Abstract:
A diagnostic headband has an elongated body with two ends. A mechanism couples the two ends with one another. At least one first lead is coupled with the body. At least one second lead extends from the body. The leads couple with lead pads on the user. An electrical harness is coupled with the body. The electrical harness electrically couples with the at least one first and second leads.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to diagnostic testing and, more particularly, to a diagnostic testing headband. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    When patients do diagnostic testing, such as sleep studies, a wire harness having a plurality of leads is utilized to connect the patient with a testing apparatus. The harness leads are connected with lead tabs positioned upon the patient&#39;s body. The wire harness has a connector connected to the testing apparatus measuring different body functions. The wire harness is extremely cumbersome and limits movement of the user. The harness includes very long leads, or wires, and is awkward to manipulate when the patient must move from one position to the other. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a diagnostic testing tool that enables the user to self attach himself or herself to the testing apparatus. Additionally, it is desirable to have an apparatus where the leads are readily accessible to the user. Additionally, it is desirable to have color coded leads to enable the user to readily position the leads onto the proper lead tabs on the user&#39;s body. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Accordingly, the present disclosure provides such a device. 
         [0004]    Accordingly to the disclosure, a diagnostic testing headband comprises an elongated body with two ends. A mechanism couples the ends of the body with one another to fit around the user&#39;s head. At least one first lead is coupled with the body. The at least one first lead couples with a lead pad contacting the user&#39;s head when the body is placed on the user&#39;s head. At least one second lead extends from the body to couple with a lead pad on the user. An electrical harness is coupled with the body. The electrical harness electrically couples with the at least one first and second leads. The electrical harness includes a connector to couple with a testing apparatus. A plurality of first and second leads is present. Foam is positioned inside of the body. A first and second leads are color coded. Generally, a hook and loop fastener is utilized to connect the ends of the body together. 
         [0005]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a diagnostic headband. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged plan view of the headband. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the user with the lead pads. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the user with the leads attached to the lead pads. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0012]    Turning to the drawings, a diagnostic headband is illustrated and designated with the reference numeral  10 . The headband  10  includes a body  12 , a plurality of stationary leads  14 , a plurality of extending leads  16  and a wire harness  18 . 
         [0013]    Turning to  FIG. 1 , the body  12  is an elongated flexible member. The body  12  generally includes a vinyl or the like covering  20  with a foam insert  22  sandwiched between the covering  20 . Thus, the body  12  is flexible and is enabled to wrap around a user&#39;s head. 
         [0014]    The body  12  includes ends  24 ,  26 . The ends  24 ,  26  include fasteners  28 ,  30 . Shown are hook and loop fasteners with the hooks at end  28  and the loops at end  30 . However, various types of fasteners, such as snaps, hooks and latches, buttons, adjustable straps or the like may be utilized as fasteners to secure the ends of the body  12  together to enable the headband to be wrapped about the user&#39;s head. 
         [0015]    The body  12  includes at least one stationary lead  14  secured to the body  12 . The leads  14 , three are shown, are coupled with the body  12 . The leads  14  are electrically coupled with the wire harness  18 . The leads  14  are color coded with the lead  32  having a center body color coded in yellow. The middle button  34  is color coded in orange and button  36  is color coded in red. These leads  32 - 36  connect with conventional lead tabs that are placed onto the user&#39;s forehead. 
         [0016]    The at least one extending leads  16  hang from the body  12 . The leads  16  include a wire  38  and a lead cap  40 . The wires  38  are coupled with the wire harness  18 . Thus, in turn, the leads  16  can be coupled with a testing apparatus. The extending leads  16  are illustrated with seven color coded wires  38  and caps  40 . Lead  42  has its wire  38  color coded violet with a lead cap  40  having a heart shape. Lead  44  has a blue wire as well as a blue cap  40 . Lead  46  is brown with a brown cap. Lead  48  includes a green wire  38  as well as a green cap  40 . Leads  42 - 48  are positioned on one half of the user&#39;s body  12 . Lead  50  has a white wire  38  as well as cap  40 . Lead  52  has a grey wire with a grey cap  40 . Finally, lead  54  has a black wire with a black cap. Also, cap  40  of lead  54  has a heart shape. Leads  50 - 54  are positioned on the other half of the user&#39;s body  12 . 
