SELF-CONTAINED EEG RECORDING SYSTEM

Abstract

Disclosed systems include a self-contained electroencephalogram (EEG) recording patch comprising a first electrode, a second electrode and wherein the first and second electrodes cooperate to measure a skin-electrode impedance, a substrate containing circuitry for generating an EEG signal from the measured skin-electrode impedance, amplifying the EEG signal, digitizing the EEG signal, and retrievably storing the EGG signal. The patch also comprises a power source and an enclosure that houses the substrate, the power source, and the first and second electrodes in a unitary package.

Claims

1. A system for remote electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring comprising: a first electrode and a second electrode configured to be attached to a scalp of a patient and sense EEG signals; a power source; and a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the EEG signals, wherein the first electrode, second electrode, power source, and wireless transmitter are contained in a water-resistant unitary packaging.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a first dais board comprising the first electrode; a second dais board comprising the second electrode; and a substrate comprising circuitry configured to amplify and digitize the EEG signals.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store the EEG signals before the EEG signals are transmitted by the wireless transmitter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electrode and second electrode are spaced from each other.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: determine a single channel from the EEG signals received from the wireless transmitter using bipolar derivation; and analyze the single channel EEG signals to identify a seizure.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to generate an alert responsive to identification of the seizure.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to cause transmission of an alert to a remote computing device responsive to identification of the seizure.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to store the EEG signals in a memory for later retrieval and review by a clinician.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the EEG signal is real time.

11. A method of remotely monitoring electroencephalogram (EEG) of a patient, the method comprising, by at least one processor: receiving EEG signals from a self-contained EEG sensor adhered to a scalp of the patient, the self-contained EEG sensor comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a wireless transmitter in a water-resistant unitary packaging; and identifying a seizure using the EEG signals.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing the EEG signals in a memory.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the memory is in the self-contained EEG sensor.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the EEG signals are stored as an electronic medical record.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein identifying a seizure comprises performing a bipolar derivation to form a single channel from voltages measured by the first and second electrodes.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising generating an alert responsive to identifying the seizure.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the alert is generated by at least one of a base station comprising the at least one processor or a remote computing device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the remote computing device comprises a smart phone.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: receive electroencephalogram (EEG) signals from a self-contained EEG recording sensor adhered to a scalp of a patient, the self-contained EEG recording sensor comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a wireless transmitter in a water-resistant unitary packaging; and identify a seizure using the EEG signals.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein identifying a seizure comprises performing a bipolar derivation to form a single channel from voltages measured by the first and second electrodes.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to generate an alert responsive to identifying the seizure.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the alert is generated by at least one of a base station comprising the at least one processor or a remote computing device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective top view and bottom view illustration of an embodiment of a self-contained EEG recording patch as a seizure counting tool in accordance with the disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective top view of an illustration of an embodiment of a self-contained EEG recording patch for recording frontal EEG below the hairline in accordance with the disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of components within a self-contained EEG recording patch in accordance with the disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom view illustration of replaceable conductive hydrogels that interface between the self-contained EEG recording patch and the scalp on an embodiment of a three-electrode EEG device in accordance with the disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective bottom view of an illustration of replaceable conductive hydrogels that interface between the self-contained EEG recording patch and the scalp on an embodiment of a two-electrode device in accordance with the disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 6 is an exemplary state diagram for an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch in accordance with the disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 7 is an exemplary state diagram for another embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch in accordance with the disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 8 is an electronic circuit layout illustration for an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch in accordance with the disclosure showing components and power source with the patch enclosure removed.

[0026] FIG. 9 is an electronic circuit layout illustration for an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch in accordance with the disclosure showing components without the power source and without the patch enclosure.

[0027] FIG. 10 is an electronic circuit layout illustration for the top and bottom sides of an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch showing components in another layout in accordance with the disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic circuit layout illustration for an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch in accordance with the disclosure showing the enclosure overmolding, power source, transmitter and circuit backbone.

[0029] FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording device as a seizure alerting method in accordance with the disclosure whereby the transmitter attached to the scalp transmits EEG in real-time to a base station that analyzes the EEG for seizures and stores the EEG for later retrieval.

