Methods and devices for brain activity monitoring supporting mental state development and training

Abstract

With explosive penetration of portable electronic devices (PEDs) recent focus into consumer EEG devices has been to bring advantages including localized wireless interfacing, portability, and a low-cost high-performance electronics platform to host the processing algorithms to bear. However, most development continues to focus on brain-controlled video games which are nearly identical to those created for earlier, more stationary consumer EEG devices and personal EEG is treated as of a novelty or toy. According to embodiments of the invention the inventors have established new technologies and solutions that address these limitations within the prior art and provide benefits including, but not limited to, global acquisition and storage of acquired EEG data and processed EEG data, development interfaces for expansion and re-analysis of acquired EEG data, integration to other non-EEG derived user data, and long-term user wearability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a wireless transmitter operating according to a predetermined wireless standard;   an electronic circuit coupled to the wireless transmitter;   a housing to fit around only a predetermined portion of a user's head behind an ear of the user;   a first tubular arm formed from a first flexible material connected to the housing and projecting forward to fit along the side of the user's head and over a temple region of the user;   a second tubular arm from a second flexible tubular material connected to the housing and projecting in a loop along the side of the user's head and around the upper front of the user's ear;   a first electroencephalography (EEG) sensor configured to engage a temple of the user and forming a tip portion of the first arm electrically connected to the electronic circuit via first wiring within the first tubular arm;   an earpiece configured to fit within the outer ear of the user to provide audio signals to the user generated by the electronic circuit to which it is connected via second wiring within the second tubular arm; wherein   at least one of the first arm, the second arm and the housing are configured to retain the device in position on the user's head absent any other retention means.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first arm may be rotated relative to the housing to place the device in a second configuration wherein at least one of the position of the first EEG sensors is now closer to the housing and the footprint of the device is reduced.   
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a predetermined portion of the wiring between the electronic circuit and the earpiece is external to the second tubular arm.   
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a third arm formed from a third material connected to the housing and projecting forward to fit along the side of the user's head behind the ear of the user.   
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a microphone connected to the electronic circuit, wherein
 either:
 the microphone is disposed within a lower portion of the housing designed to fit below an ear lobe of the user's ear; 
 
 or
 the microphone forms a tip portion of a third tubular arm and is electrically connected to the electronic circuit via third wiring within the third tubular arm, wherein the third tubular arm is formed from a third flexible material and projects forward from the housing to fit along the side of the user's head and over a cheek region of the user. 
 
   
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 for a user's head within a predetermined range of dimensions the first tubular arm is dimensioned such that the first EEG sensors is configured to be positioned proximate one of the nodes F3 and F4 according to side of the user's head the device is designed to mount upon.   
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the wireless transceiver transmits at least one of raw EEG data from the first EEG sensor and processed EEG data generated by the electronic circuit from the raw EEG data from the first EEG sensor.   
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the device comprises a second EEG sensor connected to the electronic circuit, wherein
 the second EEG sensor is either disposed at the tip of a fourth arm or disposed within the housing; and 
 for a user's head within a predetermined range of dimensions the device is configured such that the second EEG sensor positioned proximate to one node of a pair of nodes according to side of the user's head the device is designed to mount upon; and 
 the pair of nodes is selected from the group comprising A1/A2, T3/T4, and T5/T6. 
   
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the electronic circuit comprises a microprocessor applying at least one algorithm of a plurality of algorithms to EEG data received from the first EEG sensor, wherein the algorithm comprises applying at least one of a signal processing algorithm and a classification algorithm upon the EEG data.   
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 the electronic circuit comprises a microprocessor applying at least one algorithm of a plurality of algorithms to EEG data received from the first EEG sensors to generate processed EEG data and applying another algorithm of the plurality of algorithms to the processed EEG data and user data; wherein   the wireless transceiver acquires the user data relating to at least one of an activity and a context of the user from another electronic device associated with the user.   
     
     
         11 . A device comprising:
 a wireless transmitter operating according to a predetermined wireless standard;   an electronic circuit coupled to the wireless transmitter;   a housing to fit around only a predetermined portion of a user's head behind an ear of the user;   a first arm formed from a first flexible material connected to the housing and projecting forward to fit along the side of the user's head and over a temple region of the user;   a first electroencephalography (EEG) sensor configured to engage a temple of the user and forming a tip portion of the first arm electrically connected to the electronic circuit via first wiring within the first arm; wherein   at least one of the first arm and the housing are configured to retain the device in position on the user's head absent any other retention means.   
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , further comprising
 at least one of:
 a second arm from a second flexible material connected to the housing and projecting in a loop along the side of the user's head and around the upper front of the user's ear; and 
 an earpiece configured to fit within the outer ear of the user to provide audio signals to the user generated by the electronic circuit to which it is connected via second wiring. 
   
