Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9351658
Timestamp: 2018-04-24 08:58:42
Document Index: 288262014

Matched Legal Cases: ['application No. 200780052879', 'application No. 200780052879', 'Application No. 07838838', 'Application No. 200780052879', 'Application No. 200780052879', 'application No. 2006', 'Application No. 07796518']

US9351658B2 - Device and method for sensing electrical activity in tissue - Google Patents
Device and method for sensing electrical activity in tissue Download PDF
US9351658B2
US9351658B2 US11500678 US50067806A US9351658B2 US 9351658 B2 US9351658 B2 US 9351658B2 US 11500678 US11500678 US 11500678 US 50067806 A US50067806 A US 50067806A US 9351658 B2 US9351658 B2 US 9351658B2
US11500678
US20070055169A1 (en )
An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes apparatus and methods for sensing electrical activity in tissue of a person in a manner which is substantially limits or eliminates interference from noise in a surrounding environment.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/713,899, filed on Sep. 2, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the present application arises from a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/500,679, filed Aug. 8, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/706,580, filed on Aug. 9, 2005, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Measuring the electrical activity in the brain is difficult because the electrical signal being measured is many times smaller than the noise in the system. In many instances, the noise is on the order of a few volts or a few tens of volts while the electrical signal being measured is only in the microvolt range. This gives a signal-to-noise ratio of 10^6.
Prior EEGs have used very precise differential amplifiers, such as instrumentation amplifiers, to measure the electrical signal. The amplifier is referenced to a common reference such as the leg of the user. Each of the two wires from the two electrodes on the person's head are connected to the inputs of the differential amplifier. The output of the differential amplifier is a voltage relative to the reference which is proportional to the difference in voltage between the two electrodes times a constant. The measurement in this case is very sensitive because the differential amplifier is finding a small difference, the brain signal, between two signals which are 10^6 times as large. These are reasons why small variations in components, the routing of the wires and other factors cause significant errors in the measurement and why prior EEGs are expensive and hard to use.
In the present example, levels of PTES derived from the signal of interest are displayed in a meter 56, (FIGS. 1 and 2), on a computer screen 58 of computer 54. In this instance, computer 54, and screen 58 displaying meter 56 serve as an indicator. Levels of detail of meter 56 can be adjusted to to suit the user. Viewing meter 56 allows user 34 to determine their level of PTES at any particular time in a manner which is objective. The objective feedback obtained from meter 56 is used for guiding the user to improve their PTES and to determine levels of PTES related to particular memories or thoughts which can be brought up in the mind of user 34 when the user is exposed to certain stimuli. Meter 56 includes an indicator 60 which moves vertically up and down a numbered bar 62 to indicated the level of the user's PTES. Meter 56 also includes a minimum level indicator 64 which indicates a minimum level of PTES achieved over a certain period of time or during a session in which user 34 is exposed to stimuli from media material 66. Meter 56 can also include the user's maximum, minimum and average levels of release during a session. Levels of PTES may also be audibly communicated to the user, and in this instance, the computer and speaker serve as the indicator. The levels can also be indicated to the user by printing them on paper.
Method 84 then proceeds to step 90 where program 70 uses media material 66 to guide user 34 to release the limiting emotions while still focusing on the thought or subject which causes the limiting emotion. From step 90, the program proceeds to step 92 where a determination is made as to whether user 34 has released the limiting emotions. This determination is made using the signal of interest from sensor device 32. In the instance case, the level of release is indicated by the position of indicator 60 on bar 62 in meter 56, as shown in FIG. 2. If the meter indicates that user 34 has released the limiting emotions to an appropriate degree, such as below the preset threshold, then the determination at 92 is yes and method 84 proceeds to end at step 94. If the determination at 92 is that user 34 has not release the limiting emotions to an appropriate degree, then the determination at 92 is no, and method 84 returns to step 88 to again guide the user to bring up the thought or subject causing the limiting emotion. Method 84 can be continued as long as needed for user 34 to release the limiting emotions and achieve the freedom state. Processes can also include clean up sessions in which the user is guided by the media material to release many typical limiting emotions to assist the user in achieving a low thought frequency releasing the limiting emotions.
