Averaged Reference Potential for Bioelectrical Signal Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Monopolar derivation of bioelectrical signals faces challenges due to contradictory requirements for electrode placement, where close proximity reduces noise but increases interference susceptibility, and distant placement improves signal quality but requires low-interference environments, making reliable detection under adverse conditions difficult.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device with a means to provide an averaged electrical reference potential, using multiple electrodes to form a stable reference signal that is insensitive to local bioelectrical signals, allowing electrodes to be placed close together while minimizing interference and noise, and incorporating differential amplifiers to enhance signal quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the recording electrode and reference electrode are positioned close together, then thermal noise is reduced due to lower electrical resistance, but the device becomes more susceptible to electromagnetic interference from alternating magnetic fields
Solution Approach 1:
The reference electrode is divided into multiple smaller contact elements (at least two reference contact elements) that are distributed in space. This segmentation allows the reference potential to be derived from multiple locations, reducing susceptibility to localized electromagnetic interference while maintaining low impedance connections to the recording electrode.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple reference contact elements are electrically connected in parallel to form a common reference potential. This merging of multiple reference points provides both the low impedance benefit of close positioning and the interference rejection benefit of spatial distribution, as the parallel connection averages out localized interference effects.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the recording electrode and reference electrode are positioned far apart, then electromagnetic interference is reduced, but thermal noise increases due to higher electrical resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The reference electrode system is segmented into multiple contact elements distributed throughout the device. This allows the reference potential to be derived from multiple locations close to different recording electrodes, maintaining low impedance without requiring a single distant reference point.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of positioning reference electrodes only in the vertical dimension (close to or far from recording electrodes), the invention distributes reference contact elements across multiple spatial dimensions within the device structure. This multi-dimensional distribution allows simultaneous optimization of both impedance and interference rejection.
3Device complexity
If a single reference electrode is used, then the device structure is simple, but the reference potential is susceptible to local bioelectrical signals and interference
Solution Approach 1:
The single reference electrode is segmented into multiple reference contact elements (at least two) that are distributed in space. Each element provides an independent measurement of the reference potential, and their parallel combination creates a more stable and interference-resistant reference signal.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple reference contact elements are merged through parallel electrical connection to form a unified reference potential. This merging provides redundancy and averaging effects that stabilize the reference potential against local bioelectrical signals and interference, while the overall structure remains relatively simple.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution improves signal quality and reliability by reducing noise and interference, enabling effective bioelectrical signal detection regardless of electrode arrangement and environmental conditions, with reduced data transmission requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a first number of electrodes which can be coupled to a biological organism for tapping off a first number of electrical potentials from the biological organism
Implementation Method 2
The sensor device comprises a first number of differential amplifiers, wherein a first input of each differential amplifier is connected to an electrode of the first number of electrodes and a second input is connected to the means for providing an averaged electrical reference potential
Data Source
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Figure 2
AI summary
Sensor device for detection of bioelectrical signals, in particular for implantation in or on a brain, wherein the sensor device comprises a first number of electrodes, which can be coupled to a biological organism, in particular to nerve cells of a nervous system, for tapping a first number of electrical potentials on the biological organism. According to the invention, the sensor device comprises means for supplying an averaged electrical reference potential. The averaged electrical reference potential is formed from a plurality of detected electrical potentials that are tapped on the biological organism.