Method and device for simultaneously performing transcranial electrical stimulation and electroencephalogram acquisition

Abstract

The invention discloses a method and a device for simultaneously carrying out transcranial electrical stimulation and electroencephalogram acquisition, which can inhibit the interference of stimulation current on an electroencephalogram acquisition channel when the transcranial electrical stimulation and the electroencephalogram acquisition are simultaneously carried out, greatly reduce the influence of electrical stimulation on electroencephalogram acquisition, and realize the real-time coexistence of electrical stimulation and electroencephalogram acquisition. The invention relates to a nerve regulation technology.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a neuromodulation technique, and in particular to a method and a device for simultaneously performing transcranial electrical stimulation and electroencephalogram acquisition. Background Art

[0002] Currently, non-invasive neuroelectrical stimulation technology has been clinically applied in disciplines such as rehabilitation medicine, neurosurgery / neurology, psychiatry, and pain medicine. Among them, transcranial electrical stimulation mainly uses electrodes to transmit a constant or periodically changing current of a certain intensity through a loop composed of a positive electrode and a negative electrode to act on specific areas of the human body, thereby changing the resting membrane potential of neurons, regulating the neural excitability of the area, affecting the synaptic connection function between neurons, promoting neural plasticity, and thus exerting a neuroregulatory effect.

[0003] The regulatory effects of fixed-parameter electrical stimulation vary among individuals. Optimizing stimulation parameters based on individual brain states can achieve better regulatory effects and fewer side effects. In addition, many studies have shown that the regulatory effects of stimulation are brain state-dependent. By monitoring brain activity and adjusting stimulation parameters in real time, a feedback loop can be established to achieve more sophisticated neural regulation. Therefore, combining transcranial electrical stimulation with EEG acquisition to establish a closed-loop regulatory system is a promising regulatory technology.

[0004] EEG is an electrical signal generated by the superposition of a large number of neural electrical activities, with an amplitude of tens to hundreds of microvolts, while the output voltage of transcranial electrical stimulation is several volts to tens of volts. The original EEG signal will be submerged in the output voltage of this electrical stimulation, which will have a serious impact on EEG acquisition. In order to avoid the interference of electrical stimulation on EEG acquisition, the existing closed-loop system adopts a time-sharing multiplexing method to stop EEG acquisition during the stimulation output period. This existing technology cannot achieve continuous closed-loop stimulation because it cannot obtain EEG signals during stimulation. Summary of the invention

[0005] In order to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art to a certain extent, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a method and device for simultaneous transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition, which can solve the problem that the electrical stimulation signal interferes with the EEG acquisition channel when the transcranial electrical stimulator and the EEG acquisition device are running at the same time.

[0006] The first technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0007] A method for simultaneously performing transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition comprises the following steps:

[0008] Pasting an electrode sheet to the subject's head, wherein the electrode sheet comprises a stimulation electrode and a detection electrode, the detection electrode is arranged around the stimulation electrode, and a gap is arranged between the detection electrode and the stimulation electrode;

[0009] The stimulation electrode is electrically connected to the electrical stimulator, and the detection electrode is electrically connected to the EEG amplifier;

[0010] The electrical stimulator delivers stimulation current to the stimulation electrode, while the EEG amplifier detects the EEG signal of the subject through the detection electrode;

[0011] The EEG amplifier transmits the EEG signal to the common-mode feedback circuit, and the common-mode feedback circuit reversely amplifies the common-mode part of the EEG signal and outputs it to the stimulation electrode.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present application, before the EEG amplifier transmits the EEG signal to the common-mode feedback circuit, the EEG signal first passes through a signal buffer module, and the signal buffer module includes but is not limited to a voltage follower circuit composed of an operational amplifier, BJT and / or MOS.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present application, the number of the detection electrodes is at least two, and the common mode portion of the EEG signal is formed by adding the EEG signals detected by each of the detection electrodes.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present application, the electrode sheet also includes a REF electrode, and the EEG signal detected by the REF electrode replaces the common mode part of the EEG signal of the detection electrode. The EEG signal detected by the REF electrode is reversely amplified and output to the stimulation electrode.