         [0017]    The harness  18  includes a wire assembly  60  running through the body  12 . The wire assembly  60  is coupled with the stationary leads  14  as well as with the extending leads  16 . The wire assembly  60  electrically couples the leads  14 ,  16  with the external wiring assembly tail  62 . The tail  62  extends from the body  12 . The tail  62  includes a plurality of connectors  64 - 68 . The connector  64  is coupled with a test apparatus. The connector  66  is connected with an oxygen sensor that may be secured onto the user&#39;s finger. The connectors  68  are connected with a nasal thermistor cannula. 
         [0018]    The headband  10  enables the leads to be connected to a user&#39;s body, head and, in turn, to the testing apparatus. The headband  10  provides an aesthetic pleasing appearance as well as a non-cumbersome wiring harness. The present tail  62  connector can be removed from the testing apparatus while the leads remain on the user&#39;s body (head) so that the user can move easily from one position to a different position. 
         [0019]    A method of using the diagnostic headband  10  is as follows. The headband is grasped by the user and positioned so that the stationary leads  14  are directed towards the user. Three lead pads  70  are buttoned into the yellow  32 , orange  34 , and red  36  leads. The protective backing is kept in place on the pads  70  so that the adhesive surface of the lead pads  70  remains covered. Once buttoned, the three lead pads  70  are in place on the headband  10 . 
         [0020]    Alcohol prep pad(s) are used to clean the face and behind the ears. 
         [0021]    The adhesive lead pads  70  are applied to the user&#39;s face and chest. In order to apply the lead pads  70 , the protective backing is removed from the lead pad to reveal the adhesive surface. A lead pad  70  is applied to the left side of the user&#39;s face, slightly below the left eye. 
         [0022]    A lead pad is applied to the right side of the face, slightly above the right eye. A lead pad is applied to the left side of the chin, on the jawbone. A lead pad is applied to the right side of the chin, on the jawbone. The next lead pad is applied behind the left ear. The last two lead pads are attached to the user&#39;s chest, on the left and right sides, along the collarbone. 
         [0023]    Remove the protective backing from the three lead pads buttoned into the headband. Once the protective backing has been removed, the headband is strapped across the user&#39;s head. The middle lead pad contacts the center of the user&#39;s forehead. The headband  10  is tightly strapped on the user&#39;s head while pressing down the three lead pads in the headband to make sure they are well attached to the user&#39;s forehead. 
         [0024]    Connect the extending leads  16  to the lead pads  70  applied to the face and chest. The leads are connected in a desired order. 
         [0025]    The Purple heart-shaped lead  42  is connected to the lead pad  70  on the left side of the chest. During lead attachment, the lead which the user is instructed to attached should blink back and forth. Blue lead pad alternates with solid color lead pad. 
         [0026]    The Black heart-shaped lead  54  is applied to the lead pad on the right side of the chest. The Blue lead  44  is applied to the lead pad behind the left ear. The Brown  46  is applied to the lead pad near the left eye. The Grey lead  52  is applied to the lead pad near the right eye. The Green lead  48  is applied to the lead pad on the left side of the chin. The White lead  50  is applied to the lead pad on the right side of the chin. 
         [0027]    A Nasal Thermistor is inserted into the nose so that the single thin wire rests in front of the mouth and route the wires behind the ears. The end of the Nasal Thermistor includes a white lead and a blue lead. Insert the leads into the matching connectors on the main black cable (Blue to blue; white to white). 
         [0028]    Leaving all leads and the Nasal Thermistor attached, the Nasal Cannula is inserted into the nose. The hose is routed so that it goes behind the ears. 
         [0029]    A pulse-ox finger sensor is attached onto the index finger. The other end of the finger sensor cable is connected to the blue plastic clip attached to the main black cable. 
         [0030]    The headband cable and the nasal thermistor hose are connected to the testing apparatus. The end of the nasal cannula hose (transparent plastic tube) is threaded and twists onto the small lead on the bottom of the testing apparatus. The main black cable with the large connector is attached to the testing apparatus by lining up the white dots on the cable tip and the large socket on the bottom of the testing apparatus. 
         [0031]    The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.