DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE BRAIN ACTIVITY SIGNALS OF AN INDIVIDUAL

Abstract

Disclosed is a device suitable for measuring the brain activity signals of an individual, the device being intended to be placed on the head of the individual and having a structure intended to carry sensors, the structure allowing the position of the sensors to be adjusted. The structure of the device has: a deformable central support, which is able to adapt to the curvature of the head and is intended to be positioned along the head, preferably on the median plane of the cranium; flexible guides, which extend laterally with respect to the central support and are spaced apart from each other; sensor supports, which are rigidly connected and fixed to the flexible guides, in adjustable positions along the flexible guides; and a system for tightening the flexible guides.

Claims

1. Device (1) suitable for measuring the brain activity signals of an individual, said device being intended to be placed on the head of said individual and having a structure (2) intended to carry sensors, said structure allowing the position of the sensors to be adjusted, wherein said structure of the device comprises: a deformable central support (2), which is able to adapt to the curvature of the head and is intended to be positioned along the head; flexible guides (3), extending laterally with respect to said central support and spaced apart from each other; sensor supports (4.sub.1, 4.sub.2), which are rigidly connected and fixed to said flexible guides (3), in adjustable positions along the flexible guides (3); and a system (5, 6) for tensioning said flexible guides.

2. Device according to claim 1, in which said system for tensioning the flexible guides, comprises, on each side of the head of the wearer, a rigid brace (6), intended to extend at least locally under the ear, and elastic pieces (5), each rigidly attached by the one of the ends thereof to the lower terminal end below of the corresponding flexible guide (3), each elastic piece (5) being intended to be attached to said brace (6) in order to ensure the tensioning of the corresponding flexible guide (3).

3. Device according to claim 2, in which said tensioning system comprises a means for adjusting the tension of the elastic piece.

4. Device according to claim 3, in which the means for adjusting the tension of the elastic piece comprises a through-opening (7) of the brace for the elastic piece (5), said through-opening (7) having dimensions less than the cross-section of the elastic piece (5), such that: a manual pulling force on the free end of the elastic piece (5) causes the elastic piece to slide through said through-opening (7), and thus enables adjustment by increasing the tension, and when the manual force is no longer applied, the frictional forces between the through-opening (7) and the elastic piece (5) are such as to prevent sliding, ensuring the tensioning of the corresponding flexible guide.

5. Device according to claim 1 in which the flexible guides (3) are made from an inelastic material.

6. Device according to claim 5, in which the flexible guides (3) are made from a textile.

7. Device according to claim 1, in which said flexible guides (3) are bands.

8. Device according to claim 1, in which said sensor supports (4.sub.1, 4.sub.2) are in adjustable positions along the flexible guides (3), said sensor supports (4.sub.1, 4.sub.2) having feedthroughs (40, 41; 42, 44; 43, 45) for the flexible guides allowing such a position adjustment.

9. Device according to claim 8, in which, once the manual adjustment operation has been carried out, the sensor support is held in position on the flexible guide by the frictional forces between the flexible guide (3) and the sensor support (41, 42).

10. Device according to claim 8, in which said sensor supports each comprise a portion having a foot (46), made in particular from elastomer, intended to bear on the head of the wearer.

11. Device according to claim 10, in which said portion of the sensor support having the support foot (46) comprises two so-called feedthroughs (40, 41; 42, 44; 43, 45), positioned respectively on either side of said foot (46), both crossed by one of the flexible guides (3), as well as a dorsal surface (47) on which the longitudinal section of said flexible guide bears at a position intermediate between the two feedthroughs (40, 41; 42, 44; 43, 45).

12. Device according to claim 10, in which all or part of the sensor supports are so-called multiple sensor supports (4.sub.1, 4.sub.2), each able to support at least two physically distinct sensors.

13. Device according to claim 12, in which said so-called multiple sensor supports comprise sensor supports (4.sub.1) for two sensors intended to be positioned either side of said support foot (46).

