JP2022117364A - Head electric signal detector electrode device, and detection method of head electric signal - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a head electric signal detector electrode device capable of detecting a biological signal received in an ear canal in a head, efficiently by a principle different from hitherto, and to provide a detection method of a head electric signal.SOLUTION: A head electric signal detector electrode device has an insertion electrode 20 inserted into an ear canal e12, and a conductive output part 30 for transmitting a signal obtained from the insertion electrode to the outside, and detects a biological signal received in the ear canal in a head. The insertion electrode has a deformable elastic member 23 at least on a contact part with the ear canal, and further has a good contact part 40 for lowering a contact impedance with the ear canal, on a partial angle position to a circumferential direction of the ear canal on a surface of the elastic member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an electrode device for detecting electrical head signals and a method for detecting electrical head signals. More specifically, a head for detecting biological signals received in the ear canal of the head, which has an insertion electrode inserted into the ear canal and a conductive output section for transmitting a signal obtained from the insertion electrode to the outside. The present invention relates to an electrode device for head electric signal detection and a head electric signal detection method.

As an electrode device for head electrical signal detection, for example, an ear canal insertion type electrode described in FIG. 2 of Patent Document 1 is known. The electrode is intended to be able to efficiently provide electrical stimulation without gel or paste when using a vestibular electrical stimulation technique in which a sensory stimulation current is applied from an electrical stimulator (paragraph number 0003- 0010).

In the electrode, as described in paragraphs 0015-0016 of the same document, the conductive layer 120 and the conductive flexible layer 130 are strip-shaped layers as described in FIG. , to maximize the conduction area.

JP 2011-217986 A

In view of such conventional circumstances, the present invention provides a head electrical signal detection electrode device and head electrical signal detection capable of efficiently detecting biological signals received in the ear canal of the head on a principle different from the conventional one. The purpose is to provide a method.

In order to achieve the above object, the head electrical signal detection electrode device according to the present invention has an insertion electrode inserted into an external auditory canal, and a conductive output section for transmitting a signal obtained from the insertion electrode to the outside, A configuration for detecting a biological signal received in the ear canal of the head, wherein the insertion electrode has a deformable elastic member at least in a contact portion with the ear canal, and the surface of the elastic member is provided with the ear canal. It has a good contact part that reduces the contact impedance with the external auditory canal at some angular positions with respect to the circumferential direction of the ear canal.

According to experiments by the inventors, as shown in the graphs of FIGS. , it was found that the biosignal can be received at a higher intensity when provided at some angular positions. It was also found that the reception intensity of the same signal is improved when the angular width of the good contact portion is narrowed.

In the above feature, the good contact portion may be a conductive film.

Moreover, it is desirable to have a support member that is supported by the auricle and further supports the insertion electrode. In this case, the insertion electrode has a shaft supported by the support member and the elastic member supported by the shaft. It is preferable to allow relative rotation in the form of having. As a result, it is possible to set the angle at which the biological signal can be received more appropriately. It is preferable that the insertion electrode has angle display means indicating a relative rotational position about the axis between the insertion electrode and the support member.

Further, it is preferable to provide an urging body between the support member and the elastic member for pushing the elastic member to the inner side of the ear canal. By being biased against the support member supported by the auricle, the elastic member is pressed against the external auditory meatus, contributing to a decrease in contact impedance.

In addition, the support member preferably has a deformable portion that deforms along the shape of the auricle and is supported by the auricle. Due to the deformation of the deformable portion, the support member fits the auricle and can more accurately press the elastic member against the external auditory canal.

The support member may expose and support the terminal or lead wire connected to the conductive output portion to the outside of the ear, and may form an acoustic transmission path that penetrates the elastic member and the support member and communicates with the outside of the ear. . According to this configuration, since the terminal or the lead wire is exposed outside the ear and supported, the lead wire can be used for connection to the electrical signal detection device. In addition, the user can listen to external sounds through the acoustic transmission path even during measurement, enabling measurement of biological signals in a more everyday state.

