EEG Headset Layout for Synchronized Neurofeedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current head-mounted devices for measuring cortical activity and providing feedback are cumbersome, expensive, and lack accurate synchronization between brain activity and stimulation signals, leading to reduced effectiveness in neurological rehabilitation and other applications.
Innovation Solution
A head-mounted EEG sensing device with a flexible electronic circuit and sensor support that allows for easy placement and adjustment, integrated with a head-mounted display and physiological parameter measurement system, ensuring accurate real-time integration of measurement and control signals, and utilizing a centralized clock for synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional mechanical actuation systems are used to track and assist body part movements, then patient fatigue is reduced and movement tracking is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical actuation systems with a brain-computer interface that directly measures cortical activity using EEG sensors. This substitution eliminates the need for heavy mechanical actuators while maintaining the ability to assist and track movements through neural signal processing and virtual reality feedback
2Measurement precision
If VR-based systems with separate monitor screens are used, then brain monitoring capability is added, but patient immersion in the virtual environment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the EEG sensing device with a head-mounted display into an integrated headset that sits directly on the patient's head. This combination allows simultaneous cortical activity measurement and immersive virtual reality experience without requiring separate monitor screens, as the display is positioned within the patient's field of view
3Adaptability or versatility
If decentralized independent units are used for data acquisition, then system modularity is maintained, but synchronization accuracy between brain activity and stimulation signals deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple data acquisition units (EEG sensors, motion trackers, stimulus delivery systems) into a single integrated system with a centralized clock. This centralization ensures synchronized operation of all components with precise timing, eliminating the synchronization errors that occur with decentralized independent units while maintaining system versatility
Data Source
AI summary
A head set (2) comprises a brain electrical activity (EEG) sensing device (3) comprising EEG sensors (22) configured to be mounted on a head of a wearer so as to position the EEG sensors (22) at selected positions of interest over the wearers scalp, the EEG sensing device comprising a sensor support (4) and a flexible circuit (6) assembled to the sensor support. The sensor support and flexible circuit comprise a central stem (4a, 6a) configured to extend along a center plane of the top of the head in a direction from a nose to a centre of the back of a wearers head, a front lateral branch (4b, 6b) configured to extend across a front portion of a wearer's head extending laterally from the central stem, a center lateral branch (4c, 6c) configured to extend across a top portion of a wearer's head essentially between the wearer's ears, and a rear lateral branch (4d, 6d) configured to extend across a back portion of a wearer's head. The sensor support (4) comprises a base wall (401) and side walls (402) extending along edges of the base wall to form an essentially flat “U” shaped channel (403) in which the flexible circuit (6) is inserted and the base wall comprise EEG sensor orifices (404) to allow access to the EEG sensor contacts or electrodes on the flexible circuit.