14. Device according to claim 12, in which said so-called multiple sensor supports comprise sensor supports (4.sub.2) for four sensors intended to be positioned around said support foot (46).

15. Device according to claim 10, and 11 to 14, in which each sensor is intended to be moveably mounted, by sliding, with respect to the portion of the sensor support equipped with the support foot (46), a spring element (48) being configured to compel the sensor in the direction towards and bearing on the head of the wearer.

16. Device according to claim 15, in which said sensor support portion equipped with said bearing support foot (46) being termed the fixed part (49; 50), said sensor support (4.sub.1, 4.sub.2) comprises, for the or each sensor, a moveable part (51, 52; 53, 54; 55, 56) movable with respect to said fixed part rigidly attached to the sensor, said spring element (48) being provided between the fixed part and the moveable part of the sensor support.

17. Device according to claim 16, in which said fixed part (49; 50) comprises, for the or each sensor, a hollow shaping, in particular cylindrical, inside of which the movable part is intended to slide and in which said movable part of the sensor support has a terminal end for attaching a sensor, as well as a guide surface intended to slide along the inner wall of the hollow shaping.

18. Device according to claim 17, in which the movable part has a projecting portion extending through an upper opening of the hollow shaping, a locking member (57) being mounted in a removable manner on the projecting portion, in such a way as to both ensure the retention and locking of said moveable part (51, 52; 53, 54, 55, 56) to said fixed part (49; 50) of the sensor support (4.sub.1, 4.sub.2), as well as to enable, once the locking member is withdrawn, the withdrawal and dismantling of the moveable part (51, 52; 53, 54, 55, 56) from the fixed part (49; 50).

19. Device according to claim 18, in which the locking member (57) takes the shape of a loop, intended for gripping, and allowing the sensor to be removed from the surface of the head when a traction force is applied on the loop.

20. Device according to claim 1, in which said central support (2) has, in the longitudinal direction, a plurality of through passages (20), mutually spaced along the length of said central support for the respective positioning and retaining of a plurality of flexible guides (3), having different separated positions defined between said flexible guides.

21. Device according to claim 1, in which said central support (2) forms, along the longitudinal direction, a longitudinal canal (21) acting as a cable guide, intended for guiding the wiring connections of the various sensors.

22. Device according to claim 1, comprising an enclosure accommodating electronics for acquisition of the sensor signals.

23. Device according to claim 1, in which the sensors comprise electrodes for measuring signals by electroencephalography and/or optical detectors and transmitters for measuring signals by near-infrared spectroscopy.

24. Device according to claim 1 comprising a removable cover, made from an obscuring material, intended to be applied on the sensor support structure of the device in such a way as to isolate the sensors from optical interference from the ambient environment.

25. A method for measuring signals by electroencephalography, comprising: providing the device of claim 23 equipped with sensors comprising electrodes; and using said optical detectors and transmitters for measuring signals by a near-infrared spectroscopy, for simultaneously measuring said signals by electroencephalography and near-infrared spectroscopy.

Description

[0062] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description together with the attached drawings, of which:

[0063] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention, placed on the head of an individual;

[0064] FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are respectively a perspective view, a view from above, and a sectional view along section III-III of FIG. 3, of a sensor support having two sensors;

[0065] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the movable section of the sensor support, according to an embodiment of the invention, and suitable for a type of sensor, in particular an electrode;

[0066] FIG. 6a is a cross-sectional view of the movable part of the sensor support, according to an embodiment of the invention, and suitable for a type of sensor, in particular an optode transmitter;

[0067] FIG. 6b is a cross-sectional view of the movable part of the sensor support, according to an embodiment of the invention, and suitable for a type of sensor, in particular an optode detector;

[0068] FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are respectively a perspective view, a view from above, and a sectional view along section VIII-VIII of FIG. 8, of a sensor support having four sensors;

[0069] FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, are respectively a view from above, a sectional view along section X-X of FIG. 10, and a front view, of a central support according to an example;

[0070] FIGS. 13 and 14 are a side view and front view of the (right-hand) brace of the device;

[0071] and FIG. 15 is an exploded view of an enclosure, the cover thereof and an electronics card for acquisition of measurement signals.

