Sensor, system, and holder arrangement for biosignal activity measurement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10376175-B2
Application number	US-201615382381-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2016
Priority date	Dec 22, 2015
Publication date	Aug 13, 2019
Grant date	Aug 13, 2019

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a sensor, a system, and a holder arrangement for biosignal activity measurement. One example embodiment includes a sensor module for brain activity measurement. The sensor module includes a main electrode base. The sensor module also includes a plurality of pins protruding from the main electrode base. The plurality of pins is arranged such that, when applied on a subject, the pins make contact with skin of the subject or are in close proximity with the skin of the subject. The main electrode base comprises electronic circuitry for near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurements and electronic circuitry for electroencephalography (EEG) measurements, both connected to the plurality of pins. The plurality of pins includes electrically conductive pins. The plurality of pins also includes at least one source waveguide pin configured for light emitting purposes or at least one detector waveguide pin configured for light detection purposes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensor module for brain activity measurement, comprising:
a main electrode base; and
a plurality of pins protruding from the main electrode base,
wherein the plurality of pins is arranged such that, when applied on a subject, each pin of the plurality respectively makes contact with skin of the subject or is in close proximity with the skin of the subject,
wherein the main electrode base comprises electronic circuitry for near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurements and electronic circuitry for electroencephalography (EEG) measurements,
wherein the electronic circuitry for NIRS measurements and the electronic circuitry for EEG measurements are connected to the plurality of pins,
wherein the plurality of pins comprises pins that are respectively configured to conduct both light and electricity,
wherein the pins configured to conduct both light and electricity each respectively include (i) an outer, electrically conductive layer and (ii) an inner waveguide core, and
wherein the pins configured to conduct both light and electricity are configurable for NIRS measurements or EEG measurements.

2. The sensor module according to claim 1 , wherein the inner waveguide core comprises a transparent silicone.

3. The sensor module according to claim 1 , wherein the outer, electrically conductive layer is a conductive mesh.

4. The sensor module according to claim 3 , wherein the conductive mesh comprises a woven fabric, and wherein the woven fabric comprises a plurality of conductive wires or fibers designed to be flexible and ensure conductivity of the pins configured to conduct both light and electricity.

5. The sensor module according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor module is a component of a holder arrangement configured for being applied on a head of the subject.

6. The sensor module according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor module is one of a plurality of sensor modules for brain activity measurement within a system.

7. The sensor module according to claim 6 , wherein the system comprises a control module configured for controlling activity or receiving measurements from the plurality of sensor modules.

8. A sensor module for biosignal activity measurement, comprising:
a main electrode base; and
a plurality of pins protruding from the main electrode base,
wherein the plurality of pins is arranged such that, when applied on a subject, each pin of the plurality respectively makes contact with skin of the subject or is in close proximity with the skin of the subject,
wherein the main electrode base comprises electronic circuitry for biosignal measurement,
wherein the electronic circuitry is connected to the plurality of pins,
wherein the plurality of pins comprises pins that are respectively configured to conduct both light and electricity, and
wherein the pins configured to conduct both light and electricity each respectively include (i) an outer, electrically conductive layer and (ii) an inner waveguide core.

9. The sensor module according to claim 8 , wherein the inner waveguide core comprises a transparent silicone.

10. The sensor module according to claim 8 , wherein the outer, electrically conductive layer is a conductive mesh.

11. The sensor module according to claim 10 , wherein the conductive mesh comprises a woven fabric, and wherein the woven fabric comprises a plurality of conductive wires or fibers designed to be flexible and ensure conductivity of the pins configured to conduct both light and electricity.

12. The sensor module according to claim 8 , wherein the sensor module is a component of a holder arrangement configured for being applied on a head of the subject.

Assignees

• Imec Vzw
• Stichting Imec Nederland

Inventors

• Mitra Srinjoy
• Grundlehner Bernard

Classifications

• A61B2562/16

  Details of sensor housings or probes; Details of structural supports for sensors (A61B2560/0462 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B5/0075 Primary

  by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy (A61B5/0071 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B5/0082

  adapted for particular medical purposes · CPC title

• A61B5/0478 Primary

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61B5/6814

  Head · CPC title