[0030] FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration demonstrating the concept of single-channel seizure detection based on scalp location in accordance with the disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of a map of the scalp showing an example of single channel seizure detection performance as a probability map for an individual person based on standard EEG electrode locations in accordance with the disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic circuit layout illustration for the bottom of an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch in accordance with the disclosure showing components, data I/O, dais boards off of the substrate, and power source with the patch enclosure removed.

[0033] FIG. 16 is an electronic circuit layout illustration for the bottom of an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch in accordance with the disclosure showing components, data I/O, dais boards surface-mounted to the substrate, and power source with the patch enclosure removed.

[0034] FIG. 17 is a sectioned view of the electronic circuit layout illustration for the bottom of an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch in accordance with the disclosure showing components, memory shape alloy electrodes in their storage state, the plungers used to inject the memory shape alloy electrodes into the scalp, and power source with the patch enclosure.

[0035] FIG. 18 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch in accordance with the disclosure showing the plungers with the patch enclosure.

[0036] FIG. 19 is a side view of an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch in accordance with the disclosure showing memory shape alloy electrodes in their deployed state but not yet retaining their memory shape, and the plungers used to inject the memory shape alloy electrodes into the scalp with the patch enclosure.

[0037] FIG. 20 is a sectioned view of the memory shape alloy mechanism in its storage state with plunger.

[0038] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] FIG. 1 is a perspective top view and bottom view illustration of an embodiment of a self-contained EEG recording patch 1 as a seizure counting tool in accordance with the disclosure. As shown in the top view (left side of FIG. 1), the patch 1 is self-contained in an enclosure 2. In some embodiments, the enclosure 2 may be formed of a plastic, polymer, composite, or the like that is water-resistant, waterproof, or the like.

[0040] For the embodiment of FIG. 1, the enclosure 2 contains all of the electronics for recording EEG from at least two electrodes 4, 5. The electrodes 4, 5, are on the bottom, or scalp facing, side shown on the right side of FIG. 1. Also included on the bottom, or scalp facing, side are pins, or other interface, for I/O programming and data retrieval 10.

[0041] In some embodiments, enclosure 2 may house a circuit board or substrate 20, which provides connections for electrodes 4, 5, and optionally 6 (for 3-electrode embodiments), amplification circuitry 7, data processor 8, storage 9, one or more switches 15 to activate/inactivate the recording state, one or more indicators 12 of the recording state, a power source 11, I/O programming and data retrieval 10. Electrodes 4, 5, 6 may be formed of any suitable material. For example, electrodes 4, 5, 6 may comprise gold, silver, silver-silver chloride, carbon, combinations of the foregoing, or the like. As noted above, the entire patch 1 may be self-contained in a watertight enclosure 2. In the some embodiments, the patch 1 is designed to be a self-contained EEG machine that is one-time limited use per user and disposable.

[0042] In the FIG. 1 embodiment, the self-contained patch 1 has two electrodes 4, 5 and is used as a discrete, single-channel tool to count seizures. In most instances it is desirable, but not necessary, that the user has had a previous diagnosis of a seizure disorder using traditional wired EEG based on the 10-20 montage using the bipolar derivation. This diagnosis provides clinical guidance as to the most optimal location to place the self-contained patch 1 for recording electrographic seizure activity in an individual user. The electrode 4, 5 spacing uses a bipolar derivation to form a single channel.

[0043] The self-contained patch 1 can be placed anywhere on the scalp of a patient to record EEG. Ideally, the patch 1 may be packaged such that removal from the package activates the circuitry. This may be accomplished by the packaging having electromechanical activation, such as a magnetic component that, when removed, eliminates a magnetic field around the patch. In the absence of the magnetic field, magnetic field-sensitive components 17 within the patch, such as Reed- and Hall-effect type elements, may be configured to bring the patch out of a sleep-state and into a record-state. In some embodiments, the self-contained patch 1 may also include an indicator 12 of the change in recording state from record to sleep and from sleep to record. For example, the indicator 12 may be an LED element 13 that flashes to indicate the change in state, or the indicator 12 may also include an auditory signaler 14 to indicate the change in state. Other indicators 12, or combinations of indicators 12, are also possible.

[0044] Embodiments of the patch 1 can be placed anywhere on the scalp as placing a conventional wired EEG electrode. The patch 1 self-adheres to the scalp either through a conductive adhesive, an adhesive with a conductive, and/or through mechanical means such as intradermal fixation with a memory-shape metal, or the like.