[0072] The invention relates to a device 1 for measuring the brain activity signals of an individual, said device being intended to be placed on the head of said individual and having a support structure intended to carry sensors, said structure allowing the position of the sensors to be adjusted.

[0073] According to the invention, said structure of the device comprises: [0074] a, preferably deformable, central support 2, which is able to adapt to the curvature of the head and is intended to be positioned along the head, preferably on the median plane of the cranium; [0075] flexible guides 3, extending laterally to said central support, in particular on either side of said central support, spaced apart from one another, [0076] sensor supports 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, attached and rigidly connected to said flexible guides, in adjustable positions along the guides; [0077] and a system 5, 6 for tensioning said flexible guides 3.

[0078] The flexible guides 3 are distributed over the surface of the head, mutually spaced apart from each other, according to predefined spacings, in particular by said central support 2. During installation this structure makes it possible to access the scalp and thus to disengage the hair from the sensors positioned by the sensor supports at different spacings between the flexible guides.

[0079] The sensor support(s) 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2 are attached and rigidly connected to said flexible guides 3, but at adjustable positions along said guides. This possibility to adjust the position makes it possible, in particular, to adapt the positions of the various sensors depending on the areas of interest to be studied.

[0080] The fact that the sensor supports 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2 are rigidly attached to the flexible guides 3, and not simply bearing against same, advantageously makes it possible to carry out a pre-assembly of the structure, including a pre-adjustment of the positions of the various sensors on the head of a mannequin, and then to remove the structure and affix it on the head of the individual, advantageously without loss of the position settings along the flexible guides 3.

[0081] Said system for tensioning the flexible guides, may comprise, on each side of the head of the wearer, a rigid or semi-rigid brace 6, intended to extend at least locally under the ear, the two braces 6 being preferably connected by a chinstrap 61, and elastic pieces 5, each rigidly attached by one of the ends thereof to the lower terminal end of the corresponding flexible guide 3, each elastic piece 5 being intended to be attached to said brace 6 in order to ensure the tensioning of the corresponding flexible guide 3;

[0082] It should be noted that according to this advantageous embodiment, the flexible guides 3 and corresponding elastic pieces 5 are distinct elements; thus, for the flexible guides, it is possible to choose a material (for example a conventional textile) that is inelastic in comparison to the material of the elastic pieces 5 which can be made of silicone or another elastomer-type material.

[0083] According to the findings of the inventors, the choice of an inelastic material for the flexible guides 3 (compared to the material of the elastic pieces 5), makes it advantageously possible to ensure, during a pre-adjustment of the structure on the head of a mannequin, that the sensors are positioned in substantially the same positions once the structure is withdrawn from the mannequin and placed on the head of the individual, without any offset of the positioning as would be encountered in the case where the flexible guides were made from the same material as the elastic pieces 5.

[0084] In particular, in the case where the sensor supports 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2 are fixed to the flexible guides by means of feedthroughs 40, 41; 42, 44; 43, 45 of the supports, through which the flexible guides 3 pass, and which are described below, the fact of choosing flexible guides made from an inelastic (or inextensible) material makes it possible to avoid, or at least limit, the phenomena of reducing of the cross-section of the flexible guides when same are tensioned; reducing the cross-section in the case where the flexible guides were made from an elastic material, would cause a loss of position of the sensor supports along the flexible guides.

[0085] According to one embodiment, the flexible guides 3 and the sensor supports 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2 are arranged such that the flexible guides 3 press on the head of said individual, completely or partially, at sections of the length of the flexible guide 3, at intermediate positions between the sensor supports 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2. In order to stabilise the pressing of the flexible guide 3 and to ensure a uniform distribution, each flexible guide can take the shape of a band, intended to press on the head by means of one of the faces thereof.