[0015] The second technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0016] A device for performing transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition simultaneously, used for performing the method for performing transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition simultaneously, comprising:

[0017] An electrode sheet, comprising a stimulation electrode and a detection electrode, wherein the detection electrode is arranged around the stimulation electrode, and a gap is arranged between the detection electrode and the stimulation electrode;

[0018] an electrical stimulator, which is electrically connected to the stimulation electrode;

[0019] an EEG amplifier, which is electrically connected to the detection electrode;

[0020] The common mode feedback circuit is used to reversely amplify the common mode part of the electroencephalogram signal and output it to the stimulation electrode.

[0021] According to some embodiments of the present application, there are at least two detection electrodes, which are dispersedly arranged around the stimulation electrode.

[0022] According to some embodiments of the present application, the detection electrode is ring-shaped and surrounds the stimulation electrode in the middle of the detection electrode.

[0023] According to some embodiments of the present application, the device for simultaneously performing transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition further includes a signal buffer module, which is electrically connected to the EEG amplifier and is used to weaken the influence of source impedance in the EEG signal detected by the detection electrode.

[0024] The third technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0025] An electronic device comprises a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores at least one instruction, at least one program, a code set or an instruction set, and the at least one instruction, at least one program, the code set or the instruction set is loaded and executed by the processor to implement the method of simultaneous transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition as described above.

[0026] The fourth technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0027] A computer-readable storage medium, wherein at least one instruction, at least one program, code set or instruction set is stored in the storage medium, and the at least one instruction, at least one program, code set or instruction set is loaded and executed by a processor to implement the method of simultaneously performing transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition as described above.

[0028] The beneficial effect of the present invention is that the present invention can suppress the interference of the stimulation current on the EEG acquisition channel when transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition are running simultaneously, greatly reduce the impact of electrical stimulation on EEG acquisition, and realize the real-time coexistence of electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the embodiments of the present invention or the drawings of related technical solutions in the prior art are introduced below. It should be understood that the drawings introduced below are only for the convenience of clearly describing some embodiments of the technical solutions of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a common-mode feedback loop of an EEG channel in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a device for simultaneously performing transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 3 It is the top view and the front view of the current density distribution of each structure electrode;

[0033] Figure 4is a structural diagram of a common-mode feedback circuit in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and are not to be construed as limitations of the present invention. For the step numbers in the following embodiments, they are only provided for the convenience of explanation, and the order between the steps is not limited in any way, and the execution order of each step in the embodiment can be adaptively adjusted according to the understanding of those skilled in the art.

[0035] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that descriptions involving orientations, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., and orientations or positional relationships indicated are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0036] In the description of the present invention, "several" means one or more, "more" means more than two, "greater than", "less than", "exceed" etc. are understood as not including the number itself, and "above", "below", "within" etc. are understood as including the number itself. If there is a description of "first" or "second", it is only used for the purpose of distinguishing the technical features, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying the relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0037] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined, terms such as setting, installing, connecting, etc. should be understood in a broad sense, and technicians in the relevant technical field can reasonably determine the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific content of the technical solution.

[0038] Example 1

[0039] This embodiment provides a method for simultaneously performing transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition, comprising the following steps:

[0040] S100. Pasting the electrode sheet to the subject's head, wherein the electrode sheet includes a stimulation electrode and a detection electrode, the detection electrode is arranged around the stimulation electrode, and a gap is arranged between the detection electrode and the stimulation electrode;

[0041] S200. The stimulation electrode is electrically connected to the electrical stimulator, and the detection electrode is electrically connected to the EEG amplifier;

[0042] S300. The electrical stimulator delivers stimulation current to the stimulation electrode, and the EEG amplifier detects the EEG signal of the subject through the detection electrode;

[0043] S400. The EEG amplifier transmits the EEG signal to the common-mode feedback circuit, and the common-mode feedback circuit reversely amplifies the common-mode part of the EEG signal and outputs it to the stimulation electrode.

