EEG Sensor Device with Stepless Axial Displacement Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing EEG electrodes require gels or pastes for effective contact with the scalp, leading to residue issues, discomfort, and difficulty in achieving balanced contact pressure, especially with varying head sizes and shapes, and require manual adjustment by a treating professional.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device with a stepless screw mechanism allowing for adjustable axial displacement of the electrode housing relative to the holder, enabling self-adjustment by the user and accommodating sensors of different lengths, ensuring stable mechanical and electrical contact without gel or paste, using a cap with predefined openings for sensor devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gels or pastes are used to improve contact between electrode and scalp, then contact resistance is minimized, but gel residues remain causing hair to stick together and requiring additional washing time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gel or paste substance from the electrode system entirely, extracting the harmful residue-causing element while maintaining electrical contact through a dry electrode design with conductive elements that contact the scalp directly without any gel medium
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode is designed as a disposable single-use component that is discarded after one use, eliminating the need for cleaning and washing procedures while ensuring optimal performance during the single application without gel residue accumulation
2Loss of time
If dry electrodes are used without gel or paste, then no residue is left and washing is unnecessary, but higher contact pressure is required which may cause pain
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is divided into multiple fine conductive elements or contacts rather than a single large contact point, distributing the required contact pressure across multiple smaller points to reduce pain while maintaining adequate electrical contact for signal acquisition
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode design changes the physical parameters of contact by using softer, more compliant conductive materials and optimizing the contact surface geometry to achieve adequate electrical contact with lower pressure requirements, reducing discomfort during use
3Reliability
If electrodes are fixed using elastic materials or mechanical springs, then stable contact is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation function is merged with the electrode structure itself by integrating adhesive elements or self-adhering features directly into the electrode base, eliminating the need for separate elastic materials or mechanical spring components while maintaining stable contact
4Adaptability or versatility
If sensors of different lengths are used to accommodate various head sizes, then contact can be established for all users, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode incorporates a flexible or articulated sensor assembly that can dynamically adjust its effective length or contact position through user manipulation, allowing a single electrode design to accommodate various head sizes and shapes without requiring multiple fixed-length sensor variants
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor device which is suitable for receiving and transmitting signals and can be placed on a test person's head, includes a sensor device housing having a signal pin on its distal side for receiving a signal and a connection on its proximal side for the signal transmission of a signal received by the signal pin. A sensor device holder has an axial through opening in which the sensor device housing is disposed so as to be steplessly axially displaceable. When the sensor device housing is axially displaced relative to the sensor device holder, the sensor device housing does not change its radial orientation. A cap having a plurality of sensor devices is also provided.