[0086] According to one embodiment, said tensioning system comprises a means for adjusting the tension of the elastic piece. For example, and as illustrated in a non-limiting manner in FIG. 1, the means for adjusting the tension of the elastic piece (of each elastic piece 5) comprises a through-opening 7 of the brace for the elastic piece 5, said through-opening 7 having dimensions less than the cross-section of the elastic piece 5, such that: [0087] a manual pulling force on the free end of the elastic piece 5 causes the elastic piece to slide through said through-opening 7, and thus enables adjustment by increasing the tension, and when the manual force is no longer applied, [0088] the frictional forces between the through-opening 7 and the elastic piece 5 are such as to prevent sliding, ensuring the tensioning of the corresponding flexible guide.

[0089] Such a tensioning system also allows an adjustment of the tension of each flexible guide 3 by tensioning said corresponding elastic piece, allowing all of the sensors supports to be constrained on the head by said flexible guide. This advantageously involves the possibility of continuous adjustment. Other embodiments of tension adjustment means are possible, in particular non-continuous adjustment types, for example by providing several hooking positions for the elastic piece (not shown) on the brace in order to allow different tension forces.

[0090] The brace may be an element made from curved plastic, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, intended to extend, for example, from the rear part of the head, passing under the ear and continuing to a lateral area in the vicinity of the forehead. Along the length thereof, a plurality of through-openings 7 allows the insertion of elastic pieces 5 in the most suitable positions for the adjustment. On the inner face, and bearing on the skin, this element can be covered by a flexible material.

[0091] The possibility of adjusting the sensor supports 41, 42 along the guides can be provided by feedthroughs 40, 41; 42, 43, 44, 45 for the flexible guides, allowing such a position adjustment. The position adjustment is advantageously carried out without withdrawing the sensor support from the flexible guide thereof, by allowing same to slide manually along the flexible guide 3. Once this manual operation has been performed, i.e. the position of said sensor support has been adjusted, maintaining the position of the sensor support on the flexible guide 3 is advantageously ensured (uniquely) by the frictional forces between the flexible guide and the sensor support 41, 42.

[0092] According to one embodiment, said sensor supports 41, 42 each comprise a portion having a foot 46, intended to bear on the head of the wearer; In the case of a multiple-sensor support (supporting a plurality of physically distinct sensors), said support foot 46 is preferably in a central position with respect to the positions of the various supported sensors. Said foot can advantageously be made of a flexible material, different from the support body, for example an elastomer.

[0093] According to one embodiment, said portion of the sensor support having the support foot 46 can comprise two so-called feedthroughs 40, 41; 42, 44; 43, 45, positioned on the sensor support, respectively on either side of said foot 46, both passed through by one of the flexible guides 3, as well as a dorsal surface 47 on which longitudinal section of said flexible guide presses at a position intermediate between the two feedthroughs 40, 41; 42, 44; 43, 45.

[0094] According to this embodiment, illustrated in a non-limiting manner, particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flexible guide 3, in particular the band, passes through a first feedthrough 40 from underneath the support 4.sub.1, extends bearing along the dorsal surface 47, then passes through a second feedthrough 41 from above the support. It should be noted that the dorsal surface 47 can advantageously be positioned just above the foot 46, in order to increase stability (against tilting) of the sensor support 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2.

[0095] Advantageously, all or part of the sensor supports are so-called multiple sensor supports 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, each able to support at least two physically distinct sensors. The presence of such multiple sensor supports advantageously allows an increase in the density of the positions of sensors over an area of interest.

[0096] Said so-called multiple sensor supports can comprise sensor supports 4.sub.1, for two sensors, intended to be positioned either side of said support foot 46; Such an embodiment is illustrated in a non-limiting manner in FIGS. 2 to 4. In such a case, the foot 46 is positioned at the mid-distance between the sensors, which are then positioned on either side of the flexible guide 3 on which the sensor support 41 is rigidly attached. Such (“double”) sensor supports will be particularly useful for positioning sensors on areas of the cranium having strong curvature.