By observing meter 56 while attempting to release the limiting emotions, user 34 is able to correlate feelings with the release of limiting emotions. Repeating this process reinforces the correlation so that the user learns what it feels like to release and is able to release effectively with or without the meter 56 by having an increased releasing skill. A loop feature allows the user to click on a button to enter a loop session in which the releasing part of an exercise is repeated continuously. The levels of the user's PTES are indicated to the user and the levels are automatically recorded during these loop sessions for later review. Loop sessions provide a fast way in which to guide a user to let go of limiting emotions surrounding particular thoughts related to particular subjects. The loop session does not require the user to do anything between repetitions which allows them to maintain the desireable state of low thought activity, or the release state. Loop sessions can be included in any process for guiding the user to improve their PTES.
detecting electrical activity from a tissue of a user via a sensor of a headpiece worn by the user, the sensor including:
a sensor electrode to contact a first point on skin of the user;
a reference electrode to contact a second point on the skin of the user, the contact between the reference electrode and the skin of the user to cause a contact resistance between a surface of the reference electrode and the skin of the user; and
an electronics module positioned proximate the reference electrode to reduce noise, a local reference potential in the electronics module and a potential of the second point on the skin being approximately equal to allow the surface of the reference electrode to be in direct contact with the skin of the user at the second point without having to prepare the skin or use a material that decreases the contact resistance, the electrical activity represented by a voltage signal including a signal of interest, undesired signals, and noise, the electronics module including:
an amplifier to (1) amplify the signal of interest and the undesired signals within a first frequency range while (2) filtering the noise occurring in a second frequency range, which includes frequencies higher than the first frequency range, prior to transmitting the amplified signal of interest and undesired signals to one or more filters; and
transforming, with a processor and a Fourier transform, the signal of interest to form an output signal.
2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the amplifier is to amplify the signal of interest and the undesired signals by using the local reference potential of the electronics module, and connecting the second point directly to the local reference potential.
3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the amplifier is to amplify the signal of interest at the electronics module by using the local reference potential and source voltages, and positioning the electronics module in a region of the headpiece adjacent to the second point so as to electrically couple the local reference potential and source voltages to the second point.
4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the amplifier is to amplify the signal of interest at the electronics module and detecting the electrical activity includes using conductors extending from the electronics module to the sensor and reference electrodes at the first and second points, and electrically isolating the electronics module by keeping the electronics module free of wires, optical fibers or other extensions other than the conductors extending to the sensor and reference electrodes.
5. A method as defined in claim 1 further including filtering an output signal of the amplifier with the electronics module to attenuate the undesired signals and to isolate the signal of interest from the undesired signals.
6. A method as defined in claim 5 further including communicating the signal of interest to a computing device.
7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein the computing device is to display information relating to the signal of interest.
8. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein the computing device is to produce audio related to the signal of interest.
9. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the signal of interest relates to electrical activity in brain tissue of the user.
10. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the signal of interest relates to electrical activity in muscle tissue of the user.
11. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the signal of interest relates to electrical activity in heart tissue of the user.
12. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein filtering the output signal of the amplifier attenuates undesired signals below about 4 Hz and above about 12 Hz.
13. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the signal of interest includes Alpha and Theta band brain waves.
14. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second point is on an ear of the user.
15. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second point is approximately 4 inches from the first point.
16. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second point is on a forehead of the user.
17. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second point is within approximately 8 inches of the first point.
18. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the undesired signals include noise signals caused by environmental noise.
19. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein a contact resistance of the sensor electrode and the reference electrode can be as high as 500,000 ohms.
20. A method as defined in claim 1 further including positioning the electronics module with the processor at a temple of the user and positioning the reference electrode at an ear of the user.
21. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein the processor and reference electrode are to be positioned at the right temple and ear of the user.
22. A method as defined in claim 1 further including:
isolating the signal of interest from the undesired signals by filtering the output signal.
23. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the processor is to convert the output signal from analog to digital, wherein the output signal is converted at a rate that is a multiple of 60 Hz.
24. A method as defined in claim 1 further including testing the output signal for data that is inconsistent with EEG data, and removing the inconsistent data from the output signal.
25. A method as defined in claim 1 further including transforming the output signal using the Fourier Transform to determine an energy spectrum signal based on an energy spectrum of the output signal.
26. A method as defined in claim 25 further including dividing the energy spectrum signal into groups of 60 samples and separating the energy spectrum into 1 Hz wide bins.
27. A method as defined in claim 25 further including dividing the energy spectrum signal into groups of 30 samples and separating the energy spectrum into 2 Hz wide bins.
