KR20170051699A - Apparatus for EEG Detector using Dry Electrodes - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a brain wave measuring apparatus using a dry electrode. The purpose of the present invention is to minimize contact impedance by checking a contact state between a reference electrode and a signal electrode by measuring a resistance, and to check a part not in contact by assigning an individual identification number (ID) to each electrode unit, thereby reducing power consumption by managing a power source when a scalp is not in contact.

Description

[0001] Apparatus for EEG Detector using Dry Electrodes [0002]

The present invention relates to an electroencephalogram measurement apparatus using a dry electrode for measuring brain waves by using a dry electrode to minimize hair noise, acquiring a cleaner EEG signal, and transmitting the EEG signal for analysis.

Generally, EEG measured in the scalp is used in various industrial fields such as medical, games, and aids for the disabled in recent years.

A wet electrode is generally used to measure EEG signals. Such a wet electrode has a small contact resistance. However, since it requires a scalp treatment such as applying a conductive gel and cutting a part of hair before measuring brain waves, it is very inconvenient, There is a problem of rising.

A dry electrode capable of solving the disadvantages of the wet electrode has been developed. However, the dry electrode of the related art still has a contact resistance as high as that of the wet electrode, so it is difficult to measure the EEG, and it is difficult to measure the EEG occurring in a wide range .

The active dry electrode module 10 includes a housing 11, an active dry electrode 20, a low noise amplifier 13, and a connection frame 14, And an active dry electrode 20 penetrating through the inside of the housing 11 to be engaged with or detached from the test cap, .

A plurality of active dry electrodes 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 may be coupled to the housing 11 in parallel.

As described above, since the conventional dry electrode module 10 according to the related art has a spike needle formed radially at the end of the electrode pin contacting the scalp, the contact resistance can be lowered and the area of measurement can be increased.

However, since the dry electrode module according to the related art has to use a cap, when the electrode module is unstable when worn, the contact impedance is increased and the signal quality is deteriorated.

Domestic patent registration No. 10-1552269 (Notice date: September 10, 2015)

Accordingly, the present invention can confirm the presence or absence of contact by measuring the resistance between the reference electrode and the signal electrode, minimize the contact impedance, assign an individual identification number (ID) to each electrode portion, And it is an object of the present invention to provide a brain wave measuring apparatus using a dry electrode which can reduce power consumption by performing power management when the head is not in contact with the scalp.

In order to accomplish the object of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for measuring EEG using a dry electrode, comprising: an electroencephalogram measuring unit for collecting EEG signals from a plurality of EEG electrodes for measuring electric EEG signals in contact with a scalp of a subject, Wherein each of the EEG electrodes is fixed to an end of a plurality of electrode feet to measure a potential change at a measurement position; A contact confirmation unit for sensing a measurement signal of the electrode and determining a contact error when the measurement signal is measured to be below a reference level; An amplifier / filter unit for amplifying and filtering an electrical signal sensed by the electrode; An analog / digital converter (ADC) for converting an electrical signal from the amplifying / filtering unit and a contact confirmation signal from the contact confirmation unit into a digital signal; And a signal output unit for transmitting the digital signal from the A / D converter to the EEPROM, wherein the EEPROM analyzer collects electrical signals transmitted from the signal output units of the EEP electrodes, A microprocessor for acquiring an EEG signal by the EEG; A wireless communication unit for wirelessly transmitting an EEG signal collected from the microprocessor to an EEG analyzing apparatus; And a power supply unit for supplying driving power of the EEG electrode unit and the EEG base unit.

Herein, the microprocessor compares the EEG signals collected from the EEG electrodes with the reference EEG signals. When the EEG variations and the frequency signals other than the EEG signal region are measured for a long time, And stop collecting the signal.

The electroencephalogram measuring device using the dry electrode according to the present invention can securely contact the scalp of the subject by minimizing the noise factor due to the hair, The filter unit, the ADC, and the signal output unit are formed in the form of a one chip, so that the volume can be minimized, thereby making it possible to achieve weight reduction and miniaturization. Each of the EEG electrodes is given an ID number, It is possible to identify a portion that is not in contact with the user, to alert the user when a contact error occurs for a set time, or to power down the EEG device to reduce power consumption.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an active dry type electrode module according to the related art,
FIG. 2 is an overall block diagram of an EEG apparatus using a dry electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of each block of FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 is an external view of the EEG electrode section in FIG. 3; FIG.

