Systems and methods for detecting brain-based bio-signals

Abstract

Systems and methods detect a multicomponent brain-based bio-signal in non-brain internal body tissues and cavities of a patient, such as the mouth and nostrils. Sub-component signals are filtered from the multi-component signal to isolate occurrences of physiological activities that correspond to the sub-component signals, such as eye movement, heart function, respiration, and body movement. Based on detections of certain body activities from the sub-component signals, the control of or display of a body monitoring device is influenced by such detections.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for monitoring human or animal body activities comprising:
 a body attachment device including at least one sensor configured to maintain contact with one of an internal body tissue below the nose, a hard palate inside of a mouth, a gum inside of a mouth and a nostril inside a nose;   a signals processor operatively coupled to the at least one sensor that is programmed to identify a plurality of subcomponent brain-based biosignals apart from a multi-component brain-based biosignal provided by the at least one sensor to the processor, wherein the signals processor is further programmed to associate and measure different body activities from the plurality of subcomponent brain-based biosignals; and   an electronic body monitoring device operatively connected to receive instructions from the signals processor to at least one of change a function of the device and change a display of the device in response to a measurement of one or more body activities determined from the plurality of subcomponent brain-based biosignals by the signals processor.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one sensor comprises a biopotential signal electrode and a biopotential reference electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein at least one of said electrodes comprises electrical conductive biocompatible metals and conductive wires connected to said metals. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein at least one of said electrodes comprises a thermistor and a foam material covering. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said signal processor is programmed including bandpass filters. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said body activities include one or more of cardiac activity, eye activity, and respiratory activity. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one sensor is convex. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one sensor is concave. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2  wherein at least two electrodes are positioned in opposing orientations to enhance eye movement detection. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2  wherein at least two electrodes are positioned in non-opposing orientations to minimize eye movement detection. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the body attachment device includes a mouthguard configured for attachment to teeth. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said body attachment device includes a flexible sensor support providing spring-force to the at least one sensor to press against a hard palate or gum. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said flexible sensor support is constructed as a mechanical and electrical shield to prevent one or both of tongue motion artifacts and electrical dipole artifacts. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said body attachment device includes a thin-flexible material comprising an adhesive strip configured to attach to one or more of teeth, gums and hard palate. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signals processor includes a wireless connection to a wireless transmitter operatively coupled to the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the signals processor resides on a smartphone or mobile device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the electronic body monitoring device is a sleep apnea monitor. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the signals processor determines when the electronic body monitoring device should be placed and removed from an internal body tissue. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the signals processor resides in a microprocessor chip integrated in the body attachment device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a data storage memory integrated in the body attachment device that stores data from the plurality of subcomponent brain-based biosignals and an external processing device in which the signals processor resides communicatively coupled to the data storage memory.