Electrode support device for the registration of electroencephalografic signals

Abstract

An electrode support device for recording electroencephalographic signals includes a cap element configured to at least partially surround the skull of a patient, so that an inner surface of the cap element is in contact with the patient's scalp, the cap element being configured so as to position a plurality of electrodes in pre-defined zones in contact with the patient's scalp. The cap element is made from a flexible polymeric material.

Claims

1. An electrode support device for recording electroencephalographic signals, comprising: a cap element configured to at least partially surround the skull of a patient, so that said cap element has an inner surface in contact with the patient's scalp, wherein said cap element is configured to place, in pre-defined zones, a plurality of electrodes in contact with the patient's scalp, and wherein said cap element is made from a flexible polymeric material.

2. The electrode support device according to claim 1, wherein said flexible polymeric material consists of a transparent material.

3. The electrode support device according to claim 1, wherein said flexible polymeric material consists of a polyurethane.

4. The electrode support device according to claim 1, wherein said cap element has holes and/or cuts, so as to create discontinuity zones of the constituent material of said cap element.

5. The electrode support device according to claim 4, wherein said discontinuity zones are homogeneously distributed on a surface of said cap element.

6. The electrode support device according to claim 4, wherein an entirety of areas of said discontinuity zones has a value comprised between 5% and 25% of a total surface of said cap element.

7. The electrode support device according to claim 1, wherein said cap element has through holes configured for housing at least some of said plurality of electrodes.

8. The electrode support device according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of electrodes is arranged as an electrode assembly having of a plurality of branches, each branch having a contact portion and a transmission portion, each branch further having a flexible support element of a conductive element, said flexible support element having a head terminal and a tail terminal, and wherein said conductive element has at least one head contact and at least one tail contact, respectively arranged at the head terminal and the tail terminal of the flexible support element, said conductive element being provided as a conductive track made of a layer of conductive ink deposited on the flexible support element.

9. The electrode support device according to claim 8, further comprising means for fixing said contact portion of said branches to edges of said through holes of the cap element.

10. The electrode support device according to claim 1, wherein said inner surface or an outer surface of the cap element has a plurality of conductive tracks made of at least one conductive ink layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following disclosure of some exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

[0058] FIG. 1 illustrates a view of a possible embodiment of the electrode support device object of the present invention;

[0059] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment example of the electrode assembly belonging to the device object of the present invention;

[0060] FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate two views of a possible embodiment of the electrode support device object of the present invention, respectively according to a side view and a top view.

[0061] It is specified that the figures appended to the present patent application illustrate some embodiments of the electrode support device object of the present invention, to better understand the advantages and features described therein.

[0062] Such embodiments are therefore to be understood as purely illustrative and not limiting the inventive concept of the present invention, namely that of manufacturing an electrode support device that has the same characteristics of softness, flexibility and fitting of the fabric caps, but which can be used as a disposable cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0063] With particular reference to FIG. 1, a side view of the device object of the present invention is illustrated, comprising a cap element 1 configured to at least partially surround the skull of a patient, so that the cap element 1 has an inner surface in contact with the patient's scalp and an outer surface, shown in FIG. 1, on which to place a plurality of electrodes.

[0064] The cap element 1 consists of flexible polymeric material, in particular of polyurethane.

[0065] Furthermore, according to the variant illustrated in FIG. 1, the cap element 1 has holes 10, made in the thickness of the layer of flexible polymeric material.

[0066] The holes 10 allow creating discontinuity zones of the flexible polymeric material.

[0067] According to the variant illustrated in the figures, the holes 10 are homogeneously arranged along the surface of the cap element 1.

[0068] Furthermore, these holes 10 are triangular in shape, but it is possible to envisage any shape both polygonal and circular, just as it is possible to envisage simple cuts, aimed at forming discontinuity zones of the cap element, that is, to form zones of mechanical stretchiness of the material constituting the cap element 1.

[0069] FIG. 1 also illustrates the through holes 11 of the cap element 1: these through holes are provided at the positioning points of the electrodes, in the worn condition of the cap.

[0070] In the worn condition, in fact, these through holes 10 allow to leave part of the patient's scalp uncovered, in particular the part of the skull in which to position the electrodes, which will then be fixed to the cap element 1.

[0071] According to an embodiment not illustrated in the figures, the cap element 1 can only envisage the holes 10 and not the holes 11 as discontinuity zones.

[0072] In this case, it is possible to provide that the cap element 1 integrates the electrodes, through the deposition of a layer of conductive ink, aimed at forming a contact part, in contact with the scalp, and a transmission part of the signals detected by the contact part.

