STAND-ALONE ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND DEVICE FOR FASTENING THE LATTER TO AN ELECTRODE LOCATED ON THE HEAD OF A PATIENT FOR USE WHEN THE PATIENT IS LYING DOWN
Stand-alone apparatus intended to be fastened on to a body part, comprising a bipolar electrode ( 1 ), a light electronic device ( 2 ), means for the mechanical fastening of the electronic apparatus ( 2 ) to the electrode ( 1 ) and means enabling the electrical current to flow from the electronic apparatus ( 2 ) to the electrode ( 1 ) and vice versa. Said fastening means comprise two permanent magnets ( 4 ) located on the electronic apparatus ( 2 ), each of which is electrically conductive and capable of cooperating with a magnetisable metal zone ( 3 ) located on the side of the electrode ( 1 ) opposite the side intended to be in contact with the skin.
1 . A stand-alone electronic apparatus designed to be fastened on to the forehead of a patient, comprising an elongated electrode ( 1 ) with a flat support element provided on one side with a conductive self-adhesive gel for the adhesion to the skin, a light and small electronic device ( 2 ) capable of generating or receiving electrical currents respectively to or from the body, through the electrode ( 1 ), means for fastening the electronic apparatus ( 2 ) to the electrode ( 1 ) in the form of permanent magnets ( 4 ) located on the electronic device ( 2 ), which are electrically conductive in themselves or coated with an electrical conductor and each being capable of cooperating with a magnetisable metal zone ( 3 ) located on the side of the electrode ( 1 ) opposite the side intended to be in contact with the skin, in order to make the electrical current flow directly from the electronic device ( 2 ) to the electrode ( 1 ) and vice versa, characterised in that the electrode ( 1 ) is bipolar and comprises two circular magnetisable zones ( 3 ) arranged along the longitudinal direction of the electrode and whose respective centres have the same spacing as the respective centres of the two magnets ( 4 ) located on the electronic apparatus ( 2 ), on its side intended to make contact with the electrode.
2 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , characterised in that the magnetisable metal zone ( 3 ) consists of a ferromagnetic surface.
3 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , characterised in that the ferromagnetic surface contains iron, cobalt, nickel and/or one of the alloys thereof.
4 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , characterised in that each permanent magnet is a rare earth alloy magnet.
5 . An apparatus according to claim 4 , characterised in that the rare earth alloy magnet is a neodymium-iron-boron magnet.
6 . An apparatus according to claim 4 , characterised in that the rare earth alloy magnet is a samarium-cobalt magnet.
7 . An apparatus according to claim 4 , characterised in that the rare earth alloy magnet is coated with a layer of nickel, copper, zinc, chromium, gold, silver or epoxy resin.
8 . An apparatus according to claim 4 , characterised in that the rare earth alloy magnet has a maximum energy product BH max comprised between 30 and 52 MGOe.
9 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , characterised in that each permanent magnet is cylindrical with an axis perpendicular to the surface of the electronic apparatus ( 2 ) intended to come into contact with the electrode ( 1 ).
10 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , characterised in that the electronic device ( 2 ) has a casing that is flat and in the approximate shape of a diamond.
11 . Use of the apparatus according to claim 1 , for the stimulation of supraorbital and supratrochlear afferents of the upper branch of the trigeminal nerve.
12 . Use of the apparatus according to claim 1 , for a recording of bioelectric activity in a biofeedback application.
13 . Use of the apparatus according to claim 1 , in the context of an application where the patient is lying down or for an application during sleep.