[0045] Once attached to the scalp, some embodiments enable the patch 1 to perform as a single-channel seizure detection device. In this embodiment, the patch 1 records a single channel of differential EEG continuously, uninterrupted for up to seven days. Following a recording session, the patch 1 may be placed in the mail and returned to a service that reads the EEG to identify epileptiform activity according to ACNS guidelines. In other embodiments, data may be retrieved from the patch 1 via I/O data retrieval port 10 and uploaded or otherwise sent to a service for reading the EEG data. I/O data retrieval port 10 may operate with any suitable I/O protocol, such as USB protocol, Bluetooth protocol, or the like. Epileptiform activity such as seizures and interictal spikes may be identified in a report along with EEG recording attributes and made available to physicians through a user's electronic medical records, or the like.

[0046] In another embodiment, the self-contained patch 1 may also employ capacitive coupling, such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. 2010/0222686, as a means to “spot-check” signal quality. In this embodiment, a handheld, or other device, is brought near the patch 1 to capacitively couple with the device as a means to interrogate the EEG or impedance signal in real time.

[0047] In another embodiment, the self-contained patch 1 may be used to alert to seizures in real time, or near real time. In this embodiment the patch 1 may continuously transmit to a base station 21 that runs seizure detection algorithm(s) in real-time. The base station 21 may sound an alarm if a seizure is detected either at the base station 21 itself, or through communication to other devices 22 capable of providing a visual and/or audio and/or tactile alarm. The base station 21 may also keep a record of EEG for later review by an epileptologist. These EEG may also be archived in electronic medical records, or otherwise stored.

[0048] In another embodiment, the self-contained patch 1 could be used to record ultra-low frequency events from the scalp such as cortical spreading depressions. In this embodiment, the amplifier circuitry 7 may be appropriate for recording DC signals. Alternatively, the amplifier circuitry 7 may be appropriate for recording both DC and AC signals. The patch 1 in this embodiment may be used after a suspected stroke event as a means to monitor for the presence or absence of cortical spreading depressions and/or seizures or other epileptiform activity. The patch 1 in this embodiment may be placed on the scalp of a patient by any type of health care provider such as an emergency medical technician, medical doctor, nurse, or the like.

[0049] In yet another embodiment, the patch 1 may employ capacitive coupling, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. 2010/0222686, to monitor for cortical spreading depressions in real time. In this embodiment, the spreading depressions could be analyzed over time and displayed as a visualization of the EEG. The patch 1 may store these EEG (e.g., in storage 9) for later retrieval. These EEG could also be archived in electronic medical records, or the like.

[0050] In another embodiment shown, for example, in FIGS. 2 & 4, the self-contained patch 1 has three electrodes 4, 5, 6 and is used as a tool to record frontal EEG below the hairline before, during, and after sleeping. The electrode 4, 5, 6, spacing is based on typical devices used to record the stages of sleep from frontal EEG. As with these typical devices, the patch 1 in this embodiment is meant to be placed below the hairline, centered with the nose where the electrodes make a parallel line with the eyes. Electrodes 4 and 6 are referenced to electrode 5.

[0051] In this embodiment, the patch 1 has the ability to be turned on and off via recording state switch 15 when needed either through a magnetic field-effect element 17 or through a switch 16 such as a membrane-type, or momentary-type switch, built into the enclosure 2 of the patch 1. For embodiments of the patch 1 using a recording state switch 15 comprising a magnetic field-effect switch 17, such as a Hall-effect sensor, the patch 1 may simply be placed in a receiver cradle, or the like, that contains a magnetic element that changes the recording state of the patch to a sleep state. Removing the patch 1 from the cradle, and subsequent removal of the magnetic field, could then cause the magnetic field effect switch 17 to change the patch 1 from a sleep state to a recording state. Likewise, in this embodiment, the self-contained patch 1 may also include a recording state indicator 12 to indicate the change in recording state from record to sleep, or from sleep to record. This indicator may be an LED element 13 that flashes to indicate the change in state. This indicator may also be, or include, an auditory indicator 14 to indicate the change in state. Other indicators, or combinations of indicators, are also possible.

