KR20040031951A - A put on type instrument for measuring brain waves - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A put on type instrument for measuring brain waves is provided to reduce the generation of noise by tightly adhering an electrode to a scalp through a spring with a constant pressure. CONSTITUTION: A cap-shaped instrument body(100) has a plurality of punched through-holes at constant intervals. A sensor body(210) is inserted into and fixed on each of the through-holes of the instrument body(100). An output hole for outputting a signal line(253) is formed on an end of the sensor body(210). A one-way opened gel storeroom(212) is formed on the other end of the sensor body(210). A sensor electrode(220) is provided with plural holes(221,222) for inputting a gel and provided in an opening unit of the gel storeroom(212). The signal line(253) is connected to the sensor electrode(220) to be outputted to the outside through the output hole of the sensor body(210). An elastic member is installed at an inside of the gel storeroom(212) and supports elastically the sensor electrode(220). A pressurizer presses the elastic member toward the sensor electrode(220) according to the operation of a user.

Description

{A put on type instrument for measuring brain waves}

The present invention relates to a wear mechanism for measuring EEG, and more particularly, it is possible to shorten the measurement waiting time, and can be uniformly in close contact with each sensor to the measurement target, EEG measuring wear mechanism that can adjust the adhesion of each sensor It is about.

In general, EEG is a relatively weak signal of the biological signal. Therefore, when examining the electroencephalogram using an EEG, the distortion of the signal is increased even with a slight noise, so that the measurement part and the sensor part should be in close contact with each other to prevent the noise.

To do this, a gel is inserted between the skin of the measuring part (ie, the scalp) and the sensor. Usually, a brain-shaped cap (Cab), which is made of a mesh type, is worn, and then the gel is inserted through the probe of the cap with a syringe. After pressing the probe, the sensor and the measurement part should be as close as possible and measured.

By the way, the conventional cap for EEG has a problem that it takes a lot of time to prepare because you have to put the gel after wearing on the head.

In addition, the cap for the EEG, the cap is fastened to both jaws after wearing, but due to the structural characteristics consisting of a mesh, which is a material lacking flexibility, the contact of the entire sensor electrode is not uniform, and some electrodes are well adhered There was a problem.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, it is possible to shorten the measurement waiting time by pre-filling the gel in the body of the sensor and measuring the brain wave and improve the adhesion between the sensor electrode and the scalp It is an object of the present invention to provide a wearable device for measuring EEG that can easily adjust the shape and material of a general hat as a body of the wearable device.

1 is an external perspective view of a wear mechanism for measuring EEG according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a cross-sectional view of the sensor shown in FIG.

3 is a view illustrating a state in which the sensor unit body and the fixing member shown in FIG. 2 are separated;

4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the signal line protection tube shown in FIG. 2;

5 is a perspective view of the electrode shown in FIG.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: instrument body 101: through hole

102: chin strap 200: sensor

210: sensor portion body 211: coupling portion

212: gel reservoir 220: electrode

221, 222: gel injection hole 230: fixing member

240: spring 250: signal line protection tube

253: signal line 260: gel input tube

261: gel hose 270: support

271: screw rod 272: handle

280: female threaded hole 290: pressure sensor

Wearing apparatus for measuring EEG according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a hat-shaped instrument body with a plurality of through holes perforated at a predetermined interval, and is inserted into and fixed in the through-hole of the instrument body, the signal line withdrawal at one end thereof A sensor unit body having a drawer outlet formed therein and having a gel storage chamber opened at one end at one end thereof, a sensor unit electrode having at least one or more gel injection holes formed therein, and interposed in an opening of the gel storage chamber, and the sensor A signal line connected to a secondary electrode and drawn out to the outside through the outlet of the sensor unit body, an elastic member installed inside the gel storage chamber to elastically support the sensor unit electrode, and the elastic member according to a user's operation. It characterized in that it comprises a pressing means for pressing toward the sensor unit electrode.

In addition, the present invention is the wear mechanism for measuring EEG, wherein the pressing means, the support provided between the inner surface of the gel reservoir and the elastic member, and one end is rotatable in the vertical direction to the support. A screw rod coupled to the outer circumferential surface and a male thread hole formed through the inside of the gel reservoir from one end of the sensor unit body, and a female thread hole corresponding to the male thread of the screw rod on the inner circumferential surface thereof; Another feature is that it consists of a handle coupled to the other end of the screw rod so that the user can easily grip.