In manufacturing, the good contact portion may be a conductive film made of a conductive polymer, a conductive paint, or a conductive gel, and the elastic member may be silicon rubber in which a conductive material is dispersed.

The head electrical signal can be either electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram, or biological signal associated with respiratory movement or facial muscle movement.

On the other hand, in the method for measuring an electrical head signal using the head electrical signal detection electrode device according to any of the above, the good contact portion is a conductive coating, and the conductive coating is provided at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction of the ear canal. It is preferable to select one or more of a plurality of conductive coatings that are spaced apart to detect the head electrical signal. In this case, two or more of the conductive coatings are selected, and each conductive coating is assigned to detect a different type of head electrical signal. It is possible to simultaneously detect and measure a plurality of electroencephalograms, electrocardiograms, respiratory movements, or biological signals associated with facial muscle movements in a more appropriate manner.

According to the present invention, there is provided a head electrical signal detection electrode device and a head electrical signal detection method that are capable of efficiently detecting biological signals received in the ear canal of the head on a principle different from the conventional one. Arrived.

Other objects, configurations and effects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an explanation of a part of an ear and a wearing state of the head electrical signal detection electrode device according to the present invention to the ear; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the state of wearing the electrode device on the ear. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1, showing the state in which the electrode device is attached to the ear; 1 is a perspective view of an electrode device; FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the electrode device seen from another angle; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a mounted state of the electrode device and an enlarged perspective view of an elastic member; In the case of providing the good contact portion that reduces the contact impedance with the external auditory canal on the surface of the elastic member, the case where it is provided on the entire circumference of the external auditory canal in the circumferential direction and the case where it is provided at a partial angular position (180 degrees) (angle change). is a graph showing a relative comparison of signal strength at different frequencies in . FIG. 8 is a graph when some angular positions are changed to 90 degrees under the conditions of FIG. 7. FIG. (a) is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment (a good contact portion by a protrusion) showing the state of wearing the electrode device to the ear along line AA of FIG. 1, and (b) is line BB of (a). It is a sectional view. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing still another embodiment (changed angle) of the electrode device worn on the ear, taken along the line AA of FIG. 1; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing still another embodiment (position of a good contact portion) showing how the electrode device is attached to the ear along the line AA of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a system showing an example in which detection is performed by switching between a plurality of good contact portions;

Next, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the attached FIGS. 1 to 8 as appropriate.

1 to 3 (right ear) and FIG. 6 (left ear). inserted and used. In the example of FIG. 6, the electrode device 1 is inserted into the left ear, the reference electrode 110 is attached under the ear, and the signal is detected by the head electrical signal detection device 100 via the cable C. FIG. The head electrical signal used in the present invention can be any signal that can be detected in the head H via the external auditory canal e12. It is any of the biological signals associated with muscle movement. Depending on the type of biosignal, the reference electrode 110 can be changed as appropriate, such as another portion of the head H or a portion of the body below the neck. Detection can also be performed by inserting the electrode device 1 into both the left and right ears.

The structure of the electrode device 1 according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. The electrode device 1 includes an insertion electrode 20 inserted into the external auditory canal e12, and a support member 10 supported by the auricle E and further supporting the insertion electrode. The support member 10 includes a support portion 11 that maintains its shape, and a deformable portion 12 (for example, thermally deformable resin, flexible resin, gel, etc.) that is freely deformed and shaped by heat, light (ultraviolet rays, etc.), or stress. have.

The support portion 11 integrally stacks the upper ring portion 11a, the lower ring portion 11b, and the base 11c, and holds the deformation portion 12 described above in the groove portion 11d. It also has a through hole 11e through which a shaft 21, which will be described later, is inserted. For example, a triangular angle display means 13 is protuberantly formed on the upper surface of the upper ring portion 11a.

The insertion electrode 20 includes a hollow shaft 21 that is electrically conductive as a whole, an urging body 22 , an elastic member 23 , and a conductive film 41 as a good contact portion 40 . In addition, the biasing body 22 is electrically connected to the conductive piece 31 and the terminal 32 forming the conductive output portion 30, and detects a signal via a cable electrically connected via the projection 32a of the terminal 32. .

