Force-controlled electroencephalogram monitoring device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023190196-A1
Application number	US-202117555311-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 17, 2021
Priority date	Dec 17, 2021
Publication date	Jun 22, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A force-controlled electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring device maintains a constant pressure between electrodes and the scalp of a user thereby increasing user comfort. Arms on the EEG monitoring device position the electrodes in contact with specific regions on the head of the user. The dimension, shape, and curvature of the arms affect the amount of force with which an electrode is held in contact with the user's scalp. The amount of pressure may be different for different regions of the user's head to achieve a balance between comfort and conductivity. The amount of pressure may be further modulated by the use of spring-loaded electrode holders that allow an electrode to move relative to the holder. To further improve user comfort, the tips of the electrodes may be hemispherical rather than pointed. The EEG monitoring device can be used as input for a brain-computer interface (BCI).

First claim

1 . An electroencephalographic (EEG) headset comprising:
a housing unit configured to be positioned on the top of a head of a user; a first arm connected to the housing unit and having a first electrode on an end, the first arm curved in a configuration that positions the first electrode in contact with a first region of the head of the user with a first amount of force; and a second arm connected to the housing unit and having a second electrode on an end, the second arm curved in a configuration that positions the second electrode in contact with a second region of the head of the user with a second amount of force.

2 . The EEG headset of claim 1 , wherein the first arm has a continuous smooth curve from the housing unit to the first electrode.

3 . The EEG headset of claim 1 , wherein the first arm has a plurality of straight regions connected by curved regions.

4 . The EEG headset of claim 1 , wherein the first arm is hollow and contains a wire extending from the first electrode to the housing unit.

5 . The EEG headset of claim 1 , wherein the first region of the head of the user is the frontal region and the second region of the head of the user is the occipital region.

6 . The EEG headset of claim 5 , wherein the first amount of pressure is about 350-450 g/cm 2 and the second amount of pressure is about 550-650 g/cm 2 .

7 . The EEG headset of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode comprises a spring-loaded electrode holder configured maintain the first electrode in contact with the first region of the head of the user with a consistent amount of force and the second electrode comprises a spring-loaded electrode holder configured to maintain the second electrode in contact with the second region of the head of the user with a consistent amount of force.

8 . The EEG headset of claim 7 , wherein a spring in the spring-loaded electrode holder of the first electrode is configured maintain the first electrode in contact with the first region of the head of the user with about 350-450 g/cm 2 of pressure and a spring in the spring-loaded electrode holder of the second electrode is configured maintain the second electrode in contact with the second region of the head of the user with about 550-650 g/cm 2 of pressure.

9 . The EEG headset of claim 1 , wherein the housing unit contains at least one of an amplifier, an analog-to-digital converter, or a wireless communication module.

10 . The EEG headset of claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizing band connected to the housing unit and configured to extend across the head of the user.

11 . A system configured to implement a brain-computer interface (BCI) comprising:
the EEG headset of claim 1 , wherein the housing unit comprises a wireless communication module; and a computing device communicatively connected to the wireless communication module and configured to process signals received from the EEG headset as user input.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the EEG headset comprises:
at least one additional arm connected to a same side of the housing unit as the first arm, having an electrode on an end, and configured to position the electrode in contact with the first region of the head of the user with the first amount of force; and at least one additional arm connected to a same side of the housing unit as the second arm, having an electrode on an end, and configured to position the electrode in contact with the second region of the head of the user with the second amount of force.

13 . A spring-loaded electrode holder comprising:
an electrode formed from a conductive material; a spring connected to the electrode and configured to maintain the electrode in contact with the skin of a user with a consistent amount of force; an interface connected to the spring and configured to form a conductive connection to the spring-loaded electrode holder; and a conductive connection between the electrode and the interface.

14 . The spring-loaded electrode holder of claim 13 , further comprising a housing configured to encase the spring.

15 . The spring-loaded electrode holder of claim 13 , wherein the spring comprises a coil spring.

16 . The spring-loaded electrode holder of claim 13 , wherein the electrode has a hemispherical shaped tip.

17 . The spring-loaded electrode holder of claim 16 , wherein a diameter of the hemispherical shaped tip is about 1.5-2.5 mm.

18 . The spring-loaded electrode holder of claim 13 , wherein the conductive material is silver/sliver chloride.

19 . The spring-loaded electrode holder of claim 13 , further comprising a wire connected to the electrode and the interface and wherein the conductive connection between the electrode and the interface comprises the wire.

20 . The spring-loaded electrode holder of claim 13 , wherein the conductive connection between the electrode and the interface comprises the spring.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Wang Yu-Te
• Tashev Ivan Jelev
• Lascala Teresa Elizabeth

Classifications

• A61B5/265

  containing silver or silver chloride · CPC title

• A61B5/369

  Electroencephalography [EEG] · CPC title

• A61B5/6803

  Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles · CPC title

• A61B5/6843 Primary

  Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure · CPC title

• A61B5/0006

  ECG or EEG signals · CPC title