JP2548652B2 - EEG measurement tool - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electroencephalogram measuring instrument.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to measure an electroencephalogram, a large number of electroencephalogram electrodes, for example, 21 must be attached to a predetermined part of the head. At this time, in order to reduce the impedance and potential difference between the skin of the head and the electrodes, it is necessary to ensure contact between them. Conventionally, for example, a silver paste for conductivity is applied to the surface of the electrode made of a silver plate. They were reattached, and each of them was attached to the skin of the head of the brain wave measuring point with a tape coated with an adhesive. Therefore, it takes about 30 minutes for the preparation work to start the measurement, and the subject suffers not a little when the silver plate is attached and detached. Then, after removing the silver plate, it was necessary to wash the head to remove the silver paste. Further, since the skin of the head is keratinized, there is a problem that impedance and potential difference between the skin of the head and the electrodes are large and accurate measurement is difficult.

Therefore, for example, a method of measuring an electroencephalogram using an electroencephalogram measurement probe in which an electroencephalogram electrode made of silver-silver chloride and an electrolytic solution such as potassium chloride are built in, and the electroencephalogram electrode and the electrolytic solution constitute a half-cell is studied. ing. That is, the tip protruding from the tip of this probe was brought into contact with the brain wave measuring point of the head, and at the same time, it was also brought into contact with the forehead and ear as body ground, and was contacted with the positive electrode and the forehead that were in contact with the brain wave measuring point. An electroencephalogram is measured by measuring the potential between three points of the body earth electrode and the ear earth electrode in contact with the ear. This electroencephalogram measurement method uses a probe mounting tool with a predetermined number of holders attached to the head, and when the probes are attached to the holder, a plurality of probes simultaneously measure the brain wave measurement points on the head. It is possible to make contact and efficiently measure brain waves.

[0004]

By the way, since the skin surface of a human body is covered with oil, dust, dead skin cells, etc., it has a large electric resistance, which is an obstacle to the electroencephalogram measurement even in the above-mentioned electroencephalogram measurement method. It has become. Therefore, it is possible to measure accurately by increasing the electrolytic solution concentration of the probe to some extent and reducing the resistance. However, although the electrolyte concentration of the human body is about 0.9%, there is a problem in that pain is felt when the difference between the electrolyte concentration of the probe and the electrolyte concentration of the human body becomes too large.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electroencephalogram measuring instrument which can be accurately measured with less pain.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a half-battery is composed of an electroencephalogram electrode and an electrolytic solution which are built in a probe mounting tool worn on the head, and the electrolytic solution oozes out from the chip. In an electroencephalogram measuring instrument in which a probe for measuring a brain electroencephalogram and a probe for a foreground earth electrode are attached, and an ear probe for an ear electrode is attached to an ear probe holder, the electrolyte concentration of the probe for the forehead and the ear earth electrode is measured. It should be higher than the electrolyte concentration of the EEG probe.

[0007]

As described above, the electrolyte solution of the probe, which is the positive electrode, is brought into contact with the brain wave measuring point of the head by changing the concentration of the electrolyte solution of the probe that is brought into contact with the forehead earth electrode that is the body earth and the forehead and ear that is the ear ground electrode. Although higher than the concentration, the skin of the ears and forehead, unlike the skin of the head covered with hair, is usually exposed directly to the air, so the skin is strong,
Even if the concentration of the electrolyte in the probe is increased, it is relatively painless. Then, the total resistance can be kept low by the amount by which the electrolyte concentration of the ground electrode is increased, and the electroencephalogram can be accurately measured.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show an example of measurement using an electroencephalogram measuring method attachment in a mesh-like shape with an elastic cord such as a rubber cord in a nightcap shape. An annular belt wrapped around the perimeter of the head
54 is made of rubber cord and is slightly smaller than the length of the perimeter line of the head in the natural state. Three head covering belts 52 are connected in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction of the annular belt 54. These head covering belts 52 are also made of elastic cords, and the belts 52 and 54 form a night cap type hat. Nineteen holders 1 described later are attached to the intersections of the belts 52, 52 and the belts 52, 54, and the holders 1 also hold probes 2 described later. The probe held by the holder 1A that contacts the forehead is for the body ground electrode. However, as shown in FIG. 3, the probe 2A for the ear ground electrode is C
It is held by a dedicated ear-shaped probe holder 20 with a V shape, and the tip 23 contacts the earlobe.