[0052] In this embodiment, after the patch 1 is in record mode, the patch 1 is then placed on the scalp below the hairline using a conductive hydrogel 18, or the like, that also provides enough adhesion to the scalp for effective recording of EEG for up to a twelve hour period. Alternatively, the patch 1 may be adhered with a combination conductive hydrogel 18 with an adhesive construct. The EEG data itself is recorded in the standard European Data Format (EDF), or any other suitable format. After nightly use, the conductive hydrogels 18 can simply be peeled off of the patch and thrown away. Prior to the next night's use, new conductive hydrogels 18 can be applied to the patch as applying a sticker. FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom view illustration of replaceable conductive hydrogels 18 that interface between the self-contained EEG recording patch 1 and the scalp on an embodiment of a three-electrode EEG device 1. FIG. 5 is a perspective bottom view of an illustration of replaceable conductive hydrogels 18 that interface between the self-contained EEG recording patch 1 and the scalp on an embodiment of a two-electrode device. Other configurations and hydrogels 18 are also possible.

[0053] This process of recording EEG each night may be done for up to ten nights with a single patch 1. In this embodiment, the patch 1 may be used to record the different stages of sleep for multiple nights in many different environments such as in the user's home. Once ten nights of EEG have been recorded, the patch 1 may be placed in the mail to a service that reads the EEG to identify sleep stages according to AASM guidelines. In other embodiments, the data on the patch 1 may be accessed via I/O data retrieval port 10 and uploaded, or otherwise sent to a service. Sleep architecture may be identified in a report along with EEG recording attributes and made available to physicians through a user's electronic medical records, or the like. Alternatively, the raw EDF data can be made available to physicians for review.

[0054] FIG. 6 is an exemplary state diagram for an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch in accordance with the disclosure. As shown in FIG. 6, embodiments of the self-contained EEG recording patch 1 may have a dormant state 60 in which the patch 1 is awaiting activation in a deep sleep and lowest current mode. Upon a full boot and initialization, the patch 1 may enter an unconfigured state 62 where patch 1 is awaiting configuration with analog supply off and in a low current mode. Upon connection of a USB to a host, patch 1 may enter a USB connected state 64. Upon a configuration file being written, patch 1 may enter a USB configured state 66. While patch 1 remains USB configured (e.g., magnet attached, or device cradled, switched off, or the like) it may be in a deep sleep ready mode. Upon activation (e.g., magnet removed, or device removed from cradle, or switched on, or the like) the patch 1 may enter a recording state 68. As also indicated, patch 1 may enter an exceptional state 69 when a power source is missing, depleted, or the like.

[0055] FIG. 7 is an exemplary state diagram for another embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch in accordance with the disclosure. As shown, embodiments of the self-contained EEG recording patch 1 may have a dormant state 70 where the device is hibernating. Upon activation (e.g., magnet removed, or device removed from cradle, or switched on, or the like) the patch 1 may enter a recording state 71. From recording state 71 the patch 1 may also enter an impedance check state 72 from which patch 1 may return to recording state 71 upon completion of the impedance check. Patch 1 may enter another power source dead state 73 if a power source dead or storage 9 is full condition is detected. The patch may also enter a USB commissioned state 74 when a USB connect condition is detected. Initially, a patch 1 may be in an uncommissioned state 75 until connected to a host via USB, or the like, when it enters a USB connected state 76. Other conditions for entering the various states are also indicated on FIGS. 6-7.

[0056] FIG. 8 is an electronic circuit layout illustration for an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch in accordance with the disclosure showing components and power source 11 (e.g., a battery, capacitor, or the like) with the patch enclosure 2 removed. As also shown, each electrode 4, 5, 6 may have amplification circuitry 7 as disclosed herein.

[0057] FIG. 9 is an electronic circuit layout illustration for an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch in accordance with the disclosure showing components without the power source 11 (e.g., battery, capacitor, or the like) and without the patch enclosure 2. In some embodiments, as shown, storage 9 and data processor 8 may be located in the space under power source 11.

[0058] FIG. 10 is an electronic circuit layout illustration for the top (left side of FIG. 10) and bottom (right side of FIG. 10) sides of an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch 1 showing components in another layout in accordance with the disclosure without the power source 11 (e.g., battery, capacitor, or the like) or over-mold enclosure 2 on the top. The electrodes 4, 5, programming pads, 10, and I/O programming pads 10 are visible on the bottom side of the patch 1. The top side of the patch may house the amplification circuitry 7, data processor 8, and storage 9 as shown.

[0059] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic circuit layout illustration for an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch 1 in accordance with the disclosure showing the enclosure 2 overmolding, power source 11, transmitter 19 and circuit board substrate 20. Other configurations are also possible.