[0044] The working principle of the method of simultaneous transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition is: Figure 1 The design of stimulating electrode in the center and detecting electrode surrounding the stimulating electrode can suppress differential mode interference and reduce the influence of the output current of the stimulating electrode on the detection process of the detecting electrode. The differential mode component includes the EEG signal itself and the voltage fluctuation generated by the stimulating current flowing through the biological tissue. The common mode component is mainly affected by the common mode voltage generated by the stimulating electrode. The differential mode component can be directly captured by the EEG acquisition system. Due to the non-ideal common mode suppression characteristics of the system, a small part of the common mode signal will be converted into a differential mode signal and enter the acquisition system.

[0045] Common-mode feedback technology is used to suppress common-mode signals. This technology is similar to the principle of the right leg drive circuit commonly used in ECG acquisition systems. It obtains the common-mode component in the signal and outputs it in reverse phase to offset the common-mode interference in the stimulation signal. The use of common-mode feedback circuits can suppress common-mode interference and solve the problem of stimulation current interfering with the EEG acquisition channel when transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition are running simultaneously.

[0046] Furthermore, before the EEG amplifier transmits the EEG signal to the common mode feedback circuit, the EEG signal first passes through a signal buffer module, which includes but is not limited to a voltage follower circuit composed of an operational amplifier, a BJT and / or a MOS.

[0047] Furthermore, the number of the detection electrodes is at least two, and the common mode part of the EEG signal is formed by adding the EEG signals detected by the respective detection electrodes.

[0048] Furthermore, the common-mode signal is obtained by adding all the connected channel signals. In actual use, unused channels or channels with poor contact should be identified and removed. The introduction of these signals causes the common-mode signal to deviate from the true value, but this will lead to an increase in the complexity of the operation. Therefore, in some embodiments, the electrode sheet also includes a REF electrode, and the EEG signal detected by the REF electrode replaces the common-mode part of the EEG signal of the detection electrode. The EEG signal detected by the REF electrode is reversely amplified and output to the stimulation electrode. By moderately reducing the suppression effect of common-mode interference, the complexity of the operation is reduced.

[0049] Example 2

[0050] Reference Figure 2This embodiment provides a device for performing transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition simultaneously, which is used to implement the above-mentioned method for performing transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition simultaneously, including:

[0051] The electrode sheet includes a stimulation electrode and a detection electrode, wherein the detection electrode is arranged around the stimulation electrode, and a gap is arranged between the detection electrode and the stimulation electrode to ensure that there is no direct contact between the detection electrode and the stimulation electrode;

[0052] an electric stimulator, which is electrically connected to the stimulation electrode and is used to output a stimulation current;

[0053] An EEG amplifier, which is electrically connected to the detection electrode and is used to receive EEG signals;

[0054] The common-mode feedback circuit is used to reversely amplify the common-mode part of the EEG signal and output it to the stimulation electrode, thereby achieving common-mode signal suppression.

[0055] Furthermore, in some embodiments, there are at least two detection electrodes and they are dispersed around the stimulation electrode. The detection electrodes are evenly arranged around the stimulation electrode, presenting a layout radiating from the center to the surroundings. Since there are gaps between the detection electrodes, they are not completely equipotential bodies, and a small amount of stimulation current will leak from two adjacent detection electrodes. In this regard, increasing the number of detection electrodes can reduce the leakage of stimulation current, and the specific number of detection electrodes can be flexibly selected according to experimental requirements.

[0056] In other embodiments, the detection electrode is in a ring shape and surrounds the stimulation electrode in the middle of the detection electrode, which further improves the coupling degree between the electrodes and limits the current to the area between the detection electrode and the stimulation electrode.

[0057] Reference Figure 3 , Figure 3 A in FIG uses a simple two-electrode structure with a low degree of coupling, which causes the current to flow back through a larger area, thereby affecting a wider area. Figure 3 In the design B, multiple detection electrodes are dispersedly arranged around the stimulation electrode, which has a higher degree of coupling. Figure 3 The design of C in FIG. 1 is that the ring-shaped detection electrode surrounds the stimulation electrode, and the overall structure is a "concentric circle" structure. It can be seen that the design of the ring-shaped detection electrode surrounding the stimulation electrode has a higher degree of electrode coupling and a better effect on limiting the current.

[0058] Furthermore, the device for simultaneous transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition also includes a signal buffer module, which is electrically connected to the EEG amplifier and is used to weaken the influence of source impedance in the EEG signal detected by the detection electrode.

[0059] Reference Figure 4, the common mode component of the transcranial electrical stimulation signal is Vst_c, and the differential mode component is Vst_d. The stimulation current passes through R1 and R2, and a voltage drop is generated on R3. At the same time, the EEG amplifier outputs VCOM through the COM electrode to provide the DC bias and inverted common mode output of the amplifier, which is applied to both ends of R3 through R4. R1~R4 is the equivalent impedance of the tissue between the electrodes, and Vst is the common mode voltage output by the stimulator. Inside the EEG amplifier, the common mode voltage of the signal is obtained through resistor R5, and the signal is output to VCOM after inverting amplification to offset the influence of VST. The transcranial electrical stimulator and the EEG amplifier are isolated from each other, and the resistor Rz is used to represent the insulation resistance between the ground.

[0060] Example 3

[0061] An embodiment of the present invention also provides an electronic device, comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores at least one instruction, at least one program, a code set or an instruction set, and the at least one instruction, the at least one program, the code set or the instruction set are loaded and executed by the processor to implement the above-mentioned method of simultaneous transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition.

[0062] It is understood that the memory may include a random access memory (RAM) or a read-only memory (ROM). Optionally, the memory includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The memory may be used to store instructions, programs, codes, code sets, or instruction sets. The memory may include a program storage area and a data storage area, wherein the program storage area may store instructions for implementing an operating system, instructions for at least one function, instructions for implementing the above-mentioned various method embodiments, etc.; the data storage area may store data created according to the use of the server, etc.

[0063] The processor may include one or more processing cores. The processor uses various interfaces and lines to connect the various parts of the entire server, and executes various functions of the server and processes data by running or executing instructions, programs, code sets or instruction sets stored in the memory, and calling data stored in the memory. Optionally, the processor can be implemented in at least one hardware form of digital signal processing (DSP), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and programmable logic array (PLA). The processor can integrate one or a combination of a central processing unit (CPU) and a modem. Among them, the CPU mainly processes the operating system and application programs; the modem is used to process wireless communications. It can be understood that the above-mentioned modem may not be integrated into the processor, but implemented separately through a chip.

[0064] Since the electronic device is an electronic device corresponding to a closed-loop transcranial electrical stimulation method of an embodiment of the present invention, and the principle of solving the problem by the electronic device is similar to that of the method, the implementation of the electronic device can refer to the implementation process of the above-mentioned method embodiment, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0065] Example 4

[0066] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which at least one instruction, at least one program, a code set or an instruction set is stored. The at least one instruction, the at least one program, the code set or the instruction set is loaded and executed by a processor to implement the above-mentioned method of simultaneous transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition.

[0067] Those skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the steps in the various methods of the above embodiments can be completed by instructing related hardware through a program, and the program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the storage medium includes a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a one-time programmable read-only memory (OTPROM), an electronically erasable rewritable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, magnetic disk storage, magnetic tape storage, or any other computer-readable medium that can be used to carry or store data.

[0068] Since the storage medium is a storage medium corresponding to a closed-loop transcranial electrical stimulation method of an embodiment of the present invention, and the principle of solving the problem by the storage medium is similar to that of the method, the implementation of the storage medium can refer to the implementation process of the above-mentioned method embodiment, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0069] Example 5

[0070] In some possible implementations, various aspects of the method of the embodiments of the present invention may also be implemented in the form of a program product, which includes a program code. When the program product is run on a computer device, the program code is used to enable the computer device to execute the steps of a method for simultaneous transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application described above in this specification. Among them, the executable computer program code or "code" for executing each embodiment may be written in a high-level programming language such as C, C++, C#, Smalltalk, Java, JavaScript, Visual Basic, structured query language (e.g., Transact-SQL), Perl, or in various other programming languages.

[0071] It should be understood that the various parts of the present invention can be implemented by hardware, software, firmware or a combination thereof. In the above-mentioned embodiments, a plurality of steps or methods can be implemented by software or firmware stored in a memory and executed by a suitable instruction execution system. For example, if implemented by hardware, as in another embodiment, it can be implemented by any one of the following technologies known in the art or their combination: a discrete logic circuit having a logic gate circuit for implementing a logic function for a data signal, a dedicated integrated circuit having a suitable combination of logic gate circuits, a programmable gate array (PGA), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.

[0072] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art may combine and combine the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of the different embodiments or examples, without contradiction.

[0073] The above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical concept and features of the present invention, and their purpose is to enable ordinary technicians in the field to understand the content of the present invention and implement it accordingly, and they cannot be used to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any equivalent changes or modifications made based on the essence of the content of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for simultaneous transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: Pasting an electrode sheet to the subject's head, wherein the electrode sheet comprises a stimulation electrode and a detection electrode, the detection electrode is arranged around the stimulation electrode, and a gap is arranged between the detection electrode and the stimulation electrode; The stimulation electrode is electrically connected to the electrical stimulator, and the detection electrode is electrically connected to the EEG amplifier; The electrical stimulator delivers stimulation current to the stimulation electrode, while the EEG amplifier detects the EEG signal of the subject through the detection electrode; The EEG amplifier transmits the EEG signal to the common-mode feedback circuit, and the common-mode feedback circuit reversely amplifies the common-mode part of the EEG signal and outputs it to the stimulation electrode.

2. The method for simultaneous transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition according to claim 1, characterized in that: Before the EEG amplifier transmits the EEG signal to the common-mode feedback circuit, the EEG signal first passes through a signal buffer module, which includes but is not limited to a voltage follower circuit composed of an operational amplifier, a BJT and / or a MOS.

3. The method for simultaneous transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of the detection electrodes is at least two, and the common mode part of the EEG signal is formed by adding the EEG signals detected by the respective detection electrodes.

4. The method for simultaneous transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The electrode sheet further includes a REF electrode, and the EEG signal detected by the REF electrode replaces the common mode portion of the EEG signal of the detection electrode. The EEG signal detected by the REF electrode is reversely amplified and output to the stimulation electrode.

5. A device for simultaneous transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition, used to perform the method for simultaneous transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: include: An electrode sheet, comprising a stimulation electrode and a detection electrode, wherein the detection electrode is arranged around the stimulation electrode, and a gap is arranged between the detection electrode and the stimulation electrode; an electrical stimulator, which is electrically connected to the stimulation electrode; an EEG amplifier, which is electrically connected to the detection electrode; The common mode feedback circuit is used to reversely amplify the common mode part of the electroencephalogram signal and output it to the stimulation electrode.

6. The device for simultaneous transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition according to claim 5, characterized in that: The number of the detection electrodes is at least two and they are dispersedly arranged around the stimulation electrode.

7. The device for simultaneous transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition according to claim 5, characterized in that: The detection electrode is ring-shaped and surrounds the stimulation electrode in the middle of the detection electrode.

8. The device for simultaneous transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition according to claim 5, characterized in that: The device for simultaneous transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition also includes a signal buffer module, which is electrically connected to the EEG amplifier and is used to weaken the influence of source impedance in the EEG signal detected by the detection electrode.

9. An electronic device, characterized in that: The electronic device includes a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores at least one instruction, at least one program, a code set or an instruction set, and the at least one instruction, the at least one program, the code set or the instruction set is loaded and executed by the processor to implement the method of simultaneously performing transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition as described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

10. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The storage medium stores at least one instruction, at least one program, a code set or an instruction set, and the at least one instruction, the at least one program, the code set or the instruction set are loaded and executed by the processor to implement the method of simultaneously performing transcranial electrical stimulation and EEG acquisition as described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

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