EP-4054702-B1 - ELECTRODE ARRAY ASSEMBLY

Inventors

• SLATER, Kyle Damon
• Grant, John Lloyd
• Hou, Kate
• Bloye, Jaydan William

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20201106

Claims (6)

1. An electrode array assembly (10) for recording EEG data, the assembly (10) including: a carrier assembly (12) configured to be wearable on a patient's body by being arranged on the scalp, the carrier assembly (12) including an array of first electrical contacts (20), configured as contact pads (38), coupled to a plurality of electrodes (18) securable to the patient's scalp, and a first housing (22) carrying the array of first contacts (20) and configured to allow access to the first contacts (20); and a connector assembly (14) including an array of second electrical contacts (26), configured as contact pins (72), and a second housing (28) carrying the array of second contacts (26) and configured to allow access to the second contacts (26), wherein the first housing (22) defines a plurality of locating apertures (56) arranged in a circular array around the first contacts (20), and the second housing defines a complementary plurality of locating protrusions (76) arranged in a circular array around the second contacts (26), and each of the locating protrusions (76) defines a tapered free end (78) shaped to guide the protrusion (76) into one of the locating apertures (56), and wherein the first housing (22) encloses at least one first magnetic element (50), and the second housing (28) encloses at least one second magnetic element (62), and whereby engaging the locating protrusions (76) and the locating apertures (56) arranges the at least one second magnetic element (62) to be drawn towards the at least one first magnetic element (50) to secure the first housing (22) to the second housing (28), and abut the contact pins (72) to the contact pads (38) to form an electrical connection.
2. The assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one first magnetic element (50) and the at least one second magnetic element (62) is configured as a ring magnet and arranged to surround the respective array of electrical contacts (20, 26).
3. The assembly (10) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first housing (22) defines an array of contact apertures (70), each contact aperture (70) arranged to allow access to one of the contact pads (38).
4. The assembly (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the electrodes (18) are coupled to one of the first contacts (20) by a wire (34), and wherein the first housing (22) includes a base plate (40) defining a plurality of openings (48), each opening (48) is dimensioned to receive one of the wires (34).
5. The assembly (10) of claim 4, wherein the first housing (22) further includes a cover (44) securable to the base plate (40) to retain the wires (34) in the openings (48).
6. The assembly (10) of claim 5, wherein the cover (44) defines a rib (58) extending at least partially around a peripheral region, the rib (58) arranged so that securing the cover (44) to the base plate (40) clamps the wires (34) between the base plate (40) and the rib (58).

Description

Technical Field The present disclosure relates, generally, to electrode array assemblies for use with patients and, particularly, relates to an electroencephalogram (EEG) electrode assembly for monitoring brain activity of a patient. Background Patients are often monitored using an electrode assembly, for example, to obtain electroencephalogram (EEG) or electrocardiogram (ECG) data. Monitoring brain activity using EEG recording is typically performed by coupling an array of electrodes to a patient's scalp. The electrodes are secured by either a dry connection or a conductive paste, gel or glue to lower the impedance to tissue. Electrical connection to each electrode is formed using a respective number of wires. The wires are bundled and connected to EEG measurement equipment. Such equipment may be static (referred to as bedside) or portable (referred to as ambulatory). EEG electrode arrays require a cable bundle that is terminated at a plurality of single conductor connectors which connect to each electrode. The cable bundle is typically bulky and can be uncomfortable for the patient. Typical connector arrangements which connect to each electrode lead are also often large and uncomfortable. EEG electrode assemblies are known e.g. from US9203175B1, US4537198A, US3735753A, US2002/183605A1, US5813404A and GB2075194A. For some patients, EEG recording requires multiple day (potentially week-long) ambulatory monitoring, which involves wearing an EEG electrode array continuously for this period. This is often inconvenient and can prove distressing for patients as wearing the EEG electrode array means that routine activities can be difficult or impossible, such as having a shower. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims. Summary The invention is defined by the appended claims. According to some disclosed embodiments, there is provided an electrode array assembly including: a carrier assembly including an array of first electrical contacts coupled to a plurality of electrodes, and a first housing carrying the array of first contacts and configured to allow access to the first contacts; and a connector assembly including an array of second electrical contacts and a second housing carrying the array of second contacts and configured to allow access to the second contacts. Each of the carrier assembly and the connector assembly include complementary retention elements and complementary locating formations, whereby engaging the complementary locating formations allows the complementary retention elements to secure the first housing to the second housing, and allows the first contacts to couple with the second contacts. The locating formation of the carrier assembly may include at least one locating aperture defined by the first housing, and the locating formation of the connector assembly may include at least one locating protrusion defined by the second housing. The, or each, locating protrusion may be dimensioned to be at least partially received in the at least one locating aperture. The first housing may define a plurality of the locating apertures arranged in a circular array around the first contacts, and the second housing may define a complementary plurality of the locating protrusions arranged in a circular array around the second contacts. Each of the locating protrusions may define a tapered free end shaped to allow guiding the protrusion into one of the locating apertures. The retention element of the carrier assembly may include at least one first magnetic element enclosed in the first housing, and the retention element of the carrier assembly may include at least one second magnetic element enclosed in the second housing. The, or each, second magnetic element may be arranged to be drawn towards the, or each, first magnetic element when the locating formations are engaged. Each of the at least one first magnetic element and the at least one second magnetic element may be configured as a ring magnet and arranged to surround the respective contacts. The first contacts may be configured as pads, and the second contacts may be configured as pins. The first housing may define an array of contact apertures, each contact aperture arranged to allow access to one of the pads. Each of the electrodes may be coupled to one of the first contacts by a wire, and the first housing may include a base plate defining a plurality of openings, each opening dimensioned to receive one of the wires. The first housing may also include a cover securable to the base plate to retain the wires in the openings. The cover may define a rib extending at least partially around a peripheral region, the rib arranged so that securing the cover