Electrode kit for easy and fast deployment in electroencephalogram acquisition and monitoring applications

Inventors

Bibian, Stéphane • Zikov, Tatjana

Assignees

Neurowave Systems Inc

Abstract

Electrodes for use in electroencephalographic recording, including consciousness and seizure monitoring applications, have novel features that speed, facilitate or enforce proper placement of the electrodes, including any of alignment indicators, tabs and juts, color coding, and an insulating bridge between reference and ground electrodes which ensures a safe application distance between the conductive regions of the two electrodes in the event of cardiac defibrillation. A method of using a set of at least four such electrodes is also disclosed.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a set of electroencephalographic monitoring electrodes for a patient, including at least four electrodes: a first electrode for the patient’s right temple, a second electrode for the patient’s left temple, a reference electrode, and a ground electrode. Each electrode includes a front, a back, and bottom, top, left, and right sides, and each electrode back has a conductive region surrounded by an insulating region. The fronts of the electrodes are visually distinct from the fronts of the other electrodes.

The right temple electrode, left temple electrode, and reference electrode each include on their fronts one or more alignment indicators that visually aid in the proper placement of each of those electrodes by visually indicating electrode placement position and direction. The electrode fronts can be visually distinct by at least any two of pictorial pattern, color, shape, visible texture, reflectivity, or specularity, and the alignment indicators can include pictorial or textual content.

In a further aspect, an electrode has a foam insulating region surrounding a conductive region on the electrode back and a colored label on the electrode front. The label is an unregistered label having numerous alignment indicators spaced periodically or randomly across the surface of the label, with all alignment indicators pointing in substantially the same direction to provide a visual cue as to placement and orientation. A conjoined reference electrode and ground electrode can include a continuous mutual insulating region that maintains a minimum planar separation of the conductive regions to help prevent electrical conduction during cardiac defibrillation.

Claims Coverage

The partial content provides three independent claims. Across these claims, the main inventive features center on visually distinct electrode fronts, placement and orientation alignment indicators, conductive electrode regions surrounded by insulating regions, and a conjoined reference electrode and ground electrode with a continuous mutual insulating region that maintains minimum planar separation to help prevent electrical conduction during cardiac defibrillation.

Across the independent claims, the document covers EEG electrodes that distinguish electrodes visually at the front and use alignment indicators to provide visual cues of placement position and direction, including label-based alignment indicators pointing in a substantially same direction. The independent claims also require conductive electrode regions surrounded by insulating regions, including foam insulating regions, as part of the electrode construction.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications