255 results about "Electroencephalography" patented technology

A patient module comprising an 8 channel EEG pre-amplifier whose signal acquisition and processing characteristics are optimized for use in the operating room and intensive care unit. This patient module comprises at least an optimized multistage input filter, an optimized input stage circuit topography, ultra-isolation, oversampling, a multiplexer inter-sample charge dump, and high performance low-frequency-enhanced shielding.

Disclosed are devices and methods for detecting, preventing, and/or treating neurological disorders. These devices and methods utilize electrical stimulation, and comprise a unique concentric ring electrode component. The disclosed methods involve the positioning of multiple electrodes on the scalp of a mammal; monitoring the mammal's brain electrical patterns to identify the onset of a neurological event; identifying the location of the brain electrical patterns indicative of neurological event; and applying transcutaneous or transcranial electrical stimulation to the location of the neurological event to beneficially modify brain electrical patterns. The disclosed methods may be useful in the detection, prevention, and/or treatment of a variety of indications, such as epilepsy, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, depression, bipolar disorder, phobia, schizophrenia, multiple personality disorder, migraine or headache, concussion, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, eating disorder, substance abuse, and anxiety. The disclosed methods may also be used in combination with other peripheral stimulation techniques.

A portable, integrated physiological monitoring system is described for use in clinical outpatient environments. This systems consists of a plethora of sensors and auxiliary devices, an electronics unit (100) that interfaces to the sensors and devices, and a portable personal computer (102). Electrodes (106) are provided to acquisition electrocardiographic, electroencephalographic, and neuromuscular signals. Electrodes (108) are provided to stimulate neural and muscular tissue. A finger pulse oximeter (110), an M-mode ultrasonic transducer (112), an airflow sensor (114), a temperature probe (120), a patient event switch (116), and an electronic stethoscope (118) are provided. A portable personal computer (102) interfaces to the electronics unit (100) via a standard parallel printer port interface (258) to allow communication of commands and information to/from the electronics unit (100). Control and display of the information gathered from the electronics unit (100) is accomplished via an application program executing on the portable personal computer (102). Sharing of common data acquisition hardware along with preliminary processing of information gathered is accomplished within the electronics unit (100). The entire system is battery operated and portable. This system, because of its architecture, offers significant cost advantages as well as unique modes of operation that cannot be achieved from the individual physiological parameter measurement devices alone. The system allows for the integration of acquisitioned information from the sensors into a patient's database stored on the portable personal computer.

Disclosed is a system and method of assessing the efficacy of treatment of neurological or psychological disorders. The preferred embodiment uses at least two surface electrodes to acquire EEG signals from the surface of a patient's body, a processor for computing from the EEG signals various features and indices that are representative of the patient's neurological or psychological state. Changes in these parameters may be used to assess the efficacy of treatment and to modify the treatment to optimize the resultant patient state.

The EEG Processing Unit comprises a semi-rigid framework which substantially conforms to the Patient's head and supports a set of electrodes in predetermined loci on the Patient's head to ensure proper electrode placement. The EEG Processing Unit includes automated connectivity determination apparatus which can use pressure-sensitive electrode placement ensuring proper contact with Patient's scalp and also automatically verifies electrode placement via measurements of electrode impedance through automated impedance checking. Voltages generated by the electrodes are amplified and filtered before being transmitted to an analysis platform, which can be a Physician's laptop computer system, either wirelessly or via a set of tethering wires. The EEG Processing Unit includes an automatic artifacting capability which identifies when there is sufficient clean data compiled in the testing session. This process automatically eliminates muscle- or other physical-artifact-related voltages. Clean data, which represents real brain voltages as opposed to muscle- or physical-artifact-related voltages, thereby are produced.

Systems and methods for treating neuro-psychiatric disorders, such as depression or schizophrenia, and/or other illnesses are disclosed. A patient is diagnosed with a particular neuro-psychiatric disorder or other illness. An electric nerve stimulation (ENS) technique, such as vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), is administered to the patient in conjunction with a magnetic nerve stimulation (MNS) technique. The magnetic nerve stimulation (MNS) technique includes applying a magnetic field to a pre-selected synaptic region of a brain of the patient based on the diagnosis. A physiological response of the brain, such as electroencephalogram (EEG) activity, is monitored. One or more parameters of the magnetic field may be selectively adapted in response to the monitored physiological response. The administration of the ENS technique and the MNS technique may be performed simultaneously, in serial order, or in alternating order depending on the diagnosis.

<heading lvl="0">Abstract of Disclosure</heading> Apparatus utilizing electrical activity of the brain to control a series of low-stimuli educational exercises displayed on a computer monitor to increase the following educational components: time on-task, visual tracking, short-term memory, visual discriminatory processing, auditory discriminatory processing, and focus. The exercises are governed by real-time analysis of the focus and processing states of the user. Specific relative exercise performance data are collected and recorded from the use of each of the educational components to demonstrate improvement over time of the user in each of the sited educational components.

