Mastoid Electrode Headwear for Closed-Loop Brain Stimulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wearable devices for brain monitoring and stimulation suffer from poor signal quality due to unstable electrode contact, high impedance, and non-dynamic stimulation protocols, leading to inaccurate readings, reduced effectiveness, and user discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A wearable device with flexible electrodes positioned at the mastoid region, a data processing unit, and a closed-loop system for adaptive brain stimulation, ensuring stable contact, reliable signal acquisition, and personalized stimulation protocols based on real-time brain activity analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rigid electrode placement is used, then fixed contact points are achieved, but user comfort deteriorates and signal artefacts increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact stabilityVSAvoiduser comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode arrangement is designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing it to dynamically conform to the user's head movements and natural contours. This dynamic design maintains stable electrical contact while accommodating user comfort during prolonged wear, resolving the contradiction between contact stability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode arrangement utilizes flexible materials and thin-film construction to create a compliant interface between the rigid electrode contacts and the soft tissue of the user's head. This flexible structure maintains reliable electrical contact while adapting to head movements, eliminating signal artefacts, and preserving user comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of manufacture

If dry-contact electrodes are used, then gel application is eliminated, but impedance increases and signal acquisition reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoidsignal acquisition

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode design incorporates parameters optimization including increased electrode surface area, improved material conductivity, and enhanced contact pressure distribution. These parameter changes enable dry-contact electrodes to achieve low impedance and reliable signal acquisition without requiring conductive gel, maintaining both device simplicity and signal reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If generic neurostimulation protocols are used, then device complexity is reduced, but therapeutic benefit is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol simplicityVSAvoidtherapeutic effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements closed-loop feedback by continuously monitoring brain activity signals and using this information to dynamically adjust neurostimulation protocol parameters. This feedback mechanism enables personalized, adaptive stimulation that optimizes therapeutic effectiveness while maintaining manageable device complexity through automated control algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The neurostimulation protocol transitions from static, generic parameters to dynamic, adaptive parameters that automatically adjust based on real-time brain activity monitoring. This dynamic adjustment personalizes treatment for each user and optimizes therapeutic benefit without requiring complex manual programming.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Improves signal quality, ensures accurate and dynamic brain stimulation, enhances user comfort, and provides effective therapeutic outcomes by modulating autonomic balance and reducing stress.

Implementation Method 1

the plurality of electrodes are configured to make electrical contact with a skin of a user, the skin lying at least partially in a mastoid region of the user

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS20260020805A1Wearable devices for monitoring brain activity and providing non-invasive stimulation and methods of implementation thereof

Publication Date: 2026.01.22 BRAINPATCH LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is wearable device for monitoring brain activity and for providing non-invasive stimulation, wearable device comprising: headwear arrangement comprising: electrode arrangement comprising electrodes configured to make electrical contact with skin of user; and flexible cushioning member supporting electrodes; input/output (I/O) arrangement configured to: receive electrical signals (ES) from electrode(s); transmit ES to data processing arrangement (DPA) to process ES for generating brain stimuli (BS); and generate and apply BS generated using a brain stimulation protocol (BSP) to electrode(s), BS applied on skin lying partially in mastoid region; DPA comprising processing unit configured to: receive ES from I/O arrangement; analyse ES with predetermined reference data set, by extracting signal feature(s); apply processing algorithm(s), to map signal feature(s) to stimulation parameter(s); generate BSP comprising stimulation parameter(s); and transmit BSP to I/O arrangement; and power unit(s) supplying electrical power to I/O arrangement and DPA.