The shaft 21 has a through hole 21c inside and a large flange 21a and a small flange 21b at one end. The elastic member 23 is entirely formed of a conductor, and for example, silicone rubber or flexible resin in which a conductive material is dispersed may be used. The elastic member 23 has a pressing portion 23a that is elastically deformable in the shape of a mushroom umbrella and presses into contact with the external auditory canal, and a shaft portion 23b that fits over the shaft 21 described above. The shaft portion 23b has an annular groove 23c formed in the middle thereof that fits with the small flange 21b to prevent it from slipping out of the shaft 21, and the end of the shaft portion 23b abuts against the large flange 21a to push it into the ear canal. withstand pressure. An inner opening 23d is formed at the connecting portion between the pressing portion 23a and the shaft portion 23b, and cooperates with the through hole 21c of the shaft 21 and the through hole 11e of the supporting portion 11 to form the sound transmission path S described above.

The shaft 21 slides forward and backward relative to the support portion 11 and is biased toward the external auditory canal e12 by a biasing body 22 . The urging body 22 includes an outer rod 22a and an inner rod 22b which are slidable and electrically connected to each other, and urging means such as a spring and a rubber damper for urging the extension side. It is The outer rod 22a is fixed in the through hole 21c of the shaft 21, and the inner rod 22b is further fixed to the conductive piece 31 fixed to the terminal 32. As shown in FIG. Since the terminal 32 is fixed to the base 11 c of the support portion 11 , the shaft 21 and the pressing portion 23 a are supported by the support member 10 in a biased state via the biasing body 22 and the conductive piece 31 . These conductive portions may be fixed by soldering, a conductive adhesive, or the like, for example.

As the conductive film 41 as the good contact portion 40, a conductive film made of a conductive polymer, a conductive paint, a conductive gel, or a metal thin film can be used. By using this conductive film 41, the contact impedance of that portion with the ear canal e12 can be partially reduced, and the signal detectability at some angular positions with respect to the circumferential direction of the ear canal is enhanced.

The elastic member 23 is rotatable relative to the support member 10 as indicated by symbol R around the central axis L of the shaft 21 . On the other hand, the central axis of the external auditory canal e12 does not necessarily coincide with the central axis L of the shaft 21 because the external auditory canal e12 is bent. However, since the rotation of the shaft 21 about the central axis L around R has a component around the circumference of the ear canal e12, the mechanism of the present invention that allows the elastic member 23 to rotate about the central axis L of the shaft 21 does not support the support member 10. On the other hand, it is considered that a mechanism capable of relative rotation is realized in the form of having a component around the circumference of the ear canal.

3 to 6, the good contact area W where the conductive film 41 is formed is 90 degrees around the central axis L of the shaft 21. As shown in FIG. In FIGS. 7 and 8, the good contact area W is changed, and the rotation phase of R around the central axis L of the shaft 21 is changed by 90 degrees to switch the reception frequency to 10 Hz, 20 Hz, and 30 Hz, thereby achieving common signal reception. was measured and presented in relative intensity representation. FIG. 7 is W=180 degrees, FIG. 8 is W=90 degrees, and W=360 degrees (whole circumference) is added for comparison. Since the left ear is used as a reference, the phase angle is 0 degrees for Up, 90 degrees for Right, 180 degrees for Down, and 270 degrees for Left at the center of the range of each good contact area. is.

Comparing FIGS. 7 and 8 reveals the following. As W decreases to 360 degrees, 180 degrees, and 90 degrees, the signal level improves. Also, in the rotation phase, Up (0 degrees) is generally higher than others, and Down (180 degrees) is the lowest. From these, it can be inferred that the detection intensity differs depending on the rotational phase and has directivity, and that the reception is increased when the directivity is enhanced by narrowing the range W of the good contact portion. Considering that the electroencephalogram is generated from the brain located above the external auditory canal e12, the above reasoning is valid. Similarly, if the rotation phase is matched with other biosignal generation sites, it is possible to detect signals with higher signal levels.

