Systems and methods for electroencephalogram monitoring
Inventors
Frankel, Mitchell A. • Lingstuyl, Robert • Elwood, Michael K.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12070318-B2
Publication Date
2024-08-27
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
The invention provides a system and associated executable instructions for synchronized monitoring of brain activity using a plurality of wearable sensors that detect electroencephalogram (EEG) signals indicative of a brain activity of a user. Each wearable sensor includes at least two electrodes and electronic circuitry configured to process the monitored EEG signals and wirelessly transmit processed EEG signals to a computing device. Recorded EEG signals from different wearable sensors are synchronized through common time stamping.
A clock-information message is wirelessly transmitted to the plurality of wearable sensors, and the electronic circuitry of each wearable sensor sets its internal clock value in response to receiving the message. The internal clock value is set without communicating with any other wearable sensor, and it is used for time stamping recorded EEG signals indicative of the brain activity of the user. The recorded EEG signals determined by each wearable sensor are temporally correlated with the recorded EEG signals determined by the other wearable sensors.
The invention further includes checking and verification operations to ensure synchronization consistency. The system polls the wearable sensors for their internal clock values and repeats wireless transmission of the clock-information message when an internal clock value differs from an expected internal clock value satisfying a threshold. The processed EEG signals received from each wearable sensor are verified to be temporally correlated with the processed EEG signals determined by the other wearable sensors before being transmitted to a remote computing device.
Claims Coverage
The document contains four independent claims focused on synchronizing monitoring of brain activity across a plurality of wireless, multi-electrode EEG sensors by distributing clock information, time stamping recorded EEG signals, verifying temporal correlation, and repeating clock synchronization based on internal clock deviation thresholds. Across these independent claims, the core inventive features are the clock-information message dissemination without sensor-to-sensor communication, internal clock value setting for time stamping, temporal correlation verification of EEG outputs, and threshold-based repeat wireless transmission and polling behavior.
Clock-information message to synchronize internal clocks
Wirelessly transmit a message including clock information to a plurality of wearable sensors and cause each wearable sensor, in response to receiving the message, to set its internal clock value to the clock information so the internal clock value substantially matches internal clock values of the other wearable sensors, with the internal clock value being used for time stamping recorded EEG signals indicative of the brain activity of the user, wherein recorded EEG signals determined by each wearable sensor are temporally correlated with recorded EEG signals determined by the other wearable sensors.
Set internal clock value without sensor-to-sensor communication
Cause the electronic circuitry of each wearable sensor to set its internal clock value in response to receiving the clock-information message without communicating with any other wearable sensor of the plurality of wearable sensors.
Repeat wireless transmission when internal clock differs from expected value
Check or poll the plurality of wearable sensors for their internal clock values; and in response to a detection that an internal clock value of at least one first wearable sensor is different from an expected first internal clock value associated with the clock information, repeat wireless transmission of the message to cause the electronic circuitry of the at least one first wearable sensor to set the internal clock value so that the internal clock value substantially matches internal clock values of the other wearable sensors.
Verify temporal correlation of received processed EEG signals
Wirelessly receive the processed EEG signals from the plurality of wearable sensors and verify that the processed EEG signals received from each wearable sensor are temporally correlated with the processed EEG signals determined by the other wearable sensors.
Threshold-based repeat after verifying or polling
Responsive to not verifying, repeat wireless transmission of the message to cause the electronic circuitry of at least one first wearable sensor whose internal clock value is different from an expected first internal clock value associated with the clock information to set the internal clock value so that the internal clock value substantially matches internal clock values of the other wearable sensors; and/or polling for internal clock values and repeating wireless transmission responsive to detecting that a difference between the internal clock value of at least one wearable sensor and an expected internal clock value satisfies a threshold.
Transmit processed EEG signals to a remote computing device only after verification
Responsive to verifying, transmit the processed EEG signals received from the plurality of wearable sensors to a remote computing device.
Across the independent claims, synchronized monitoring is achieved by wirelessly transmitting clock information so each wearable sensor sets its internal clock without communicating with other sensors, using the internal clock for time stamping so EEG signals across sensors are temporally correlated, and using verification and polling with threshold-based repeat wireless transmission to maintain synchronization.
Stated Advantages
Enables synchronized monitoring of brain activity by temporally correlating recorded EEG signals determined by different wearable sensors through internal clock value setting and time stamping.
Allows verification of processed EEG signals based on temporal correlation before transmitting the processed EEG signals to a remote computing device.
Improves synchronization reliability by repeating wireless transmission of the clock-information message when internal clock values differ from expected internal clock values satisfying a threshold.
Documented Applications
Synchronized monitoring of brain activity using a plurality of wearable EEG sensors with wireless clock synchronization, temporal-correlation verification, and remote transmission of processed EEG signals.
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