Headset for treatment and assessment of medical conditions
Inventors
Dar, Amit • Bar-Or, Jonathan • Cohen, Amir • BELSON, Ron
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9872979-B2
Publication Date
2018-01-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
A circumferential headset for use in delivering electrical stimulation to the skin surface of the head.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a circumferential, head-mounted stimulation headset having a monolithic frame adapted to fit around a head of a user and housing an electric circuit connectable to a power source. The headset includes at least one electrode base mechanically and at least semi-rigidly connected to the headset body and electrically associated with the electric circuit, where the electrode base receives at least one electrode pad and orients an electrical stimulation surface of the pad toward a skin surface during donning.
During donning, the headset urges the electrode base toward the skin surface such that the electrode pad makes physical and electrical contact. For various degrees of pressure applied by the headset body to the head of the user, the headset is adapted such that a circumferential position of the electrode base with respect to the frame is fixed in a specific predetermined position. The geometry of the electrode base includes a housing with a floor and a flexible circumferential member surrounding the floor, a flexible circumferential wall ending in a circumferential rim, so that pressure exerted generally perpendicular to the rim urges the rim against the skin surface to substantially fluidly seal between a cavity receiving the electrode pad and an ambient or external environment.
The electrode pad construction supports this contact and sealing by including a liquid-absorbent layer with a biocompatible contact surface juxtaposed against the skin surface, and an electrode backing or electrically conductive layer containing electrically conductive material or elements electrically connected with the liquid-absorbent layer when filled with liquid. The conductive layer is configured to transfer an electrical current from a broad second face distal to a broad first face through the liquid-absorbent layer to the biocompatible contact surface, and, in certain embodiments, the conductive layer includes a layer of electrically conductive paint and contains a carbon foil. The circumferential headset body further positions electrode bases on a front portion or a rear portion and includes a positioning system and/or size adjustment mechanisms to maintain predetermined placement despite pressure variations.
Claims Coverage
Independent claims clm-00001, clm-00010, clm-00018, clm-00028, clm-00030, and clm-00039 each define a circumferential headset with mechanically and at least semi-rigidly connected electrode bases that urge electrode pads into physical and electrical contact during donning while fixing the electrode base circumferential position under varying pressure. Across these claims, the inventive features are concentrated in circumferential monolithic frame and electrode-base contact mechanics/sealing and electrode pad conductive/liquid-absorbent structure for current transfer, with some claims further specifying front or rear electrode placement and conductive materials such as carbon foil or conductive paint.
Circumferential monolithic headset frame with electric circuit
A circumferential headset body having a monolithic frame adapted to circumferentially fit around the head of the user, where the body houses an electric circuit adapted to be connected to a power source.
Semi-rigid electrode base urged into physical and electrical contact during donning
At least one electrode base mechanically and at least semi-rigidly connected to said headset body, electrically associated with said electric circuit, and adapted to receive at least one electrode pad, where the headset body and said base orient an electrical stimulation surface of said pad toward the skin surface during donning and urge said electrode base toward the skin surface so that said electrode pad makes physical and electrical contact with the skin surface.
Fixed predetermined circumferential electrode-base position despite varying pressure
Said headset body and said electrode base are adapted such that for various degrees of pressure applied by said headset body to said head of said user, a circumferential position of said electrode base, with respect to said frame, is fixed in a specific predetermined position.
Electrode-base housing cavity with flexible circumferential rim for substantially fluidly sealing
An electrode base housing including a floor and a flexible circumferential member surrounding said floor with a flexible circumferential wall ending in a circumferential rim, where the floor and said flexible circumferential member form a cavity adapted to receive an electrically conductive electrode pad, and where said rim and said flexible circumferential wall are adapted such that pressure exerted generally perpendicular to said rim and toward a skin surface urges said rim against said skin surface to substantially fluidly seal between said cavity and an ambient or external environment.
Liquid-absorbent electrode pad with biocompatible conductive contact surface
At least one electrode pad including a liquid-absorbent layer having a biocompatible contact surface adapted to be juxtaposed against the skin surface and adapted to make current-carrying electrical contact when the liquid-absorbent layer is filled with liquid.
Electrically conductive current transfer layer coupled to liquid-absorbent layer via broad face(s)
An electrode backing or electrically conductive layer containing at least one electrically conductive material or element electrically connected with said liquid-absorbent layer, where the conductive layer is adapted to transfer an electrical current from a broad second face distal to said first face to said liquid-absorbent layer via said first face.
Conductive layer including electrically conductive paint
A conductive layer having a broad first face juxtaposed against, or attached to, said liquid-absorbent layer, containing at least one electrically conductive material or element and adapted to transfer an electrical current from a broad second face, distal to said first face, to said liquid-absorbent layer via said first face, wherein said electrically conductive layer includes a layer of electrically conductive paint.
Carbon foil in the electrode conductive layer
Said electrically conductive layer containing a carbon foil.
Front and/or rear electrode-base placement on distinct portions of the circumferential body
The circumferential headset body has a front section adapted to fit around a front portion of the head with at least one front electrode base disposed on said front portion; and/or the circumferential headset body has a rear section adapted to fit around a rear portion of the head with at least one rear electrode base disposed on said rear portion; wherein the headset orients and urges the electrode pad toward the skin surface during donning.
Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage is a circumferential headset with a monolithic frame and at least semi-rigid electrode bases that urge electrode pads into physical and electrical contact during donning while fixing the circumferential electrode-base position under varying applied pressure. The claims further cover an electrode pad architecture with a liquid-absorbent layer and biocompatible conductive contact surface, where an electrically conductive current-transfer layer transfers current via broad first/second faces. Additional covered variants include substantially fluidly sealing cavity/rim structures, placement of electrode bases on front or rear portions, and conductive structures including electrically conductive paint and carbon foil.
Stated Advantages
Substantially fluidly seal between the electrode pad cavity and an ambient or external environment.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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