Next, the structure of the auricle E will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, and the holding state of the electrode device 1 on the auricle E will be described. The auricle E is formed with the lobe e2 aligned under the helix e1, which is the outer circumference, and connected to the crus of the helix e3 on the front side, forming the outline of the auricle E. An antiannular peduncle e4, which is a protuberant portion starting from the inner side of the helix e1, connects to an antihelix e5, passes through the antitragus e6 below, and reaches the tragus e8 via an intertragic notch e7. A hollow conchae e9 is formed between the antihelix e4 and antihelix e5 and the helix e3. Another depression, the conchal cavity e10, is formed between the antihelix e5, the crus e3, the antitragus e6, and the tragus e8. It reaches the external auditory canal e12 through the external auditory canal e11 located in front of the concha cavity e10, and further reaches the eardrum (not shown).

As described above, the rotational phase affects the detectability of the detection signal, and limiting W narrows the impedance drop range, so it is desirable to press the good contact portion 40 into pressing contact with the external auditory canal e12 more reliably. . In the present embodiment, in the support portion 11 of the support member 10, since the upper ring portion 11a is smaller than the lower ring portion 11b, it is easy to insert into the conchae e9 and the conchae cavity e10, which are recesses. Moreover, since the arcuate or C-shaped deformable portion 12 held in the groove portion 11d deforms within the conchal vesicle e9 and the conchal cavity e10, it is difficult to tilt and to come off. Since the insertion electrode 20 is pushed in by the biasing force of the biasing body 22 in this state, the good contact portion 40 is brought into more reliable contact with the external auditory canal e12.

Various modifications can be made to the present invention as long as it does not deviate from the original gist. Further embodiments of the invention are listed below. In addition, the same code|symbol is attached|subjected to the member similar to the said embodiment.

In the above embodiment, the conductive film 41 is provided as the good contact portion 40 . However, as shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), for example, a protrusion 42 may be provided to locally increase the pressing force, thereby forming a good contact portion 40 instead of the conductive film 41. FIG. In the drawing, reference numeral 22c denotes a spring as biasing means housed in the outer rod 22a of the biasing body.

In the above embodiment, the inclination angle of the insertion electrode 20 with respect to the support member 10 was constant. However, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, a deformation sleeve 14 may be interposed between the through hole 11e of the support portion 11 and the shaft 21 so that the inclination angle of the insertion electrode 20 with respect to the support member 10 can be changed. In the figure, the deformable sleeve 14 may be made of a flexible member such as rubber or elastic resin, or may be made of a hardening member such as thermosetting resin so that the tilt angle is held after being changed. Although only the change in the inclination θ in the cross section is shown in the figure, it is also possible to change the inclination in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper.

As shown in FIG. 11, a good contact portion 40 such as a conductive film 43 may be positioned along the bent portion of the ear canal e12. According to this form, it can be expected that the contact impedance can be further reduced by the combination of the pressing force and the close contact with the bent portion.

As shown in FIG. 12, good contact portions 40 may be provided at a plurality of phase locations and used selectively. In the same example, the conductive film 41 is used as the good contact portion, and each conductive film is provided at four phase points within a range of W=90 degrees or less, 41a to 41d. Although not shown, each conductive coating 41a-d is insulated, and the tip shaft 21 is used as an insulator for electric signals. 100 may be used selectively. Further, the detection device 100 may be provided with a plurality of 100a and 00b, and a plurality of conductive coatings 41a to 41d may be selected and measured at the same time. In this case, each conductive coating may be assigned to detect different types of head electrical signals. Further, as described above, the electrode devices 1, 1 and the plurality of good contact portions 41a to 41d may be appropriately selected and combined for detection with the left and right ears.

In the above embodiment, the cable C is connected using the terminal 32 . However, the cable C may be directly connected to the conductive piece 31 or the like, for example, without using the terminal 32 .