In addition, the present invention, in the wearing mechanism for measuring EEG, one side is supported by the sensor unit electrode and the other side is installed to be supported by the elastic member to detect the pressure between the elastic member and the sensor electrode It is another feature that the configuration further comprises a pressure sensor.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is an external perspective view of a wear mechanism for measuring an EEG according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen from the same figure, the wear mechanism for measuring an EEG according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an appliance body 100. And it is composed of a plurality of brain wave measurement sensor 200 which is provided at a predetermined interval on the instrument body (100).

The instrument body 100 has a hat shape and a plurality of through holes 101 are drilled at regular intervals, and the jaw portion of the instrument body 100 is worn on the subject's head. By tightening the instrument body 100 is provided with a chin strap 102 to be in close contact with the scalp (豆皮).

At this time, the instrument body 100 is preferably made of a material and the shape of the cloth used in a conventional cap to ensure that each sensor 200 is uniformly in close contact with the scalp, and excellent wearing comfort, jaw strap 102 is the length It is preferable that the form is provided with adjustable length control means.

The EEG sensor 200, as can be seen with reference to Figures 2 and 3, is composed of a sensor unit body 210, an electrode 220 and a fixing member 230.

The sensor unit body 210 is formed in a cylindrical shape as a whole, but is formed to have a larger diameter than the upper portion, and the coupling portion 211 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the upper portion, the coupling portion ( 211 is inserted into the through hole 101 of the instrument body 100 to protrude upward of the instrument body 100.

The sensor unit body 210 has a gel reservoir 212 in which a gel for brain wave measurement can be accommodated, and the gel reservoir 212 is opened downward and has an electrode therein. A spring 240 for supporting the carbon 220 is interposed.

At this time, the lower end portion 213 of the sensor unit body 210, in which the gel reservoir 212 is formed, increases the airtightness upon contact with the scalp and prevents the gel filled in the gel reservoir 212 from counting. It is preferable that it consists of.

In addition, a pair of holes penetrating the upper end of the coupling part 211 from the upper end of the coupling part 211 to the gel storage chamber 212 is formed in the sensor part body 210, and the signal line protection tube 250 and the gel injection tube 260 are formed in each hole. This insert is fixed.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the signal line protection tube 250 includes a first pipe 251 having an inward locking jaw 251a formed at one end thereof, and the first pipe 251. Is inserted into the inner circumference of the second pipe 252 which is slidably installed in the longitudinal direction and has an outward locking jaw 252a corresponding to the locking jaw 251a of the first pipe at one end thereof. It is composed.

In addition, a plurality of signal lines 253 are inserted into the first pipe 251 and the second pipe 252 to be connected to the electrode 220 and a pressure sensor to be described later, and the end of the second pipe 252 is The upper surface of the electrode 220 is fixedly coupled.

The gel inlet tube 260, one end is in communication with the interior of the gel reservoir 212 and the gel input hose 261 for introducing the gel to the other end is connected.

In addition, a support 270 having a predetermined shape (for example, a disk shape) is installed at the upper end of the gel storage chamber 212 so as to support the spring 240 downward, and a male thread on one side of the support 270 on its outer peripheral surface. One end of the machined screw rod 271 is rotatably coupled in the vertical direction. In addition, the support 270 is formed with a pair of through holes through which the signal line protection tube 250 and the gel injection tube 260 can be inserted.

A handle 272 is coupled to the other end of the screw rod 271 so that the user can easily grip it. At this time, the female screw hole 280 in which the female thread line corresponding to the male thread line of the screw rod 271 is processed on the inner circumferential surface thereof penetrates the gel storage chamber 212 from the upper end of the coupling portion 211 of the sensor body 212. It is formed.

Therefore, the screw rod 271 is inserted and fixed in the form of a screw coupled to the female screw hole 280, when the user rotates the handle 272 is rotated along the female thread line of the female screw hole 280 is moved in the vertical direction .

The electrode 220 is coupled to the lower end of the second pipe 252 of the signal line protection tube 250 and is connected to one of the plurality of signal lines 253 in the signal line protection tube 250, and is located at the bottom of the body 210. It is interposed in the opening of the gel reservoir 212. For reference, the electrode 220 may be coupled to the lower end of the second pipe 252 by welding, adhesive or riveting.

