System for electrical stimulation

Inventors

Wingeier, Brett • Shain, Ian • Davis, Colin • Hammett, Victoria • Bagley, Mardis • Bagley, Phnam

Assignees

Halo Abc LLC • Flow Neuroscience Inc

Abstract

In an embodiment, an electrical stimulation system can include one or more of an electrode assembly including one or more electrodes and an electronics subsystem. In some variations, each of the one or more electrodes can include a hydrophilic layer and a conductive layer. In some variations, the electronics subsystem can include one or more of a control module, power module, and a stimulus generator. In some variations, the electrical stimulation can further include one or more of an electrical attachment system, mechanical attachment system, head apparel assembly, flexible housing, and/or any other suitable component. The electrical stimulation system functions to apply electrical stimulation but can additionally or alternatively function to measure/and or record one or more biosignals from a user.

Core Innovation

The invention describes an electrical stimulation system for electrically stimulating a user using a pair of electrodes comprising a first electrode and a second electrode. The electrodes are retained in position and separated from each other by a compliant base that is configured to flex about an inferior-superior axis and conform to a curvature of a forehead region during use of the system.

The relative positioning between the electrodes is defined by a set of arrangements that includes an angle between electrode axes and a horizontal spacing between electrode centers. The angle is defined between a first axis perpendicular to an inner broad surface of the first electrode and a second axis perpendicular to an inner broad surface of the second electrode, with a value between 36.5 and 116.5 degrees, and the horizontal spacing between center points of the inner broad surfaces has a value between 54 and 104 millimeters.

The invention further includes an electronics subsystem for delivering stimulation to the user, together with an electronic coupling assembly arranged at least partially through the compliant base. The housing defines an internal volume and the electronics subsystem is arranged within the internal volume, while the electronic coupling assembly couples the set of electrodes to the electronics subsystem.

The electrodes include a conductive polymer substrate in contact with a hydrophilic pad, and the system uses sealing structures to prevent fluid ingress. A head apparel assembly supports mounting of the electrode arrangement to accommodate anatomical variation while maintaining wearability via the compliant, forehead-conforming base.

Claims Coverage

This document contains two independent claims, both centered on an electrically stimulating system with a compliant forehead-conforming electrode base and a defined electrode geometry. Across the independent claims, the coverage includes the electrode-conforming compliant base, quantitative relative electrode positioning, electrode structure using conductive polymer substrate and hydrophilic pad, and electronics/electronic coupling through the compliant base via a housing with an internal volume.

The claim coverage is focused on a compliant base that flexes to conform to a forehead curvature while positioning a pair of electrodes according to defined angle and spacing ranges, together with an electronics subsystem and an electronic coupling assembly that couples the electrodes to the electronics subsystem through or at least partially through the compliant base. The electrode construction further specifies conductive polymer substrate in contact with a hydrophilic pad.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications