Abstract
An in-ear device including a cloth, which defines a concave surface, at least one electrode in or on the cloth, and a conductive track connected to the at least one electrode. Also, a method of monitoring neurological or physiological diseases or disorders with the in-ear device and a method of collecting electroencephalography data with the in-ear device. Further, a process for manufacturing the in-ear device.
Claims
1-14. (canceled)
15. An in-ear device comprising a cloth having a shape of a sleeve, at least one electrode in or on said cloth, and at least one conductive track connected to said at least one electrode.
16. The device according to claim 15, wherein said cloth is a knitted textile, a non-woven textile, a woven textile or a combination thereof.
17. The device according to claim 15, wherein said cloth is made of polyamide.
18. The device according to claim 15, wherein said at least one electrode is a textile electrode that is woven, knit, stitched, stuck or deposited in or on said cloth.
19. The device according to claim 15, wherein said at least one electrode and/or said at least one conductive track is made of silvered polyamide.
20. The device according to claim 15, wherein it comprises at least two electrodes, preferably at least 3 electrodes, more preferably at least 4 electrodes, even more preferably at least 5 electrodes.
21. The device according to claim 20, wherein said electrodes are disposed on either side of a plane that passes through the longitudinal axis of the in-ear device, and facing each other.
22. The device according to claim 20, wherein said electrodes are disposed on either side of a plane that passes through the longitudinal axis of the in-ear device, and shifted from each other.
23. The device according to claim 20, wherein said electrodes are disposed on either side of a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the in-ear device.
24. The device according to claim 15, further comprising an ear plug at least partially surrounded by the cloth.
25. The device according to claim 15, further comprising an instrument such as a microphone or an earphone, said instrument being at least partially surrounded by the cloth.
26. A method of monitoring neurological or physiological diseases or disorders, comprising the setting up of an in-ear device according to claim 15 in an ear of a subject and the measurement of electrical activity.
27. A method of collecting electroencephalography data, comprising the setting up of an in-ear device according to claim 15 in an ear of a subject and the measurement of electrical activity.
28. A process for manufacturing an in-ear device comprising the following steps: knitting a cloth with an insulating yarn and an electrode with a conductive yarn in order to obtain a cloth having a shape of a sleeve, preferably in the form of a sleeve or a sheath, comprising said electrode in or on said cloth; connecting the at least one electrode with a conductive track; and optionally slipping the cloth obtained at step i) on an ear plug.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0100] FIG. 1 is a drawing of an embodiment of an in-ear device.
[0101] FIG. 2 is a schema representing an embodiment of a cloth of an in-ear device.
[0102] FIG. 3 is divided in four schemas (FIGS. 3a, 3b), 3c) and 3d)) representing some of the possible dispositions of the at least one electrode in or on the cloth of an in-ear device.
[0103] FIG. 4 represents four ways to use in-ear devices.
[0104] FIG. 5 is two schemas representing dimensions of two electrodes that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of an in-ear device.
[0105] FIG. 6 is a picture of an embodiment of an in-ear device.
ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0106] As shown in FIG. 1, in a specific embodiment of an in-ear device according to the present invention, said in-ear device comprises a cloth 1 defining a concave surface, two electrodes (21, 22) in said cloth, and one conductive track (31, 32) connected to each electrode. Said cloth is made of polyamide 6,6 and said electrodes are made of silvered polyamide, the cloth and the electrodes being knitted at once, as a whole, by changing the yarn for delimiting the insulated areas (that is the cloth 1) and the conductive areas (that are the electrodes (21, 22)). Moreover, said cloth has a shape of a sleeve and in particular of a cone that is closed at its top 10 and open at its base.
[0107] The cloth 1 has the following dimensions (see FIG. 2): the beginning diameter h (at the top (10)) is about 8 mm, the end diameter H (at the base) is about 13 mm, and the length L is about 25 mm. The longitudinal axis X of the in-ear device is represented in FIG. 2.
[0108] As shown in FIG. 3, the in-ear device can comprise one electrode 21 (FIG. 3a)) or two electrodes (21, 22) (FIGS. 3b), 3c) and 3d)). When at least two electrodes (21, 22) are present, they can be disposed according to several manners in or on the cloth 1: for example, they can be disposed on either side of a plane that passes through the longitudinal axis X of the in-ear device delimited by the cloth, and facing each other's (FIG. 3b)), or they can be disposed on either side of a plane that passes through the longitudinal axis X of the in-ear device, and shifted from each other's (FIG. 3c)), or they can be disposed on either side of a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the in-ear device (FIG. 3d)). Each electrode (21, 22) us connected to one conductive track (31, 32).