Here, the distance between the holders 1 is determined according to the Jasper 10-20 method. In other words, the holder 1 attached to the intersection of the head covering belt 52 and the annular belt 54 is placed on the front part of the annular belt 54 located on the upper part of the nose root and the upper part of the occipital nodule when the cap is put on the head. 10: 20: 2 between the rear parts of the located annular belt 54
The holder 1 attached at the intersection of the head covering belts 52 at the interval ratio of 0: 20: 20: 10 is
It is located at the interval ratio of 20: 20: 20: 20. Therefore, each holder 1 is in a symmetrical position in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. A holding belt (not shown) may be attached to the lower side of the annular belt 54 so that the hat is firmly held on the head.

As described above, the mesh-shaped night cap type cap is formed by the belts 52, 54 made of elastic cords such as rubber cords, and the intervals between the intersections of the belts 52, 54 are set to a predetermined ratio, and the intersections are set. When the holder 1 to which the probe 2 is attached is attached to the, the probe 2 is lightweight and does not need to measure the size of the head, and the probe 2 can be easily and quickly arranged at a predetermined position.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a nightcap-shaped electroencephalogram measuring device made of a wire.
Each of the one and three head covering belts 42 is composed of two parallel wires, which are connected by a first connecting tool 43 and a second connecting tool 44 to form a nightcap-shaped cap. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the wires of the annular belt 41 and the head covering belt 42 are slidably inserted in the first connecting tool 43 and the second connecting tool 44, and the sliding resistance of the wires is It is designed to have a predetermined size. That is, the wire does not slide unintentionally, but by forcibly sliding the wire, the night cap-shaped hat can be adjusted according to the size of the head. Then, 19 holders 1 are attached to the wire at the positions determined in accordance with the Jasper 10-20 method as described above. Note that FIG. 5 shows only one holder. Then, the probe 2 is held by the holder 1, but since the position of the holder 1 can be freely changed, accurate measurement can be performed regardless of the shape of the head.

The holder 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
The fitted portion 11 is an annular body having an inner thread 11a for attaching a probe formed on its inner surface, and is made of brass whose surface is gold-plated, for example, and has electrical conductivity. A light-weight cylindrical body 12 is attached to the fitted portion 11. The lead wire 3 is connected to the fitted portion 11, and the lead wire 3
Is compactly routed and has 19 lead wires 3
Are collectively connected to an electroencephalograph (not shown).

Next, the probe 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The fitting portion 21 is, for example, made of brass whose surface is gold-plated, has conductivity, and has an outer screw 21a formed on the outer periphery thereof. The fitting portion 21 is attached to the fitting portion 11 of the holder 1. It can be screwed on. The fitting portion 21 and the fitted portion 11 are not limited to being screwed to each other, but may be press-fitted. A sliding cylinder 26 is slidably connected to a cylindrical body 28 fixed to the fitting portion 21, and a bottomed cylindrical electroencephalogram electrode 22 is fixed to the tip of the sliding cylinder 26 via a fixing portion 27. There is. The electroencephalogram electrode 22 is, for example, an electrode plate made of silver-silver chloride,
Locking part 2 which is an annular groove between the electroencephalogram electrode 22 and the fixed part 27
9 is formed. Then, the fitting part 21 and the electroencephalogram electrode 2
A spring 24 made of, for example, phosphor bronze and having electrical conductivity is interposed between the two, and the fitting portion 21 and the electroencephalogram electrode 22 are electrically connected to each other, and
22 is bulging forward.

On the other hand, the chip 23 consists of KCl, RbCl,
CsCl, NaCl, LiCl, CaCl ₂ , MgCl ₂
An electrolytic solution composed of an aqueous chloride solution such as is gelled in a colloidal form by a gelling agent. As a gelling agent,
For example, CMC, PVA, water-soluble polymer such as polyacrylic acid amide, agar, agarose, gelatin,
Peptin, silica gel, etc. can also be used. In this way, since the chip 23 is the gelled electrolyte,
The electrolyte does not exude excessively and the hair is not soiled during measurement. Further, since the volume shrinks even when dried, there is an advantage that it takes a long time until the conductivity is lost and the life is long. Alternatively, the polymer water-absorbent resin may be molded into a block shape with an appropriate binder such as EVA so that the electrolyte solution can be contained therein.