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the first arm may be rotated relative to the housing to place the device in a second configuration wherein at least one of the position of the first EEG sensors is now closer to the housing and the footprint of the device is reduced.   
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 11 , further comprising
 a third arm formed from a third material connected to the housing and projecting forward to fit along the side of the user's head behind the ear of the user.   
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 11 , further comprising
 a microphone connected to the electronic circuit, wherein
 either:
 the microphone is disposed within a lower portion of the housing designed to fit below an ear lobe of the user's ear; 
 
 or
 the microphone forms a tip portion of a third arm and is electrically connected to the electronic circuit via third wiring within the third arm, wherein the third arm is formed from a third flexible material and projects forward from the housing to fit along the side of the user's head and over a cheek region of the user. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein
 for a user's head within a predetermined range of dimensions the first arm is dimensioned such that the first EEG sensors is configured to be positioned proximate one of the nodes F3 and F4 according to side of the user's head the device is designed to mount upon.   
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the wireless transceiver transmits at least one of raw EEG data from the first EEG sensor and processed EEG data generated by the electronic circuit from the raw EEG data from the first EEG sensor.   
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the device comprises a second EEG sensor connected to the electronic circuit, wherein
 the second EEG sensor is either disposed at the tip of a fourth arm or disposed within the housing; and 
 for a user's head within a predetermined range of dimensions the device is configured such that the second EEG sensor positioned proximate to one node of a pair of nodes according to side of the user's head the device is designed to mount upon; and 
 the pair of nodes is selected from the group comprising A1/A2, T3/T4, and T5/T6. 
   
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the electronic circuit comprises a microprocessor applying at least one algorithm of a plurality of algorithms to EEG data received from the first EEG sensor, wherein the algorithm comprises applying at least one of a signal processing algorithm and a classification algorithm upon the EEG data.   
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 11 , further comprising
 the electronic circuit comprises a microprocessor applying at least one algorithm of a plurality of algorithms to EEG data received from the first EEG sensors to generate processed EEG data and applying another algorithm of the plurality of algorithms to the processed EEG data and user data; wherein   the wireless transceiver acquires the user data relating to at least one of an activity and a context of the user from another electronic device associated with the user.   
     
     
         21 . A device comprising:
 a wireless transmitter operating according to a predetermined wireless standard;   an electronic circuit coupled to the wireless transmitter;   a first housing to fit around only a first predetermined portion of a user's head comprising at least the region behind an ear of the user;   a first arm formed from a first flexible material connected to the housing and projecting forward to fit along the side of the user's head and over the temple region of the user;   a first electroencephalography (EEG) sensors configured to engage a first predetermined location of the user's head connected to the electronic circuit via first wiring within the first arm;   a second arm formed from a second flexible material connected to the housing and projecting forward to fit along the side of the user's head behind the ear of the user; wherein   at least one of the first arm, the second arm and the housing are configured to retain the device in position on the user's head absent any other retention means than the device.   
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 21 , further comprising
 a second housing to fit around only a second predetermined portion of the user's head comprising at least the region behind the other ear of the user;   a third arm formed from the first flexible material connected to the housing and projecting forward to fit along the other side of the user's head and over the other temple region of the user;   a second electroencephalography (EEG) sensors configured to engage a second predetermined location of the user's head connected to the electronic circuit via second wiring;   a fourth arm formed from the second flexible material connected to the housing and projecting forward to fit along the side of the user's head behind the ear of the user.   
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 22 , further comprising
 a body fitting around only a third predetermined portion of the user's head joining the first housing and second housing at each distal end.   
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 21 , further comprising
 at least one of:
 a loop formed from a first material connected to one of the first housing and the second housing and projecting in a loop along the side of the user's head and around the upper front of the respective user's ear; and 
 an earpiece configured to fit within the outer ear of the user to provide audio signals to the user generated by the electronic circuit to which it is electrically connected. 
   
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 21 , further comprising
 a microphone connected to the electronic circuit, wherein
 either:
 the microphone is disposed within a lower portion of the first housing designed to fit below an ear lobe of the user's ear; 
 
 or
 the microphone forms a tip portion of a third arm and is electrically connected to the electronic circuit via third wiring within the third arm, wherein the third arm is formed from a third flexible material and projects forward from the housing to fit along the side of the user's head and over a cheek region of the user. 
 
   
     
     
         26 . The device according to  claim 22 , further comprising
 a microphone connected to the electronic circuit disposed within a lower portion of the second housing designed to fit below an ear lobe of the user's ear.   
     
     
         27 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein
 for a user's head within a predetermined range of dimensions the first arm is dimensioned such that the first EEG sensors is configured to be positioned proximate one of the nodes F3 and F4 according to side of the user's head the device is designed to mount upon.   
     
     
         28 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein
 the device comprises a third EEG sensor connected to the electronic circuit, wherein
 for a user's head within a predetermined range of dimensions the device is configured such that the third EEG sensor positioned proximate to one node of a pair of nodes according to side of the user's head the first housing of the device is designed to mount upon; and 
 the pair of nodes is selected from the group comprising A1/A2, T3/T4, and T5/T6. 
   
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 22 , wherein
 the device comprises a fourth EEG sensor connected to the electronic circuit, wherein
 for a user's head within a predetermined range of dimensions the device is configured such that the fourth EEG sensor positioned proximate to one node of a pair of nodes according to side of the user's head the second housing of the device is designed to mount upon; and 
 the pair of nodes is selected from the group comprising A1/A2, T3/T4, and T5/T6. 
   
     
     
         30 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein
 the electronic circuit comprises a microprocessor applying at least one algorithm of a plurality of algorithms to EEG data received from the first EEG sensor; wherein
 the at least one algorithm of the plurality of algorithms comprises applying at least one of a signal processing algorithm and a classification algorithm upon the EEG data; and 
 another algorithm of the plurality of algorithms comprises applying an algorithm to processed EEG data in dependence upon user data relating to at least one of an activity and a context of the user acquired from another electronic device associated with the user.