[0097] The so-called multiple sensor supports can comprise (“quadruple”) sensor supports 4.sub.2 for four sensors, intended to be distributed around said support foot 46. The four sensors can be positioned at the four vertices of a rectangle (for example a square). Such an embodiment is illustrated in a non-limiting manner in FIGS. 7 to 8. Such an embodiment is particularly interesting in that it enables grouping of four sensors clustered about a given area of interest of the cranium, but needs however to be applied on a relatively flat area of the cranium.

[0098] Hence, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, the (“double”) sensor supports and the (“quadruple”) sensor supports can be combined on the structure. It is well understood that FIG. 1 is a partial figure, in that it only illustrates some of the sensor supports, the others not being illustrated for reasons of clarity, in order to render the structure visible, in particular the various flexible guides 3.

[0099] According to an advantageous embodiment, each sensor is intended to be moveably mounted, by sliding, with respect to the portion of the sensor support equipped with the support foot 46; a spring element 48, such as a compression spring, being configured to constrain the sensor in the direction towards and pressing on the head of the wearer.

[0100] Advantageously, one such embodiment makes it possible to ensure that the or each sensor is correctly positioned pressing on the head of the individual, while controlling the pressing force of said sensor on the head.

[0101] To this effect, the spring element 48, in particular the compression spring, is selected such that the recall force is sufficient to press the sensor onto the head, but has sufficiently low stiffness so that the force is not painful. In the case of a multiple sensor support, each sensor can move relative to the support portion equipped with the foot 46, independently of the other sensors. Each sensor has an independent spring element 48. As shown in a non-limiting manner in FIG. 4 (right-hand side), the course of the sensor is such that at the high end of the course, it is raised substantially above the level of the support foot 46. In other words, when the sensor is at a level corresponding to the bearing surface of the foot as illustrated in a non-limiting manner in FIG. 4 (left-hand side), or in the vicinity thereof, the force of the sensor on the head is limited by the choice of the spring element 48, and in particular by the choice of the stiffness thereof and the rate of compression thereof at this position (the pretensioning). By way of non-limiting example, the spring element 48 may have a stiffness of 40 N/m, the pretensioning being defined at 0.25 N when the lower end of the sensor is at the same level as the bearing surface of the foot 46. The structure of the device allows distribution of the loads reducing the point pressure areas.

[0102] According to one embodiment, said sensor support portion equipped with said bearing support foot 46 being termed the fixed part 49; 50, said sensor support 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2 comprises, for the or each sensor, a moveable part 51, 52; 53, 54; 55, 56 movable with respect to said fixed part, rigidly attached to the sensor, said spring element 48 being provided between the fixed part and the movable part of the sensor support.

[0103] To this effect and according to an illustrated embodiment, the fixed part 49; 50 comprises, for the or each sensor, a hollow shaping, in particular cylindrical, inside of which said movable part is intended to slide. Said movable part of the sensor support has a lower terminal end, for the attachment of a sensor, as well as a guide surface, in particular cylindrical, intended to slide along the inner wall of the hollow shaping.

[0104] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6a and 6b in particular, the movable part 51 or 52 of the sensor support can be specific to a particular sensor type, thus playing the role of an adapter. The device may thus comprise a set of movable parts, respectively constituting different adapters for the installation of different physically distinct sensors, such as electrodes, or the transmitter or detector of an optode. For example, the moveable part of the support illustrated in FIG. 5 is an adapter suitable for the attachment of an electrode, whereas the moveable parts of FIG. 6a and FIG. 6b respectively enable the installation of the transmitting and detecting part of an optode.

[0105] According to one embodiment, said movable part has a projecting portion extending through an upper opening of the hollow shaping, a locking member 57, such as a pin, being mounted in a removable manner on the projecting portion, in such a way as to both ensure the retention and locking of said moveable part 51, 52; 53, 54, 55, 56 to said fixed part 49; 50 of the sensor support 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, as well as to enable, once the locking member is withdrawn, the withdrawal and dismantling of the moveable part 51, 52; 53, 54, 55, 56 from the fixed part 49; 50. The assembly and disassembly of the locking member 57 are preferably carried out without a tool.

