Flexible Electrode Placement Device for EEG Signal Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrode placement devices for EEG, EMG, and tDCS face challenges in ease and speed of application, signal quality, manufacturing costs, comfort, and hygiene.
Innovation Solution
A flexible planar support device with longitudinally flexible main and side arm portions that conform to the head shape, featuring dismountable skin-contacting electrodes and an electronic unit attachment system, allowing for efficient and comfortable placement with adjustable tension for optimal signal quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flexible planar support device is used to conform to head shape, then comfort and signal quality are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The planar support device incorporates longitudinal flexibility allowing it to dynamically conform to the curvature of the subject's head midline. The main body portion and side arm portion can bend and adapt their shape, transforming from a rigid structure to a dynamic one that maintains optimal electrode-skin contact while accommodating head geometry variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes a flexible planar support structure that can be bent and shaped to match the contours of the head. This flexible shell approach allows the device to wrap around the head's curvature, ensuring stable electrode placement and improved signal quality without requiring complex rigid adjustment mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If dismountable electrodes and electronic units are used, then ease of cleaning and hygiene are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separable components including dismountable skin-contacting electrodes and a detachable electronic unit. This segmentation allows each component to be independently removed for cleaning or replacement, improving hygiene and maintenance ease while reducing the complexity burden on the main support structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The design enables easy removal and replacement of electrodes and electronic units, allowing used components to be discarded or recovered for cleaning. This approach simplifies the cleaning process by isolating contaminable parts that can be separately maintained, while the main support structure remains intact.
3Reliability
If tension force is applied to conform to head shape, then signal quality and comfort are improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates adjustable tension force application through the bodily-worn support, allowing the degree of conformity to head shape to be modified. This parameter adjustment capability enables optimal electrode-skin contact pressure to be achieved without requiring extremely precise manufacturing tolerances, as the tension can be tuned to accommodate variations in head geometry.
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 device ensures quick and comfortable electrode placement with improved signal quality, reduces manufacturing costs, and enhances hygiene through easy cleaning and reuse options.
Implementation Method 1
the main body portion (140) is longitudinally flexible so as to be able to conform to a shape of the midline of the head (52) of the subject (50); wherein the side arm portion (170) is at least longitudinally flexible so as to be able to bend towards the anterior end (12) of the longitudinal main body portion (140)
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5B
Figure 6~7
AI summary
Provided is a device (100) for placement of one or more skin-contacting electrodes on a subject (50) comprising a planar support (120) having: a longitudinal main body portion (140) and a side arm portion (170) joined at its near end (18) to the main body portion (140), wherein portion of the main body portion (140) contains a landing region (142, 142') for mechanical and electrical dismountable attachment of an electronic unit (300), the main body portion (140) contains a plurality of signal-conducting elements (148a to d) that are skin-contacting electrodes or mounts for dismountable attachment of skin-contacting electrodes.