Abstract:
An electrode holding device is described using a headset having a neutral curvature with a radius smaller than a human skull. The headset adapted to provide spring load force against the human skull at the first and the second ends where first and second respective electrode holding panels are attached. The electrode holding panels conform to the human above the ears. The electrode panels are adapted to pivot about pivot points on the ends of the headset. The panels are adapted to contact the human skull under pressure from spring load force generated from the headset bent beyond the neutral curvature of the headset. The headset can in certain examples be further adapted in certain to accommodate an arm having an a third electrode panel that possesses a third electrode assembly, the third electrode assembly adapted to be spring loaded against and in contact with the human forehead.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/180,021, entitled: Electrode Holding Device, filed on Jun. 15, 2015 the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed to a device that is useful for holding electrodes in place over scalp, skull, or brain. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Presently, there are multiple forms of surface and precutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation available for treatment of neurological conditions. These forms of surface and precutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation are used in a physician&#39;s setting and are held in place by an operator, such as a nurse, technician, or physician for example, or are set/anchored into the skull of a patient. 
         [0004]    It is to innovations related to addressing problems with self-administering a cranial surface neuromuscular electrical stimulation outside the setting of a hospital or doctor&#39;s office that the disclosed invention is generally directed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention is directed to an electrode holding system adapted for electrical coupling between stimulating or sensing electrodes and the scalp, brain or other parts of a head. One embodiment contemplates an electrode holding system that applies directional pressure to a plurality of integrated electrodes to maintain contact on the scalp in a desired position with the target region on the scalp of a patient for either sensing electrical fields that are delivering electrical stimulation or both. Additional, embodiments contemplate at least one electrode from a channel positioned over a desired region of the brain to become activated with the assistance of the electrode holding system. Direct or alternating current can be applied transferring only to the brain at the desired location via the electrode holding system. Certain embodiments contemplate the electrode holding system essentially spring loading the electrodes via a headset device that is adapted to be positioned by the patient or user with one hand. 
         [0006]    Another embodiment contemplates a method for using an electrode holding device comprising: providing a headset that is semi-rigid with a curvature smaller than a human skull, the headset having a first end supporting a first electrode arrangement and a second end supporting a second electrode arrangement; bending the headset in an open direction by spacing apart the first end from the second end; placing the headset over the human skull while the headset is spaced apart; releasing the headset while over the human skull allowing the first electrode and the second electrode to move towards one another in a closed position that compresses the electrodes against the human skull, the first electrode on a first panel and the second electrode on a second panel, the panels pivoting to conform to the human skull; positioning the first electrode arrangement on the human skull above a left ear and the second electrode arrangement on the human skull above a right ear; and energizing the first electrode arrangement and the second electrode arrangement while in contact with the human skull. 
         [0007]    Other embodiments contemplate an electrode holding device comprising: a semi-rigid curved headset having a first end and a second end adapted to conform at least partially to a human skull and to provide spring load force against the human skull at the first and the second ends; a first electrode panel adapted to conform to a first portion of the human skull attached to the first end of the headset; a second electrode panel adapted to conform to a second portion of the human skull attached to the second end of the headset; the first electrode panel adapted to pivot about a first pivot point and the second electrode panel adapted to pivot about a second pivot point; a first electrode disposed in a first position on the first electrode panel arranged to contact at least part of the first portion of the human skull under pressure from the spring load force; and a second electrode disposed in a second position on the second electrode panel arranged to contact at least part of the second portion of the human skull under the pressure from the spring load force. 