The tip holder 25 has an inner diameter of the electroencephalogram electrode 2
It is a cylindrical body having an outer diameter equal to 2, and the tip 23 is held by a plurality of holding rods 25b extending from the tip toward the center. An annular locking protrusion 25a is formed on the tail end of the chip holder 25. Therefore, tip holder 2
Insert 5 into the EEG electrode 22 and insert the EEG electrode 22 and the tip.
23 contact each other to form a half-cell, but at this time,
The locking protrusion 25a is engaged with and fixed to the locking portion 29, and can be easily removed by pulling out the chip holder 25. In other words, chip 2 held by chip holder 25
The 3 is removable and can be easily replaced with a new tip 23 for each measurement.

[0016] In measuring the electroencephalogram, the subject's head is covered with a nightcap-shaped probe mounting tool formed of a rubber cord or a nightcap-shaped probe mounting tool formed of a wire. In the case of a probe mounting tool formed of a string, first, the head covering belt 54 at the center is put on in alignment with the midline. At this time, the belts 52, 54 extend according to the shape and size of the head, but the spacing ratio of the holder 1 does not change, and the belts 52, 54 are arranged at the positions determined by the Jasper 10-20 method. The belt 52,
54 does not always extend uniformly and may be slightly deviated from the predetermined position, but since the regular position of the holder 1 is front-rear and left-right symmetrical, it is easy to visually check the deviation amount. You can correct it with your fingertips and easily put it in the correct position. Then, the probe 2 is attached to the holder 1, but the concentration of the electrolyte solution is 10 at the holders 1 other than the holder 1A that comes into contact with the forehead, that is, at the brain wave measurement point of the head.
% Or less, for example, 8% of the probe 1 is attached to the holder 1A that comes into contact with the forehead, that is, for the forehead earth electrode that is the body earth, the concentration of the electrolyte is 10% or more, for example, 12%.
% Probe 1 is attached. Further, as the probe 2A for the ear ground electrode, one having an electrolyte solution concentration of 10% or more is used.

When the probe 2 is mounted on the holder 1, the electroencephalogram electrode 22 is electrically connected to the lead wire 3, and the tip 23 is securely attached to the scalp by the elastic force of the spring 24 regardless of the unevenness of the head. Contact and tip 23
Electrolyte oozes out from. Further, the tip 23, which is a gelled electrolytic solution, may contract with time, but the elastic force of the spring 24 can cover this contraction and ensure contact with the scalp.

At this time, at the measurement point of the weak head of the skin,
A probe 2 having a high electrolyte concentration is used for a forehead earth electrode and an ear earth electrode that use a probe 2 having a low electrolyte concentration and are in contact with the forehead and ears where the skin is strong and does not feel pain.
Since it is attached, the pain is less felt, and the total resistance can be kept low by the amount of the electrolyte concentration of the ground electrode increased, so that the brain waves can be accurately measured.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an electroencephalogram measuring instrument that can be accurately measured with less pain.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a probe.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a holder.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a probe mounting tool using a rubber cord.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a probe mounting tool using a rubber cord.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a probe mounting tool using a wire.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of details of a probe mounting tool using a wire.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of details of a probe mounting tool using a wire.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Holder 2 Probe 22 EEG Electrode 23 Chip 25 Chip Holder 3 Lead Wire

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A probe mounting tool to be worn on the head comprises a built-in electroencephalogram electrode and a half-cell composed of an electrolytic solution, and a head electroencephalogram measurement probe and a forehead earth electrode probe through which the electrolytic solution exudes from the chip are attached. In the electroencephalogram measurement instrument in which the probe for ear ground electrode is attached to the ear probe holder, the electrolyte solution concentration of the probe for forehead and ear earth electrode is higher than the electrolyte solution concentration of the probe for head electroencephalogram measurement. EEG measurement tool. 2. The electroencephalogram measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the probe tip is made of a gelled electrolytic solution. 3. The electroencephalogram measurement instrument according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the probe contacts the electroencephalogram measurement point or the like of the head while being repulsed by a spring incorporated in the probe. 4. The electroencephalogram measurement tool according to claim 1, wherein the probe attachment is a night cap type cap formed in a mesh shape with an elastic cord such as a wire or a rubber cord.