Efficient and effective mechanisms for collecting electroencephalography (EEG) data are provided to synchronize neuro-response data collection with stimulus material presentation for in situ engagement monitoring and tracking. An EEG headset includes multiple point electrodes individually isolated and amplified. In some examples, a stimulus material presentation mechanism includes a clock source and a clock transmitter. The clock transmitter sends clock signals to a neuro-response data collection mechanism to allow synchronization of neuro-response data collected with stimulus presentation events. The EEG headset can be configured to perform processing while supporting both continuous input and output.

A system presents stimulus materials such as products, product packages, displays, services, offerings, etc., in virtual reality environments such as market aisles, store shelves, showroom floors, etc. Sensory experiences output to the user via the virtual reality environment elicit user interactivity. User activity and responses are used to modify marketing materials and/or virtual reality environments. Neuro-response data including electroencephalography (EEG) data is collected from users in order to evaluate the effectiveness of marketing materials in virtual reality environments. In particular examples, neuro-response data is used to modify marketing materials and virtual reality environments presented to the user.

A nicotine delivery reduction system includes an electronic cigarette having a breath monitor and a flow controller. The breath monitor detects user breath characteristics such as breath duration, rate, depth, and strength and adjusts the amount of nicotine delivered to the user based on user breath characteristics. In particular examples, if the user is breathing with more urgency, additional nicotine is delivered to the user. The nicotine delivery reduction system also includes an interface to allow implementation of different reduction programs based on personal preferences and characteristics. If the user is breathing normally, the flow controller gradually reduces the level of nicotine delivered to the user. The nicotine delivery reduction system maintains user breath characteristics over time to allow reduction and possible elimination of nicotine dependence. Neuro-response data including electroencephalography (EEG) can be obtained and analyzed to determine the effectiveness of a nicotine reduction program.

A system analyzes neuro-response measurements from subjects exposed to video games to identify neurologically salient locations for inclusion of stimulus material and personalized stimulus material such as video streams, advertisements, messages, product offers, purchase offers, etc. Examples of neuro-response measurements include Electroencephalography (EEG), optical imaging, and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), eye tracking, and facial emotion encoding measurements.

Efficient and effective mechanisms for collecting neuro-response data are provided to allow assessment of post-purchase products, services, offerings, and experiences. In some examples, a neuro-response data collection mechanism such as a portable electroencephalography (EEG) headset is used to collect neuro-response data from a consumer exposed to a product in a post-purchase state. Post-purchase assessments may be made at particular times after a purchase transaction. A post-purchase assessment may be compared to a pre-purchase assessment. The assessments can be used to enhance product packaging, modify service components, improve sustained experiences, change consumer behavior, etc.

An electroencephalogram (EEG) utilizing epileptiform activity detection, warning and recording system adapted for use by non-healthcare professionals or healthcare professionals. The system is simple enough for use by untrained personnel and will be self-contained, not requiring technical setup or point of use maintenance. The system includes a small number of passive or active scalp electrodes for capturing the electrical signals in the subject's brain allowing for detection of epileptiform activity. The system will recognize epileptiform activity and will either transmit signals upon detection of epileptiform activity to either a localized warning device or to a cellular or radio receiving device. The system will note epileptiform activity in a recording component and allow for review of the epileptiform data to allow non-clinical and clinical personnel to verify such activity.

An improved electrode headset is provided for the acquisition of electroencephalographic (EEG) brain signals detected at the scalp of a human subject. The headset includes an elastic fabric cap having a chinstrap, which cap is fitted closely to the scalp. The cap has openings at those selected locations on the scalp to which removable and disposable electrodes are to be removably connected to the scalp. A positioning unit, of a generally flat and flexible plastic material, is attachable to the cap by corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners on the outer surface of the cap and the inner surface of the positioning unit. The positioning unit has a base portion and two opposite leg portions, each with slits. Flat beams are adjustably connected through the slits to the leg portions and base portion. Each beam carries a screw member which adjustably applies pressure to electrode holders and a flexible electrode extractor strap to which the electrode holder is attached. Each electrode holder is snap fastened to an electrode positioned within a cap opening.

Embodiments of the disclosed technology provide a combination electroencephalography and non-invasive stimulation devices. Upon measuring an electrical anomaly in a region of a brain, various non-invasive stimulation techniques are utilized to correct neural activity. Stimulation techniques include transcranial direct current stimulation, transcranial alternating current stimulation and transcranial random noise stimulation, low threshold transcranial magnetic stimulation and repetitive transcranial magnet stimulation. Devices of the disclosed technology may utilize visual, balance, auditory, and other stimuli to test the subject, analyze necessary brain stimulations, and administer stimulation to the brain.