Electrode system for electrical stimulation
Inventors
Wingeier, Brett • Bar-Or, Tal • Davis, Colin • Hammett, Victoria • Lin, Randall
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12434055-B2
Publication Date
2025-10-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for electrically stimulating a user comprising: a first housing portion defining an array of openings; an array of permeable bodies with portions exposed through the array of openings and wetted with a solution that facilitates electrical coupling between the system and a body region of the user, wherein each permeable body has a cavity at a proximal portion and a distal portion and is configured to transmit the solution to the body region of the user; a substrate region defining an array of protrusions configured to support the array of permeable bodies and composed of a conductive polymer; and a set of conductors in communication with the substrate region and including a first conductor that provides a first subset of the array of permeable bodies with a first polarity and a second conductor that provides a second subset of the array of permeable bodies with a second polarity.
Core Innovation
A system for delivering transcranial brain stimulation includes a set of electrodes supported by a housing configured to conform to a head of the user and to support the set of electrodes in one of a plurality of arrangements. A second housing is removably coupleable to the first housing and is configured to be worn on the head of the user to support the first housing relative to the head of the user such that each electrode contacts a predetermined region of the head of the user. Removably coupleable conductive connectors electrically connect the electrodes to an electronics subsystem that provides current for delivering transcranial brain stimulation to the user via the set of electrodes.
The housing includes first and second portions configured to be coupled to seal at least a portion of the set of conductive connectors within an inner volume, and in some configurations the second housing defines an inner volume configured to house an electronics subsystem. Electrode-conductive construction and electrode contact structures include a conductive polymer portion and a hydrophilic material in contact with the conductive polymer portion, and the hydrophilic material includes at least one selected from foam material, hydrogel material, fabric material, and sponge material.
In wearable configurations, the housing is configured to be worn on and conform to a curvature of a head of the user, and at least one of the housing and the distal portions of each electrode define a concave surface complementary to a curvature of the head of the user. The set of electrodes is supported in one of a plurality of arrangements to contact predetermined regions of the head when the housing is worn.
Claims Coverage
Independent claims include clm-00001, clm-00014, and clm-00022, each covering an electrode-and-housing transcranial brain stimulation system that positions electrodes on predetermined head regions and uses removably coupled conductive connectors to connect an electronics subsystem that provides stimulation current. The independent claims share a core architecture of electrodes, removably coupled housings for positioning, and an electronics subsystem electrically connected via conductive connectors, with additional claim-specific packaging and electrode-contact features.
Head-conforming electrode housing with removably coupled wearable positioning housing
A first housing configured to conform to a head of the user and support the set of electrodes in one of a plurality of arrangements, and a second housing removably coupleable to the first housing and configured to be worn on the head of the user to support the first housing relative the head of the user such that each electrode contacts a predetermined region of the head of the user.
Removably coupled conductive connectors electrically connecting electrodes to stimulation electronics
A set of conductive connectors removably coupleable to the set of electrodes, with the electronics subsystem configured to be electrically connected to the set of electrodes via the set of conductive connectors and to provide current for delivering transcranial brain stimulation to the user via the set of electrodes.
Wearable conforming housing with sealed conductive connector inner volume
A housing configured to be worn on and conform to a curvature of a head of the user and to support the set of electrodes in one of a plurality of arrangements such that each electrode contacts a predetermined region of the head of the user, where the housing including a first portion and a second portion is configured to be coupled to seal at least a portion of the set of conductive connectors within an inner volume.
Electronics subsystem disposed in housing inner volume and removably coupled to electrodes
A second housing defining an inner volume configured to house an electronics subsystem, where the electronics subsystem removably coupled to the set of electrodes when the second housing is removably coupled to the first housing and provides current for delivering transcranial brain stimulation to the user when the first housing and the second housing are worn on the head of the user.
Hydrophilic electrode interface with conductive polymer portion
Each set of electrodes characterized by a conductive polymer portion and a hydrophilic material in contact with the conductive polymer portion.
Concave surfaces complementary to head curvature
At least one of the housing and the distal portions of each electrode define a concave surface that is complementary to a curvature of the head of the user.
Across the independent claims, the main inventive features are a head-conforming electrode housing combined with a removably coupleable wearable housing for positioning electrodes on predetermined head regions, removable conductive connectors that electrically connect the electrodes to an electronics subsystem that provides current for transcranial brain stimulation, sealed connector packaging within an inner volume, and electrode contact structures including hydrophilic material in contact with a conductive polymer portion, with concave surfaces complementary to head curvature.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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