[0109] FIG. 4 illustrates various embodiments of uses of in-ear devices. The use of in-ear devices comprising one electrode, includes the use of another in-ear device in the other ear (FIG. 4b) and/or the use of a gel electrode stick placed behind the ear in which the in-ear device is present (FIG. 4a and FIG. 4c). Indeed, a second electrode is necessary to establish a potential difference: the electrical activity measured at the second electrode (reference electrode) location is subtracted from the electrical activity measured at the target location (the active electrode).
[0110] FIG. 4a) shows an embodiment of an in-ear device that comprises only one electrode 21 connected to a conductive track 31 and thus its use is associated to the use of a gel electrode stick 5 placed behind the ear in which the in-ear device is present and which is connected to a conductive track 51.
[0111] FIG. 4b) shows an embodiment of an in-ear device that comprises only one electrode 21 connected to a conductive track 31 and thus its use in one ear is associated to the use of another in-ear device that comprises only one electrode 21 connected to a conductive track 31 in the other ear.
[0112] FIG. 4c) shows an embodiment of the use of an in-ear device that comprises only one electrode 21 connected to a conductive track 31 in each ear, and the associated use of a gel electrode stick 5 placed behind each ear and which is connected to a conductive track 51.
[0113] FIG. 4d) shows an embodiment of the use of an in-ear device that comprises two electrodes (21, 22) connected to a conductive track (31, 32) in each ear, and the associated use of a gel electrode stick 5 placed behind one ear and which is connected to a conductive track 51.
[0114] Without wishing to be limited by any theory, using devices in both ears allows for further distance between the active electrode(s) and the reference electrode(s), so as to increase the electrical potential difference.
[0115] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of electrodes dimensions and relative distances between them and the top of the in-ear device according to the invention. According to this embodiment, two electrodes (21, 22) are present on the cloth 1 and are disposed on either side of a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the in-ear device. Each electrode (21,22) is connected to conductive track (31, 32). FIG. 5a) represents the in-ear device cut lengthwise in one layer and spread out, the axis of the cut passing through the first electrode 21. The second electrode 22 has a length L.sub.22 of 17 mm±1 mm and a width l.sub.22 of 4 mm±1 mm; the distance d.sub.21-22 between the both electrodes (21, 22) is 3 mm±1 mm FIG. 5b) represents the in-ear device cut lengthwise in one layer and spread out, the axis of the cut passing through second electrode 22. The first electrode 21 has a length L.sub.21 of 15 mm±1 mm and a width l.sub.21 of 5 mm±1 mm; the distance d.sub.21-22 between the both electrodes (21, 22) is 3 mm±1 mm; the distance d.sub.10-22 between electrode 21 and the top of the cone-shaped cloth 1 is 4 mm±1 mm.
[0116] FIG. 6 shows a picture of an in-ear device, that comprises a cloth 1 defining a concave surface, two electrodes (21, 22) in said cloth 1, and two conductive tracks (31, 32), each connected to each electrode. In this embodiment, said cloth is made by knitting polyamide 6,6 yarn and said electrodes are made by two-yarns knitting, one yarn being of polyamide 6,6 and one yarn being of silvered polyamide. The cloth 1 and the electrodes (21, 22) are knitted at once, as a whole, by changing the yarn for delimiting the insulated areas (that is the cloth 1) and the conductive areas (that is the electrodes (21, 22)). Moreover, according to this embodiment, said cloth 1 has a shape of a sleeve and in particular of a cone that is closed at its top 10 and open at its base. Both electrodes (21, 22) are disposed on either side of a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the in-ear device, they do not define a loop around the cloth but are facing each other's relative to the longitudinal axis X of the in-ear device.
[0117] Said in-ear device illustrated in FIG. 6 has been knitted on a knitting machine whose reference is SWG041 and which is manufactured by the company SHIMA, with 240 needles and a gauge of 15; the duration of the knitting of said in-ear device was less than 5 minutes.
