Unified EEG Visualization with 3D Brain Models

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current pre-surgical clinical workflows struggle to effectively integrate EEG data with anatomical images and electrode placements in a unified viewing environment, making it difficult for clinicians to correlate EEG findings with patient anatomy and symptoms.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that enables visualization of EEG data alongside pre-surgical and post-surgical data using a computing device, allowing for the simultaneous display of EEG traces and three-dimensional brain models with electrode placements, and automatically associating EEG data with visual representations of electrodes and contacts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If EEG data is displayed using traditional trace montages, then the number of displayed traces is limited to less than 50 due to screen constraints, but geometrically related contacts on different electrodes and anatomically proximate contacts cannot be concurrently displayed on a single screen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of displayed tracesVSAvoidspatial relationship information
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from traditional 2D EEG trace montages to a 3D visualization environment where electrode contacts are displayed in their actual anatomical positions within the brain. This dimensional change allows numerous contacts to be simultaneously visualized with their spatial relationships preserved, overcoming the screen constraint limitation while maintaining anatomical context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a nested visualization approach where electrode contacts are displayed within the context of 3D brain anatomy, which itself is nested within a comprehensive surgical planning environment. This nesting allows multiple levels of information (contacts, electrodes, brain structures, surgical trajectories) to be simultaneously visualized without overwhelming the display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Loss of information

If multiple imaging studies (pre-surgical and post-surgical) are integrated into a unified viewing environment, then correlation between EEG findings and patient anatomy is improved, but system complexity and integration requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrelation between EEG and anatomyVSAvoidsystem integration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges pre-surgical imaging data, post-surgical imaging data, EEG electrode placement information, and functional mapping data into a single unified 3D visualization environment. This consolidation allows clinicians to view all relevant information in one interface, improving correlation between EEG findings and anatomy while managing complexity through integrated software architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal viewing environment that can display and integrate multiple types of medical imaging data and EEG information simultaneously. This multi-functional system handles diverse data formats and sources through a common interface, reducing the need for multiple separate tools and simplifying the overall workflow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If automated association of EEG data with electrode visual representations is implemented, then clinical analysis efficiency is improved, but processing and integration requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclinical analysis efficiencyVSAvoidcomputational processing requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs automated association of EEG data with electrode visual representations during the initial data loading and setup phase, before clinical analysis begins. This preliminary processing establishes the relationships between EEG channels and electrode contacts in advance, allowing clinicians to efficiently query and analyze data without repeated processing overhead during the analysis phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4566531A1Systems and methods of integrating electrophysiological data with a visual representation of associated electrodes and contacts in a patient-specific three-dimensional brain model
Publication Date: 2025.06.11 CADWELL LAB INC
  • EP4566531A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4566531A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4566531A1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A method of enabling a user to visualize, review and analyze a patient's EEG data, pre-surgical data and post-surgical data, includes generating a unified viewing environment, wherein the unified viewing environment has at least a first view area and a second view area; importing, using the unified viewing environment, pre-surgical data and post-surgical data; acquiring EEG data of the patient; displaying, simultaneously, the EEG data in the first view area and the post-surgical data in the second view area of the unified viewing environment, wherein the EEG data is displayed as a vertical stack of a plurality of EEG traces, and wherein the post-surgical data is displayed without a need to pre-process and co-register with a three-dimensional coordinate system; and automatically associating visual representation of each of one or more electrodes and contacts in the post-surgical data with an EEG trace of the plurality of EEG traces.