And, as shown in Figure 5, the electrode 220, at least one or more gel injection holes (221, 222) for introducing the gel into the gel reservoir 212 is formed, the gel before measuring the brain wave in advance It is configured to inject gel into the storage compartment 212.

Here, it is preferable that the diameter of the electrode 220 substantially matches the inner diameter of the opening of the gel reservoir 212, thereby minimizing the counting of the gel filled in the gel reservoir 212 to the outside.

In addition, the upper surface of the electrode 220 is provided with a bar-shaped pressure sensor 290 connected to the other one of the plurality of signal lines 253, the longitudinal portion of the pressure sensor 290 is provided in the electrode 220 The through hole 291 is formed to pass through the second pipe 252 of the signal line protective tube 250 to be coupled thereto.

The pressure sensor 290 supports the lower end of the spring 240 by both edge portions P1 and P2, and detects the pressure of the shot between the electrode 220 and the spring 240 at this support point.

The fixing member 230 is formed in a cylindrical shape, the thread line corresponding to the screw thread formed in the coupling portion 211 of the sensor unit body 210 is formed on the inner peripheral surface, the coupling portion of the sensor unit body 210 ( 211) to be coupled to the screw to secure the sensor unit body 210 to the instrument body (100).

Now, the effects of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, before the measurement, the gel for charging the EEG through the gel injection holes (221, 222) of the electrode 220 installed on the lower end of the sensor unit body 210 to fill the gel in the gel reservoir 212.

For reference, using a syringe or the like, the gel can be easily introduced into the gel reservoir 212 through the gel input holes 221 and 222 of the electrode 220.

Next, the sensor 200 filled with the gel is attached to each through hole 101 of the instrument body 100.

At this time, the attachment position of the sensor 200 can be freely set according to the measurement part, and the number of channels of the EEG measurement signal can be adjusted by attaching the sensor 200 as many times as desired.

For reference, when the sensor 200 is to be attached to the through hole 101 of the instrument body 100, the coupling part 211 of the sensor body body 210 is inserted upward from below the through hole 101. Then, by screwing and fastening the fixing member 230 to the coupling portion 211 of the sensor body body 210 protruding upward through the through hole 101, the sensor body body 210 to the instrument body 100 Can be fixed at

Next, the instrument body 100 is worn on the subject's head and the jaw strap 102 is tightened to tighten both the subject's jaws so that the instrument body 100 is in close contact with the subject's head.

As such, when the instrument body 100 is worn on the head of the subject, the electrode 220 of each sensor 200 contacts the scalp of the subject, and the electrode 220 is a spring 240 interposed in the gel reservoir 212. The lower end 213 of the sensor body 210 corresponding to the outer wall of the gel reservoir 212 is made of a soft rubber material, and the electrode 220 is supported on the scalp at a constant pressure. It can be in close contact and maintain close contact even if the scalp is slightly curved.

For reference, the signal line protective tube 250 to which the electrode 220 is coupled includes a first pipe 251 and a second pipe 252 inserted into the first pipe 251 and slidably installed within a predetermined distance. Since the electrode 220 has a structure that can be stretched, the position of the electrode 220 may be changed in the vertical direction within a distance in which the signal line protection tube 250 can be stretched.

Then, by holding the handle 272 protruding to the upper end of the coupling portion 211 of the sensor unit body 210 rotates in one direction, the screw rod 271 moves downward while rotating along the female thread line of the female screw hole 280 To press the support 270 downward.

Therefore, as the handle 272 is rotated, the support 270 may be moved upward or downward to adjust the pressure of the spring 240 and thus the adhesion pressure between the electrode 220 and the scalp may be adjusted.

At this time, the impact pressure of the spring 240 can be measured by the detection signal generated from the pressure sensor 290 installed between the electrode 220 and the spring 240, the impact pressure of the spring 240 is the electrode ( Since it is proportional to the contact pressure between the 220 and the scalp, the pressure of the spring 240 detected by the pressure sensor 290 is an index indicating the contact pressure between the electrode 220 and the scalp.

The gel filled in the gel reservoir 212 flows a small amount through the gap between the openings of the gel reservoir 212 and the opening of the gel reservoir 212 and the electrode 220 of the electrode 220, the electrode 220 It is applied between and the scalp.

When the measurement time is long or when the measurement is performed several times, the gel filled in the gel reservoir 212 may be insufficient during the measurement. In this case, the gel injection tube 261 and the gel injection tube 260 connected thereto may be disconnected. Through the gel into the gel reservoir 212 can be replenished the deficit from time to time.