The configuration and operation of the EEG apparatus using the dry electrode according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an electroencephalogram measurement apparatus using a dry electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electroencephalogram electrode unit 100 (101 to 103) for measuring an electric EEG signal in contact with a scalp of a subject, An EEG measuring unit 200 for acquiring EEG data by collecting EEG signals from the EEG electrodes 101 to 103 and an EEG analyzing unit 200 for receiving EEG signals through wireless communication from the EEG measuring unit 200, And an EEG analyzing apparatus 300 for analyzing the state of the subject.

Here, each of the EEP electrodes 101 to 103 and the EEPROM 200 transmits a signal through SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) communication.

In addition, the EEG electrodes 101 to 103 are preferably connectable from one channel to sixteen channels.

In addition, the brain wave measuring device 200 supplies driving power to the respective EEG electrodes 101 to 103.

The electrode rod 110 is fixed to an end of an electrode foot 111 having an elastic body (not shown) therein.

The EEG analyzing apparatus 300 may be a personal computer (PC) equipped with an EEG analysis program or a smart device such as a smart phone or a tablet PC. EEG signals are received by wireless communication.

FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of each block of the EEG apparatus using the dry electrode according to the embodiment of the present invention. The EEG electrodes 101 to 103 are fixed to the ends of a plurality of electrode feet 111, A contact confirmation unit 120 for sensing a measurement signal of the electrode 110 and determining a contact error when the measurement signal is measured to be below a reference level, An amplifying / filtering unit 130 for amplifying and filtering the electric signal sensed by the amplifying / filtering unit 130 and a contact confirmation signal from the contact checking unit 120 into a digital signal And an SPI-type signal output unit 150 for transmitting a digital signal from the analog-to-digital conversion unit 140 to the brain wave measuring device 200. [

The contact confirmation unit 120, the amplification / filter unit 130, the analog / digital conversion unit 140, and the signal output unit 150 of each of the EEG electrodes 101 to 103 are formed of one chip, And the connector unit 160 is connected to the brain wave measuring device 200 using an FPC cable or the like.

FIG. 4 is an external view of an EEG electrode unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. The EEG electrode unit includes an electrode foot 111 for supporting a rod of an electrode 110 that contacts the scalp, And a connector 160 connected to the brain wave measuring device 200.

The EEG unit 200 includes a microprocessor (MCU) 210 for collecting electric signals transmitted from the signal output units 150 of the EEG electrodes 101 to 103 and acquiring an EEG signal according to a stored algorithm, A wireless communication unit 220 for wirelessly transmitting EEG signals collected from the MCU 210 to the EEPROM 300 and a power unit 230 for supplying driving power of the EEPROM and EEG base unit, And a reference signal unit 240 for providing a reference signal of an EEG to the MCU 210.

The operation of the EEG apparatus using the dry electrode according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG.

First, a plurality of EEG electrodes 101 to 103 are fixed to the scalp of the examinee through the respective electrodes 110 and connected to the EEG base unit 200 through the connector unit 160.

The power supply unit 230 of the brain wave measuring device 200 supplies driving power to the respective parts of the brain-wave electrode units 101 to 103. The electrode rod 110 of each of the EEG electrodes 101 to 103 receiving the driving power from the EEG base unit 200 starts to detect electric signals from the subject's scalp.

That is, a change in potential is detected from the electrode rod 110 by a power source applied from the power source unit 230 and output to the amplification / filter unit 130. The amplification / filter unit 130 amplifies the potential change to a predetermined level, To obtain a stable signal.

In this case, since the signal of the EEG is very small, ranging from tens of nanometers to several hundreds of microns,

The filter unit implements a 60 Hz notch filter generated from the power source and is composed of a low pass filter (LPF) of 100 Hz in order to cut out a range outside the EEG region.

The electrical signal output from the amplifying / filtering unit 130 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 140 and output to the EEPROM 200 through the signal output unit 150.

