Systems and methods for electroencephalogram monitoring
Inventors
Frankel, Mitchell A. • Lingstuyl, Robert • Elwood, Michael K.
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11918368-B1
Publication Date
2024-03-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
Provided herein are systems, kits, and methods for monitoring brain activity. In some implementations, a system includes a plurality of wearable sensors having a housing with an extended, rounded shape are removably attached to the scalp of a patient and monitor electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. Approaches for instructing a user to position and active that wearable sensors are disclosed. Approaches for facilitating collection, synchronization, and processing of EEG signals are disclosed. Approaches for handing off control of the wearable sensors between portable computing devices are disclosed.
Core Innovation
A system and method are provided for monitoring brain activity using a plurality of wearable sensors that detect electroencephalogram (EEG) signals indicative of brain activity of a user. Each wearable sensor includes at least two electrodes positioned on a scalp and electronic circuitry configured to process the EEG signals monitored by the at least two electrodes. A non-transitory computer readable medium stores executable instructions for use by at least one processor of a portable computing device to guide sensor placement and activation across a plurality of locations on the scalp.
The portable computing device provides instructions to position a wearable sensor in a location on the scalp and activate the wearable sensor. The instructions include verifying an identification of the wearable sensor and, responsive to identification verification, verifying an impedance of the wearable sensor. Responsive to impedance verification, the portable computing device provides instructions to position and activate another wearable sensor and perform verification of an identification and an impedance of the another wearable sensor, thereby progressing through the plurality of locations on the scalp.
In the disclosed dependent embodiments, the workflow includes repeating identification and impedance verification when the impedance does not satisfy an impedance threshold, and providing alerts in response to detecting at least two wearable sensors have been activated for positioning at a particular location on the scalp. The portable computing device is further described as recording processed EEG signals that are wirelessly transmitted by the wearable sensors after the verification of identification and impedance for each wearable sensor.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims that cover a system and a method for monitoring brain activity using multiple wearable multi-electrode EEG sensors and portable computing device instructions. Across the independent claims, there are four main inventive features: sensor placement and activation instructions, per-sensor identification verification, per-sensor impedance verification with conditional progression, and sequential movement to another sensor to repeat identification and impedance verification.
Portable computing device guided sensor placement and activation
The non-transitory computer readable medium storing executable instructions causes the portable computing device to provide instructions to position a wearable sensor of the plurality of wearable sensors in a location of a plurality of locations on the scalp of the user and activate the wearable sensor; and, responsive to verification of impedance, provide instructions to position and activate another wearable sensor of the plurality of wearable sensors.
Identification verification of each wearable sensor
The executable instructions cause the portable computing device to verify an identification of the wearable sensor, prior to verifying impedance and prior to proceeding to another wearable sensor.
Impedance verification and conditional progression
Responsive to verification of the identification of the wearable sensor, the portable computing device verifies an impedance of the wearable sensor; and responsive to verification of the impedance, provides instructions to position and activate another wearable sensor and perform verification of an identification and an impedance of the another wearable sensor.
Sequential identification and impedance verification across sensors
The system and method are configured to sequentially perform verification of an identification and verification of an impedance for the wearable sensor, then perform identification verification and impedance verification for the another wearable sensor after impedance verification is completed for the wearable sensor.
Both independent claims require portable-computing-device instructions to guide placement and activation of multiple wearable EEG sensors on scalp locations, to verify each sensor’s identification, to verify each sensor’s impedance, and to proceed to another wearable sensor where identification and impedance verification are repeated.
Stated Advantages
Enables monitored brain activity by guiding placement and activation of wearable EEG sensors across multiple scalp locations.
Improves monitoring reliability by verifying an identification and an impedance of each wearable sensor before proceeding to another wearable sensor.
Supports alerting when at least two wearable sensors have been activated for positioning at a particular scalp location.
Allows processing and recording of processed EEG signals wirelessly transmitted by the wearable sensors after verification.
Documented Applications
Monitoring brain activity by detecting electroencephalogram (EEG) signals indicative of a brain activity of a user using a plurality of wearable sensors on a scalp.
Interested in licensing this patent?