Eyewear Electrodes with Protrusions for Scalp Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing eyewear technologies with electrodes, such as EEG sensors, face challenges in effectively penetrating hair to obtain accurate brain activity data, and there is a need for innovative designs that can predict and detect health events like seizures, strokes, or heart attacks, while also functioning as a Brain-to-Computer Interface (BCI) for communication.

Innovation Solution

The proposed eyewear design incorporates electrodes on the anterior and posterior portions of the temple, with the posterior electrode featuring multiple electroconductive protrusions to penetrate between hair strands, enabling effective data collection and potential use in health event prediction and BCI applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional flat electrodes are used on eyewear temples, then the device structure is simple, but the electrodes cannot effectively penetrate hair to collect accurate brain activity data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrain activity data accuracyVSAvoidelectrode structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode surface is segmented into multiple protrusions rather than a single flat contact area. Each protrusion acts as an independent contact point that can penetrate through hair strands, increasing the probability of reaching the scalp and collecting accurate EEG signals despite the complexity increase in electrode design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode design transitions from a two-dimensional flat surface to a three-dimensional structure with multiple protrusions extending outward. This dimensional change allows the electrode to interact with the scalp through the third dimension (depth), penetrating hair layers to establish reliable electrical contact for brain activity measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If multiple electroconductive protrusions are added to penetrate hair, then brain activity data collection is improved, but the electrode design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection effectivenessVSAvoidelectrode design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode is divided into multiple protrusion elements distributed across its surface. This segmentation allows each protrusion to independently penetrate hair and contact the scalp, ensuring reliable data collection even if some protrusions are blocked, thereby improving overall system reliability despite increased design complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the electrode surface have different properties - the protrusions have electroconductive material concentrated at their tips to maximize contact with the scalp, while the base provides structural support and electrical connection. This local differentiation of properties optimizes both penetration capability and signal collection reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If electrodes are placed on temple portions to collect brain activity, then health event prediction capability is enabled, but the system requires complex signal processing and analysis infrastructure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehealth event prediction capabilityVSAvoidsystem infrastructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The eyewear system with electrodes is designed to perform multiple functions: collecting brain activity data for health event prediction, potential BCI communication applications, and general neurological monitoring. This multi-functionality increases adaptability across different use cases while requiring a comprehensive but integrated system infrastructure for signal processing and analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This design enhances the ability to collect accurate brain activity data, even through hair, and potentially predicts and detects health events, while also enabling communication through BCI functionality.

Implementation Method 1

The posterior electrode can have multiple electroconductive protrusions to help penetrate between strands of hair

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS12310749B2Eyewear (eyeglasses) with electrodes (EEG sensors) for prediction and/or detection of health events or use as a brain-to-computer interface (BCI)

Publication Date: 2025.05.27 MEDIBOTIOS MC

AI summary

This invention is eyewear (e.g. eyeglasses) with electrodes (e.g. EEG sensors) which collect brain activity data (e.g. electroencephalographic data) which can be used to predict and/or detect health events (e.g. epileptic seizure, stroke, or heart attack) or function as a BCI (Brain-to-Computer Interface) for communication. There can be anterior and posterior electrodes on the eyewear temple and the temple can have an upward and/or inward curving wave or arm. A posterior electrode can have multiple electroconductive protrusions to help penetrate between strands of hair.