[0106] The locking member 57 may advantageously take the shape of a loop, intended for gripping, and allowing the sensor to be removed from the surface of the head when a traction force is applied on the loop. The loop is an elastically deformable element, for example a metal element, having two free ends intended to be inserted in the corresponding holes of the projecting portion.

[0107] As illustrated on the left hand side of FIG. 4, said locking member 57, once installed, abuts the fixed part at the lower end of the course, preventing withdrawal of the movable part from the hollow shaping of the fixed part. The loop is withdrawn by deforming same, so as to remove the free ends from the holes. Once the loop is withdrawn, the movable part can be extracted from the hollow shaping.

[0108] The body of the fixed part of the sensor may be a plastic part, in particular an injection moulded part, with the feet consisting of an elastomer element attached to the body. Similarly, each moveable part 51, 52; 53, 54, 55, 56 may be a plastic element, in particular injection moulded.

[0109] The central support 2 can comprise a plurality of through-passages 20 in the longitudinal direction, in particular in the form of the grooves, mutually spaced along the length of said central support for the respective positioning and retaining of a plurality of flexible guides 3, having different separated positions defined between said flexible guides.

[0110] Said central support 2 can comprise a longitudinal channel 2 following the longitudinal direction, functioning as a cable guide intended for guiding the wiring connections of the various sensors. The central support 2 may be an elastomer element which comprises a central band, the lower surface of which is intended to bear on the head, and the upper surface being provided with said through-passages, with large depth and in the form of grooves respectively distributed along the band. Said central support can present discontinuous raised edges 22, 23, between the grooves, along the two longitudinal edges of the band and forming, with said central band, the longitudinal channel 21. The central support 2 can be made from an elastomer material and obtained, in particular, by moulding.

[0111] The channel 21 can be used to guide the wiring connections of the sensors towards an enclosure accommodating electronics for acquisition of sensor signals, said enclosure being rigidly attached to the structure and positioned at the rear part of the head. Said enclosure internally houses electronics for acquiring measurement signals, in particular signals from near-infrared spectroscopy and/or signals from electroencephalography. In the case of the use of near-infrared spectroscopy, the device can also comprise a removable cover (not illustrated), made from an obscuring material, intended to be applied on the structure of the sensor support of the device, in such a way as to isolate the sensors (in particular the optodes) from optical interference from the ambient environment. Such a cover advantageously allows a wearer to carry out NIRS measurements in compliance with the recording conditions (i.e. in the dark), and without requiring the wearer to be in the dark. The cover can be made from a lightweight obscuring material, in order not to bear on the sensor supports, and having a tightening link and/or an elastic piece on the rim thereof, in order to be able to adjust the cover to different head sizes.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0112] 1. device [0113] 2. central support [0114] 3. flexible guides [0115] 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2. sensor supports (with two sensors or four sensors respectively) [0116] 5. elastic pieces [0117] 6. braces [0118] 7. through-openings (braces 6) [0119] 20. through-passages (central support 2) [0120] 21. longitudinal channel (central support 2) [0121] 22, 23. raised edges (central support 2) [0122] 40, 41. feedthroughs (sensor supports 41) [0123] 42, 43, 44, 45. feedthroughs (sensor supports 42) [0124] 46. foot (sensor support 41 or 42) [0125] 47. dorsal surface [0126] 48. spring element (compression spring for example) [0127] 49. fixed part (sensor supports 4.sub.1) [0128] 20 [0129] 50. fixed part (sensor supports 4.sub.2) [0130] 51, 52. movable parts (sensor supports 4.sub.1) [0131] 53, 54, 55, 56. movable parts (sensor supports 4.sub.2) [0132] 57. locking member (in particular gripping loop) [0133] 25 [0134] 60. enclosure (acquisition electronics) [0135] 61. chinstrap