The good contact portion range W is not limited to 90 degrees or 180 degrees, and can be changed as appropriate. When providing a plurality of conductive films 41, it is necessary to insulate them so as not to communicate with each other. Also, the formation range of the conductive film 41 in the central axis L direction of the shaft 21 can be changed as appropriate.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used as an electrode device for detecting electrical head signals and a method for detecting electrical head signals. Since electroencephalograms and electromyograms other than electroencephalograms can also be detected at the same time, it is also possible to use them in sleep state examination devices and the like.

1: electrode device (electrode device for head electrical signal detection), 10: support member, 11: support portion, 11a: upper ring portion, 11b: lower ring portion, 11c: base, 11d: groove portion, 11e: through hole, 12: deformation part 13: angle display means 14: deformation sleeve 20: insertion electrode 21: shaft 21a: large flange 21b: small flange 21c: through hole 22: biasing body 22a: outer rod 22b: inner rod; 22c: spring; 23: elastic member; 23a: pressing portion; : Protrusion 40: Good contact portion 41: Conductive coating 42: Protrusion 43: Conductive coating 100: Head electrical signal detection device 110: Reference electrode C: Cable E: Auricle e1: Helix e2: ear lobe, e3: crus helix, e4: crus anterior, e5: antihelix, e6: antitragus, e7: intertragic notch, e8: tragus, e9: conchal conchae, e10: conchal cavity, e11: ear canal, e12: ear canal, H: head, S: sound transmission path, W: good contact area

Claims (12)

Head electrical signal detection for detecting a biosignal received in the ear canal of the head, comprising an insertion electrode inserted into the ear canal and a conductive output section for transmitting a signal obtained from the insertion electrode to the outside. wherein the insertion electrode has a deformable elastic member at least at a contact portion with the external auditory canal, and the surface of the elastic member is at a part of the angular position with respect to the circumferential direction of the external auditory canal so as to be in contact with the external auditory canal. An electrode device for head electrical signal detection having a good contact portion that reduces contact impedance. 2. The electrode device for head electrical signal detection according to claim 1, wherein said good contact portion is a conductive film. 3. The head electrical signal detection electrode device according to claim 1, further comprising a support member supported by the auricle and further supporting said insertion electrode. The insertion electrode has a shaft supported by the support member and the elastic member supported by the shaft. 4. The electrode device for head electrical signal detection according to claim 3, wherein relative rotation is possible at . 5. The head electrical signal detection electrode device according to claim 4, wherein said insertion electrode has angle display means between said insertion electrode and said support member to indicate a relative rotational position about said axis. 6. The electrode device for head electrical signal detection according to claim 3, further comprising an urging body provided between said support member and said elastic member to push said elastic member toward the back side of the ear canal. 7. The electrode device for head electrical signal detection according to claim 3, wherein said supporting member has a deformable portion that deforms along the shape of said auricle and is supported by said auricle. The support member exposes and supports the terminal or lead wire connected to the conductive output portion to the outside of the ear, and forms an acoustic transmission path communicating with the outside of the ear through the elastic member and the support member. Item 8. An electrode device for head electrical signal detection according to any one of items 3 to 7. The head according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the good contact portion is a conductive film made of a conductive polymer, conductive paint or conductive gel, and the elastic member is silicone rubber in which a conductive material is dispersed. An electrode device for detecting electrical signals. The electrode for detecting electrical head signals according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the electrical head signals are electroencephalograms, electrocardiograms, respiratory movements, or biological signals associated with facial muscle movements. Device. A head electrical signal measuring method using the head electrical signal detection electrode device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the good contact portion is a conductive coating, and the conductive coating is formed on the ear canal. A head electrical signal detection method for detecting the head electrical signal by selecting one or more of a plurality of conductive coatings arranged at a plurality of locations in a circumferential direction. 12. The method of detecting an electrical head signal according to claim 11, wherein two or more of said conductive coatings are selected, and detection of different types of electrical head signals is assigned to each conductive coating.

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