[0060] FIG. 12 is a schematic illustrating an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch 1 as a seizure alerting method in accordance with the disclosure whereby the transmitter 19 in the patch 1 attached to the scalp transmits EEG in real-time to a base station 21 that analyzes the EEG for seizures and stores the EEG for later retrieval. Once a seizure is detected the base station 21 can alert to the seizure and/or relay the alert to other devices 22 such as a smart phone, alarm, or the like.

[0061] FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration demonstrating the concept of single-channel seizure detection based on scalp location in accordance with the disclosure. In this schematized example, an embodiment of the patch 1 fits between any two electrodes (e.g., F7-F8, Fp1-Fp2, T3-T6, O1-O2, F3-F4, P3-P4, C3-C4, Fz, Cz, and Pz) in the typical wired EEG. For example, a seizure is recorded by the F7-T3 and F3-C3 wired electrode pairs. Likewise EEG Patch 1a, located between these wired pairs, will also record spike-wave discharges, whereas wired pair Fz-Cz and EEG Patches 1b-1d, do not record seizure activity demonstrating the potential for scalp-specific locations for seizure detection.

[0062] FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of a map of the scalp showing an example of single channel seizure detection performance as a probability map for an individual person based on standard EEG electrode locations in accordance with the disclosure. In this example there is a ‘best channel’ 30 that has the highest probability for detecting future seizures in this particular person. These maps may be generated for each person's seizure signature to identify the best scalp location to place the patch 1 to reliably detect seizure activity.

[0063] FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic circuit layout illustration for the bottom of an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch 1 in accordance with the disclosure showing components, I/O programming and retrieval 10, dais boards 80 off of the substrate 20, containing electrodes 4, 5, and power source 11, with the patch enclosure 2 removed. Other configurations are also possible.

[0064] FIG. 16 is an electronic circuit layout illustration for the bottom of an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch 1 in accordance with the disclosure showing components, I/O programming and data retrieval 10, dais boards 80 surface-mounted to the substrate 20, with electrodes 4, 5, and power source 11 with the patch enclosure 2 removed. Other configurations are also possible.

[0065] Another embodiment of the “dais assembly” construction described above uses standard immersion silver as the electrode 4, 5, 6 surface finish. The dais boards 80 are then masked to expose only the electrode 4, 5, 6, metal surface using known printed circuit board lithography techniques, and placed in a bath containing sodium hypochlorite solution to develop a silver chloride layer on the surface of the silver electrode 4, 5, 6. This method leverages known printed circuit board fabrication techniques and equipment to fabricate an Ag—AgCl biopotential electrode. The finished dais boards 80 are then attached to the main circuit board or substrate 20 as described above.

[0066] In another embodiment shown, for example, in FIGS. 17, 18, 19 & 20, the self-contained EEG recording patch 1 has two memory shape alloy electrodes 90 that are used to mechanically fix the patch 1 to a patient's scalp. Plungers 91, are used to inject the memory shape alloy electrodes 90 into the scalp. The memory shape alloy electrodes 90, facilitate low-impedance connections between the patch 1 and the scalp for recording biopotentials.

[0067] FIG. 17 is a sectioned view of the electronic circuit layout illustration for the bottom of an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch 1 in accordance with the disclosure showing components, memory shape alloy electrodes 90 in their storage state, the plungers 91, used to inject the memory shape alloy electrodes into the scalp for mechanical fixation to the scalp, and power source 11 with the patch enclosure 2. Other configurations are also possible.

[0068] FIG. 18 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch 1 in accordance with the disclosure showing the plungers 91 with the patch enclosure 2. Other configurations are also possible.

[0069] FIG. 19 is a side view of an embodiment of the self-contained EEG recording patch 1 in accordance with the disclosure in accordance with the disclosure showing memory shape alloy electrodes 90 in their deployed state, but not yet retaining their memory shape, and the plungers 91 used to inject the memory shape alloy electrodes into the scalp with the patch enclosure 2. Other configurations are also possible.

[0070] FIG. 20 is a sectioned view of the memory shape alloy 90 mechanism in its storage state with plunger 91. Other configurations are also possible.

[0071] Although various embodiments have been shown and described, the present disclosure is not so limited and will be understood to include all such modifications and variations are would be apparent to one skilled in the art.