria and incorporate stored position-tagged EEG data into the controller’s determinations, resulting in multiple inventive features across the claim set.
Microelectrode arrays on multiple head-attachment positions
A plurality of electrode units configured to be attached to each different position of the head of the subject, configured to detect the EEG signal and supply electric current at each different position, wherein each electrode unit includes a plurality of microelectrodes forming an electric array.
Selective switching of electrode units and microelectrodes
A switching unit connected to the electric stimulation unit and the plurality of electrode units, configured to switch each of the plurality of electrode units and each of the plurality of microelectrodes to be selectively connected.
Simultaneous EEG reception and stimulation through selected microelectrodes
A controller connected to the switching unit, configured to control the switching unit to receive EEG signals through connected electrode unit among the plurality of electrode units and to, at the same time as receiving a first EEG signal, control the switching unit to supply electric current through a selected at least one microelectrode among the first plurality of microelectrodes.
Selecting microelectrodes by signal-strength comparison to a standard
The controller is configured to select at least one microelectrode from the first plurality of microelectrodes based on the received first plurality of EEG signals by comparing the EEG signals’ signal strength to a standard EEG signal.
Using stored position-tagged EEG data to determine head-area position
The device includes data storage connected to the controller that stores previously detected EEG data including detected position information, and the controller determines a position of a head area based on stored EEG data and newly detected EEG signals from microelectrodes in a first electrode unit attached to the head area.
Overall, the claims cover an EEG-and-stimulation electric device that uses microelectrode arrays on multiple head-attachment positions and a controller-driven switching unit to selectively connect electrode units and microelectrodes for simultaneous EEG reception and stimulation current delivery. Dependent refinements add microelectrode selection based on signal strength compared to a standard EEG signal and use stored detected EEG data with position information to determine head-area position.
Stated Advantages
Enables optimizing measuring position by selecting microelectrodes for EEG signal reception based on received EEG signals compared to a standard and/or signal strength.
Enables optimizing stimulation position by selecting microelectrodes for simultaneously supplying electric current while receiving EEG signals.
Supports simultaneous EEG measurement and electric current supply through selected microelectrodes.
Can block stimulation artifacts during EEG acquisition using optional filtering [not explicitly tied to a claim advantage in the provided text].
Can compute a number of microelectrodes for stimulation area coverage.
Can estimate EEG signals for separated head areas not directly under electrodes.
Can recognize wearing position and estimate attachment area using stored subject EEG data.
Can provide adjustment guidance based on determined wearing position/attachment area.
Documented Applications
Adjusting EEG measuring and stimulation positions by selecting microelectrodes based on EEG signal comparison to a standard and/or signal strength.
Using database-stored subject EEG data to recognize wearing position and estimate attachment area and provide adjustment guidance.
Estimating EEG signals for head areas separated from electrodes not directly under electrodes.
Providing stimulation area coverage by computing a number of microelectrodes.
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