28. A method as defined in claim 25 further including dividing the energy spectrum signal into groups of samples and separating the energy spectrum into bins which each represent energy in a certain range of frequencies, and summing energy in bins that have about 4-8 Hz to create a Theta band energy signal.
29. A method as defined in claim 28 further including summing energy in bins that have about 8-12 Hz to create an Alpha band energy signal.
30. A method as defined in claim 29 further including generating the signal of interest by determining a ratio of the Alpha and Theta band energy signals.
detecting electrical activity from a tissue of a user via a sensor of a headpiece worn by the user, the sensor including an electronics module, a sensor electrode and a reference electrode, the sensor electrode is to contact a first point on skin of the user and the reference electrode is to contact a second point on the skin of the user, the contact between the reference electrode and the skin of the user to cause a contact resistance between a surface of the reference electrode and the skin of the user, the electronics module being positioned proximate the reference electrode to reduce noise, a local reference potential in the electronics module and a potential of the second point on the skin being approximately equal to allow the surface of the reference electrode to be in direct contact with the skin of the user at the second point without having to prepare the skin or use a material that decreases the contact resistance, the electrical activity represented by a voltage signal including a signal of interest and undesired signals;
transforming, with a processor, the voltage signal using a Fourier Transform to determine an energy spectrum signal based on an energy spectrum of the voltage signal;
dividing the energy spectrum signal into groups of samples and separating the energy spectrum into bins that represent energy in a certain range of frequencies;
summing energy in bins that have about 4-8 Hz to create a Theta band energy signal;
summing energy in bins that have about 8-12 Hz to create an Alpha band energy signal; and
generating the signal of interest by determining a ratio of the Alpha and Theta band energy signals, wherein the ratio includes (Theta signal−Alpha signal)/(Theta signal+Alpha signal).
32. A method as defined in claim 1 further including:
sampling the output signal for a certain number of samples in each 1/60th of a second; and
summing the samples from each 1/60th of a second to create a processed signal with no 60 Hz interference.
33. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the sensor electrode is electrically coupled to a first input of the amplifier, the reference electrode is electrically coupled to a second input of the amplifier, and an output of the amplifier is electrically coupled to the second input of the amplifier via a low pass filter.
34. A method as defined in claim 33, wherein the reference electrode is in circuit with the local reference potential in the electronics module.
35. A method as defined in claim 34, wherein a signal path of the sensor electrode to the first input is electrically isolated from a signal path of the reference electrode to the second input.
36. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the amplifier is a low pass operational amplifier.
37. A method as defined in claim 36, wherein the noise includes signals above about 60 Hz.
38. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the electronics module further includes a filter electrically coupled to an output of the amplifier, wherein the filter is to isolate the signal of interest and further attenuate the noise.
39. A method as defined in claim 38, wherein the amplifier is a first amplifier, and the filter includes a second amplifier, and wherein the output of the first amplifier is electrically coupled to a first input of the second amplifier, and an output of the second filter is electrically coupled to a second input of the second filter via a low pass filter.
40. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the electronics module includes a converter to convert the signal of interest into digital form prior to transforming the signal of interest with the Fourier transform.
41. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the electrical activity is from a muscle and a heart of the user.
US11500678 2005-09-02 2006-08-08 Device and method for sensing electrical activity in tissue Active 2026-11-02 US9351658B2 (en)
US71389905 true 2005-09-02 2005-09-02
US11500678 US9351658B2 (en) 2005-09-02 2006-08-08 Device and method for sensing electrical activity in tissue
US15156866 US20160256065A1 (en) 2005-08-09 2016-05-17 Device and method for sensing electrical activity in tissue
US11500679 Continuation US20070048707A1 (en) 2005-08-09 2006-08-08 Device and method for determining and improving present time emotional state of a person
US15156866 Continuation US20160256065A1 (en) 2005-08-09 2016-05-17 Device and method for sensing electrical activity in tissue
US20070055169A1 true US20070055169A1 (en) 2007-03-08
US9351658B2 true US9351658B2 (en) 2016-05-31
US11500678 Active 2026-11-02 US9351658B2 (en) 2005-09-02 2006-08-08 Device and method for sensing electrical activity in tissue
US15156866 Pending US20160256065A1 (en) 2005-08-09 2016-05-17 Device and method for sensing electrical activity in tissue
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