         [0008]    Yet, another embodiment contemplates an electrode holding device comprising: a headset having a neutral curvature with a radius smaller than a human skull, the headset possessing a first end and a second end adapted to conform at least partially to a human skull; the headset adapted to provide spring load force against the human skull at the first and the second ends; a first electrode panel adapted to conform to a first portion of the human skull attached to the first end of the headset above a left ear of the human skull; a second electrode panel adapted to conform to a second portion of the human skull attached to the second end of the headset above a right ear of the human skull; the first electrode panel adapted to pivot about a first pivot point and the second electrode panel adapted to pivot about a second pivot point; a first electrode assembly comprised by the first electrode panel arranged to contact at least part of the first portion of the human skull under pressure from spring load force generated from the headset bent beyond the neutral curvature; a second electrode disposed in a second position on the second electrode panel arranged to contact at least part of the second portion of the human skull under the pressure from the spring load force, and the headset adapted to accommodate an arm having an a third electrode panel that possesses a third electrode assembly, the third electrode assembly adapted to be spring loaded against and in contact with a forehead of the human skull. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  depicts a ¾ view of an embodiment of an electrode holding headset in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustratively shows a side view of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  consistent with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustratively shows a top view of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  consistent with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustratively depicts a front view of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  cooperating with the human skull consistent with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustratively depicts a side view of an electrode holding headset with an extending electrode supporting panel consistent with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustratively depicts a side view of an electrode holding headset with a pair of extending electrode supporting panels consistent with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  illustratively depicts a front view of a headset embodiment cooperating with the human skull consistent with embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Initially, this disclosure is by way of example only, not by limitation. Thus, although the instrumentalities described herein are for the convenience of explanation, shown and described with respect to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the principles herein may be applied equally in other types of situations involving an electrode supporting headset. 
         [0017]    To illustrate an exemplary environment in which preferred embodiments of the present invention can be practiced,  FIG. 1  depicts a ¾ view of an embodiment of an electrode holding headset  100  in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. As shown, the headset/headband  100  defines a first end  105  and a second end  107  and conforms at least partially to a human skull. The first end  105  and the second end  107  provides spring load force against the human skull. A left electrode supporting panel  110  and a right electrode supporting panel  111  are pivotally attached to the headset  100  at pivot locations  108  essentially at the first and second ends. This embodiment depicts the electrode supporting panels  110  and  111  as curved to conform to the shape of a human head/skull, not shown. The headband  102  is a semi-rigid curved member that spring loads the electrode supporting panels  110  and  111  against a wearer&#39;s scalp, skull, or other parts of their head. Certain embodiments contemplate the electrodes  110  and  111  positioned just above the ears (not shown) of the wearer (on a human skull). The headband  102  is adjustable along varied circumferences of a head or head sizes via extension members  106 . Locking members  104  lock the extension members  106  in place when the desired location of the electrode supporting panels  110  and  111  are found. The headband  102  provides a wider headband region  112  that rests over the apex of a skull for comfort and stability. 
         [0018]    In this embodiment, power is provided to the electrodes  101  via a battery  113  disposed on the outer portion of the wider headband region  112  to actively sense or provide electrical or electromagnetic current to the brain. Certain embodiments contemplate battery power and wireless transmitting device  115  (via a transmitter, controller, memory,) adapted to transmit stimulating input to the brain/skull or receive sensing output from the brain/skull that is then sent to a wirelessly connected computer hub, not shown. Other embodiments contemplate one or more wireline&#39;s running along the headset  100  and connected to the electrodes. The wireline adapted to transmit stimulating input to the brain/skull or receive sensing output from the brain/skull to a physically connected computer hub. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustratively shows a side view of the electrode supporting headset  100  depicted in  FIG. 1  without the battery and wireless device consistent with embodiments of the present invention. The left side is displayed showing the wider headband region  112  that rests over the apex of a skull that narrows to the spring-loaded headband  102 . As discussed above, the headband is extendable via an extension member  106  and locked into place via a locking member  104 . The left electrode supporting panel  110  is shown for reference. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  depicts the top view of the electrode holding headset  100  without the battery and wireless device consistent with embodiments of the present invention. Prominently shown in the middle of the headset  102  is the wider headband region  112  that rest of the apex of the skull. The left electrode supporting panel  110 , the right electrode supporting panel  111  and the two locking members  104  are shown from the top view. 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  illustratively depicts a front view of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  without the battery and wireless device cooperating with the human skull  210  consistent with embodiments of the present invention. The electrode holding headset  100  is shown cooperating with the human skull  210 . As illustratively shown, the electrode supporting panels  110  and  111  are spring-loaded against the human skull  210  as shown by the arrows pointing towards the center of the human skull  210 . The electrode supporting panels  110  and  111  are adapted to pivot about pivot points  108  to conform to the human skull  210 . The extension member  106  is shown partially extended with the locking members  104  engaged (pointing down) to lock the extension members  106  in position. 