If the normal electrical signal is not detected by the electrode 110, the touch sensing unit 120 senses the electrical signal and transmits the serial peripheral interface (SPI) signal through the analog / digital conversion unit 140 and the signal output unit 150. [ And transmits it to the brain wave measuring device base 200 in a communication manner.

The plurality of EEPROMs 101 to 103 connected to the EEPROM 200 measures the EEPROM signals and transmits them to the EEPROM 200.

The brain wave measuring unit 200 receives signals from the brain wave electrode units 101 to 103 and calculates brain wave data in real time through a signal processing process according to an algorithm stored in the MCU 210.

The MCU 210 collects EEG signals from the signal output unit 150 of each of the EEG electrodes 101 to 103 and determines whether the EEG signal of the subject is correctly input.

In other words, when the EEG reference signal received from the reference signal unit 240 is compared with the measured EEG signal in real time to judge the EEG signal as a frequency signal other than the fluctuation of the EEP and the EEG signal area, If it is measured more than the set time, the collection of EEG signals will be stopped.

In another embodiment of the EEG signal contact error determination, the MCU 210 analyzes the contact confirmation signal from the contact confirmation unit 120 of each EEG electrode 200, Stop.

The MCU 210 transmits the EEG data collected and calculated from the EEG electrodes 101 to 103 to the EEG analyzing unit 300 through the wireless communication unit 220 and outputs an error An EEG signal collection error signal is transmitted to the EEPROM 300 to generate an alarm message.

Hereinafter, terms and words used in the specification and claims should not be construed as limited to ordinary or dictionary terms, and should be construed as a concept of beauty that meets the technical idea of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments described herein and the drawings depicted in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to represent all of the technical aspects of the present invention, so that various modifications It is to be understood that equivalents and modifications are possible.

100 to 103: Electroencephalogram electrode 110: Electrode
111: electrode foot 120: contact confirmation part
130: amplification / filter unit 140: analog / digital conversion unit
150: Signal output section 160: Connector section
200: EEG base unit 210: Microprocessor
220: wireless communication unit 130:
240: reference signal portion

Claims (5)

An apparatus for measuring EEG using a dry electrode comprising a brain wave measuring unit for collecting EEG signals from a plurality of EEG electrodes for measuring electrical EEG signals by contacting a scalp of an examinee,
Wherein each of the EEG electrodes includes a plurality of electrode rods having a plurality of electrode feet and fixed at an end thereof to measure a potential change at a measurement position;
A contact confirmation unit for sensing a measurement signal of the electrode and determining a contact error when the measurement signal is measured to be below a reference level;
An amplifier / filter unit for amplifying and filtering an electrical signal sensed by the electrode;
An analog / digital converter for converting an electrical signal from the amplifying / filtering unit and a contact confirmation signal from the contact confirmation unit into a digital signal; And
And a signal output unit for transmitting a digital signal from the analog / digital conversion unit to the EEG base unit,
Wherein the EEG base unit comprises: a microprocessor for collecting electric signals transmitted from a signal output unit of each of the EEG electrodes and acquiring an EEG signal of the subject according to a stored algorithm;
A wireless communication unit for wirelessly transmitting an EEG signal collected from the microprocessor to an EEG analyzing apparatus; And
And a power unit for supplying driving power of the EEG electrode unit and the EEG base unit. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein each of the electrode rods is fixed to an end of an electrode foot having an elastic body therein to stably contact the scalp of the examinee. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the EEPROM, the A / F unit, the A / D converter, and the signal output unit of each of the EEP electrodes are formed of a single chip, and the connector is connected to the EEPROM of the EEPROM. Measuring device. The method according to claim 1,
The microprocessor compares the EEG signals collected from the respective EEG electrodes with the reference EEG signals and judges that the EEG signals are erroneous when the frequency of the EEG signals and the frequency signals other than the EEG signals are measured for a long time, And the collection of the electroencephalogram is stopped. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the microprocessor analyzes the contact confirmation signal of the contact confirmation unit output from each of the EEP electrodes and stops collecting EEG signals when it is determined that the contact error is a contact error.

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