For reference, using a syringe or the like, the gel can be easily introduced through the gel injection hose 261, it is also possible to connect the gel injection hose 261 to a separate gel supply pump.

As described above, in the state in which the wearing apparatus for measuring electroencephalogram of the present invention is worn on the head of the subject, the electroencephalogram may be examined by inputting a signal to the electroencephalography device from the signal lines connected to the electrodes of each sensor.

The present invention is described above by illustrating specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Those skilled in the art can easily make various changes and modifications to the present invention, and it should be noted that such variations or modifications are included within the scope of the present invention as long as the features of the present invention are used.

As described above, the present invention has an effect of shortening the measurement waiting time by filling the gel in the gel storage chamber of the sensor unit in advance and measuring the brain waves.

In addition, the present invention, the electrode interposed in the sensor unit body is configured to be in close contact with the scalp at a constant pressure by the spring, there is an effect that can minimize the generation of noise during EEG measurement.

In addition, the present invention has a structure capable of varying the pressure of the spring to support the electrode by rotating the handle, there is an effect that can be appropriately adjusted adhesion between the electrode and the scalp by simple operation.

In addition, the present invention, the pressure sensor is installed between the electrode and the spring bar, by detecting the contact pressure between the electrode and the scalp by the detection signal generated from the pressure sensor has an effect that can easily check the state of close contact have.

In addition, the present invention has the effect of replenishing the gel at any time during the measurement through the gel inlet tube communicating with the gel reservoir from the outside of the sensor unit body.

The present invention has a structure in which a plurality of through holes are formed in the mechanism body at regular intervals, and a number of sensors can be easily attached and detached to a desired portion with respect to the plurality of through holes. According to the purpose and the target, there is an effect that can easily adjust the number of channels of the desired measurement site and signal.

In addition, as described above, the sensor can be attached to or detached from the through-hole drilled in the instrument body. As a body of the instrument, the shape and material of a hat made of a conventional cloth can be easily applied. When applied to the shape and material, it is easier to manufacture than the conventional mesh cap and has excellent fit, and has the effect of uniformly adhering each sensor to the scalp.

Claims (7)

In the wear mechanism for measuring brain waves, A hat-shaped instrument body having a plurality of through holes drilled at regular intervals, A sensor unit body inserted into and fixed in the through hole of the instrument body, and having a drawer for drawing out a signal line at one end thereof, and a gel reservoir formed at one end thereof at the other end thereof; A sensor unit electrode having at least one hole for gel injection and interposed in an opening of the gel reservoir; A signal line connected to the sensor unit electrode and drawn out through the outlet of the sensor unit body; An elastic member installed inside the gel storage chamber to elastically support the sensor unit electrode; And a pressurizing means for pressing the elastic member toward the sensor unit electrode according to a user's operation. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressing means, the support is provided between the inner surface of the gel reservoir and the elastic member, A screw rod whose one end is rotatably coupled to the support in a vertical direction and whose male thread is machined on an outer circumferential surface thereof; A female screw hole formed through one end of the body of the sensor unit and having a female thread line formed on the inner circumferential surface thereof to correspond to a male thread line of the screw rod; EEG measuring wear mechanism comprising a handle coupled to the other end of the screw rod so that the user can easily grip. According to claim 1, wherein one side is supported by the sensor unit electrode and the other side is installed to be supported by the elastic member further comprises a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure between the elastic member and the sensor unit electrode A wear apparatus for measuring brain waves. According to claim 3, wherein one end is fixed to communicate with the outlet of the sensor unit body, the other end is fixed to the electrode therein is accommodated in the signal line and the pressure sensing signal line withdrawn from the pressure sensor and stretched within a predetermined length EEG measuring wear device characterized in that it further comprises a signal line protective tube made to enable this. According to claim 1, EEG measuring wear device characterized in that it further comprises a gel inlet formed through the gel reservoir from one end of the sensor unit body. According to claim 1, wherein the other end of the sensor unit body in which the gel reservoir is formed, the EEG measuring apparatus, characterized in that made of a soft material. The sensor part body according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sensor part body has a coupling part in which a screw thread is formed on its outer circumferential surface at an upper portion inserted and projected through a through hole of the instrument body. Equipped with a cylindrical member fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the screw screw is fixed to the instrument body, characterized in that the wearing mechanism for measuring EEG.