[0073] Preferably, for construction needs, this conductive ink layer is deposited on the inner surface of the cap element 1.

[0074] The conductive ink layer may be deposited directly on the inner surface of the cap element 1, or a coating with special material of the cap element may be envisaged, at least in the zone of deposition of the conductive ink.

[0075] Furthermore, it is possible to envisage a further insulation layer at least of the conductive ink transmission part, to prevent this part from being affected by interferences as a result of contact with the scalp.

[0076] According to the variant illustrated in FIG. 1, the cap element 1 further has means for the fixing to a patient's skull, realized by an element 12 aimed at surrounding the patient's ear, which element 12 envisages a slot 121 configured to cooperate with a corresponding tab (not illustrated in the figure) so as to tighten the element 12 under the patient's chin.

[0077] According to the variant illustrated in the figures, the cap element 1 is instead envisaged in combination with an electrode assembly.

[0078] Preferably, said electrode assembly is made according to the variant illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0079] The electrode assembly 2 consists of a plurality of branches 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26.

[0080] The electrode assembly 2 has a main branch 200 aimed at transmitting the signals to a processing unit (not illustrated in the figure), signals detected by the branches 21-26 departing from the main branch 200.

[0081] The branches 21-26 are made in a similar way, only the dimensions and lengths vary, so as to be able to place the electrodes, in the worn condition of the cap, according to the system 10-20.

[0082] For this reason, for the sake of illustrative and expository simplicity, the branch 21 will be described in detail, but it is clear how this description can be considered also for the remaining branches 22-26.

[0083] In particular, the branch 21 has a contact part, provided in contact with the scalp of the patient, and a transmission part.

[0084] Furthermore, the branch 21 consists of a flexible support element of at least one conductive element, which flexible support element has a head terminal 211 and a tail terminal 210.

[0085] Similarly, the conductive element has at least one head contact 212 and at least one tail contact 213, respectively arranged at the head terminal 211 and the tail terminal 210 of the flexible support element.

[0086] Furthermore, the conductive element consists of a conductive track made of a layer of conductive ink deposited on the flexible support element.

[0087] As illustrated in FIG. 2, each tail contact 213 of each branch is joined to the conductive tracks 201 provided on the main branch 200, such that the signals detected by the head contacts are transmitted to the tracks 201, to then be processed by the processing unit (not illustrated in the figure).

[0088] According to a preferred embodiment, only the head terminal 211 of each branch 21-26 is fixed to the cap element 1, in particular it is possible to fix the edges of this head terminal 211 with the edges of the through holes 11 of the cap element.

[0089] It follows that only the head terminal 211 will be integral with the surface of the cap element 1, whereas the tail terminals 210 and the main branch 200 will not be fixed, so they will not undergo the deformations of the cap element 1, in the worn condition.

[0090] Furthermore, the head terminals 211 will tend to be pressed towards the scalp of the patient in the worn condition of the device object of the present invention.

[0091] FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate two views of the device object of the present invention, wherein the cap element 1 of FIG. 1 is envisaged in combination with the electrode assembly 2 of FIG. 2, i.e., wherein the electrode assembly 2 is fixed to the cap element.

[0092] Obviously, the conductive tracks of the electrode assembly 2 are not visible in FIGS. 3a and 3b, as they face in the direction of the patient's skull.

[0093] Advantageously, the cap element 1 is made up of three parts that are fixed together between them, in a manner completely similar to what happens in the devices known in the state of the art, in which three flaps of fabric are sewn together to give the fabric cap element the round shape.

[0094] In particular, with regard to the device object of the present invention, the cap element 1 consists of two side parts 100, as illustrated in FIG. 3a, respectively one for the left part (that illustrated in FIG. 3a) and one for the right part of the patient's skull.

[0095] The third part consists of an upper band 110, illustrated in FIG. 3b, which is fixed to the two side parts 100.

[0096] The edges of the upper band 110 have a plurality of flaps of material 111, preferably obtained as one piece with the upper band 110, configured to facilitate and maintain the coupling between the upper band 110 and the side parts 100 stable.

[0097] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, some preferred embodiments have been shown in the drawings and disclosed in detail.

[0098] It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific illustrated embodiment but, on the contrary, the aim is to cover all the modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0099] The use of “for example”, “etc.” or “or” refers to non-exclusive non-limiting alternatives, unless otherwise stated.

[0100] The use of “includes” means “includes but is not limited to”, unless otherwise stated.