         [0022]    Embodiments of the present invention contemplate one or more electrodes located on one or more of the electrode supporting panels  110  and  111 . Embodiments contemplate that the electrodes can be active or passive electrodes that can be placed on the scalp, ear, forehead, or other reasonable places on a human head. A passive system is envisioned to hold a plurality of electrodes in place on the scalp, ear or forehead, for example, to passively detect current from the brain either which itself can be active, quiet or experiencing induced input such as auditory, visual, tactile as well as other energy sources, such as photon or chemical modulation. Certain embodiments contemplate active electrodes adapted to either stimulate the scalp or brain using a variety of forms of electrical or electromagnetic current in varied frequencies and frequency profiles (e.g. waveforms, signal intensity/amplitude, etc. Direct Current can be continuous or interrupted. Stimulation can also be alternating current called TES or Transcranial Electrical Stimulation and there is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation—all working on the brain, placed in the appropriate locations over various parts of the brain. Embodiments of a passive electrode system envision a plurality of electrodes in place on the scalp, ear, forehead, or other regional places on human head to passively detect current from the brain either which itself can be active, quiet, or experiencing induced input such as auditory, visual, tactile as well as other energy sources such as photon or chemical modulation. 
         [0023]    Embodiments contemplate the electrode holding headset  100  applied to the lateral sides of a human skull  210  in contact with the scalp above the ear using and attachment system for the frontal plane over the top of the skull  210  or secondarily posterior, inferior or anterior and a combination thereof, for example. While other embodiments contemplate the electrodes contacting the ears via the panels. 
         [0024]    Certain embodiments contemplate one or more electrodes integrated with the left electrode supporting panel  110  providing a reverse polarity to the one or more electrodes integrated with the right electrode supporting panel  111 . In other words, the electrodes on the left electrode supporting panel  110  possesses an opposite polarity to the right electrode supporting panel  111 . Other embodiments contemplate one or more electrodes of opposite polarity over the frontal scalp or forehead relative to paired electrodes (one or more) in contact with another port of the scalp, skull, or over a body part on the other side or even ipsilateral side of the body. This embodiment could include one electrode held in place with the electrode supporting headset  100  over the frontal scalp and/or forehead and the opposite electrode over the contralateral scalp overlying the frontal motor, sensory, temporal or parietal regions of the brain (see  FIG. 5 ). The contralateral or opposite polarity electrode could also be over the opposite side of the neck, upper back or in some cases further down the body on either side. 
         [0025]    Certain embodiments contemplate one electrode or set of electrodes on the scalp and the other electrode on the neck or upper neck of the person. This can be accomplished by extending an arm  510  from the electrode supporting headset  500 . Such as that depicted in capital  FIG. 5  which illustratively depicts an electrode supporting headset  500  with an arm  510  extending from the wider headband region  112 . The arm  510  possesses a pivotable electrode supporting panel  512  (pivotable about pivot point  514 ) that conforms to the forehead or neck of a person using the elector supporting headset  500 . Other embodiments contemplate at least one other electrode attached to the human body and connected to the headset  100 . 
         [0026]    Embodiments of the electrode supporting headsets  100  and  500  contemplate the headset being capable and adapted to be self-administered with only one hand. In other words, a user (or person using) electrode supporting headsets can put the electrode supporting headset on their head and adjust the electrode supporting panels to be placed in the appropriate parts of their skull, forehead, neck, or upper body with one hand. 
         [0027]    Embodiments of the electrode supporting headset  100  contemplates supporting a small magnetic coil (not shown) to stimulate the brain, such as a transcranial magnetic stimulator. 
         [0028]    Other embodiments contemplate a first electrode supporting panel possessing a plurality of electrodes with a relatively negative charge thereon and a second electrode supporting panel possessing a plurality of electrodes with a relatively positive charge thereon. Optionally, a first electrode supporting panel is envisioned to possess a plurality of electrodes with a negative charge thereon in contact with a person forehead while a second electrode supporting panel  612  possessing a plurality of electrodes with positive charge thereon on the opposite side of the scalp near or over the occipital portion of the skull (overlaying the frontal motor, sensory, temp oral or parietal regions of the brain),  FIG. 6 , or over an ipsilateral part of the body (in the same line with the occipital portion along the person&#39;s neck or back) or even ipsilateral side of the body. 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  shows yet another embodiment illustrating a plurality of electrodes  704  disposed along a semi-rigid curved headset  700 . Here, there is a top panel  702  that is pivotally adjustable about a pivot point  708  over the top of a human skull. The arrows indicate the pressure direction of the panels  110 ,  111  and  702  over the human head. An optional embodiment contemplates more panels, less panels or no panels with the electrodes traversing the curved headset  700  adapted to contact a human skull. In this arrangement, the electrodes  704  contact the human head along the path of the headset  700  from the left ear to the right ear. 
         [0030]    Certain embodiments contemplate a plurality of electrodes that contact a human skull via the headset  100  or  700 . The plurality of electrodes includes a first group of electrodes and a second group of electrodes. The first group of electrodes possessing a negative polarity charge and the second group possessing positive polarity, relative to the first group. 
         [0031]    A method for using the headset  100  is further contemplated whereby the headset, as previously discussed, is semi-rigid with a curvature smaller than a human skull, the headset having a first end supporting a first electrode arrangement and a second end supporting a second electrode arrangement. A person will bend the headset in an open direction by spacing apart the first end  105  from the second end  107  in a direction that opens up the curvature of the headset  100 . While in the open position, place the headset  100  over the human skull while the headset is spaced apart. In this way, the curvature of the headset is a bit greater than the human skull allowing the panels  110  and  111  to unobstructively be placed over the skull. When in position over the skull, release the headset  100  allowing the first electrode arrangement and the second electrode arrangement to move towards one another in a closed position that compresses the electrodes against the human skull. The first electrode arrangement on a first panel  110  and the second electrode arrangement on a second panel  111 , the panels pivoting to conform to the human skull. Positioning the first electrode arrangement on the human skull above a left ear and the second electrode arrangement on the human skull above a right ear is done to place the electrodes in the right positions over the brain. The panels  110  and  111  can then be locked into position with the latches  104 . The electrodes can be dampened to improve contact with the human head, the electrodes can protrude to penetrate through hair on the head, or can have adhesive if the head is shaved. When the electrodes are in contact and pressing against the skin of the person&#39;s head, the electrodes can be energized via a power supply (wireline or via a battery) to produce stimulation or to receive signals from the brain. Some embodiments contemplate passively sensing signals from the brain by the energy produced by the brain transmitted through the skull. 
         [0032]    It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with the details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the invention, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the summary is expressed. For example, additional electrode supporting panels can be used in a consistent manner with embodiments of the present invention while still maintaining substantially the same functionality without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Another example can include various linked arms with electrode supporting panels were multiple electrode supporting panels along a single arm, or various lines emanating from the headset/headband that can adhere to various parts of the body without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
         [0033]    It will be clear that the present invention is well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes may be made which readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed in the spirit of the invention disclosed and presented in the appended claims.