Systems and methods for electroencephalogram monitoring
Provided herein are systems, kits, and methods for monitoring brain activity. In some implementations, a system includes a plurality of wearable sensors having a housing with an extended, rounded shape are removably attached to the scalp of a patient and monitor electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. Approaches for instructing a user to position and active that wearable sensors are disclosed. Approaches for facilitating collection, synchronization, and processing of EEG signals are disclosed. Approaches for handing off control of the wearable sensors between portable computing devices are disclosed.
1. A method for monitoring of brain activity comprising:
activating and positioning a plurality of wearable sensors configured to detect electroencephalogram (EEG) signals indicative of a brain activity of a user and positioned in a plurality of locations on a scalp of the user, each wearable sensor comprising at least two electrodes configured to monitor the EEG signals when the wearable sensor is positioned on the scalp of the user and an electronic circuitry configured to process the EEG signals monitored by the at least two electrodes and wirelessly transmit processed EEG signals to a first portable computing device, the activating comprising following instructions displayed on a display of the first portable computing device; and
subsequent to activating the plurality of wearable sensors, transferring control of the plurality of wearable sensors to a second portable computing device configured to be worn by the user to permit the second portable computing device to wirelessly receive the processed EEG signals, the second portable computing device not including a display or including a display that is smaller than the display of the first portable computing device,
wherein transferring control causes the first portable computing device to cease receiving and communicating the processed EEG signals from the plurality of wearable sensors to one or more remote computing devices, thereby handing off control from the first portable computing device to the second portable computing device,
wherein the first portable computing device is configured to facilitate activating and positioning the plurality of wearable sensors on the scalp of the user, and
wherein the second portable computing device is not any of the plurality of wearable sensors, and the second portable computing device is configured to communicate with the one or more remote computing devices to facilitate monitoring of the brain activity of the user using the processed EEG signals and detecting one or more disorders indicated by the brain activity.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portable computing device comprises a tablet and the second portable computing device comprises a smartwatch or a smartphone.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to transferring control to the second portable computing device, authenticating the second portable computing device.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein authenticating the second portable computing device comprises scanning a QR code of the second portable computing device.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, issuing an alert on the display of the second portable computing device, and responsive to the alert displayed on the display of the second portable computing device, causing the second portable computing device to display instructions for resolving the alert and following the instructions to resolve the alert.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the instructions are associated with replacing an attachment configured to removably attach a wearable sensor of the plurality of wearable sensors to the scalp of the user, and wherein the method further comprises, responsive to the instructions, removing the wearable sensor, replacing the attachment with another attachment, and repositioning the wearable sensor on the scalp of the user.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the instructions are associated with replacing a plurality of attachments configured to removably attach the plurality of wearable sensors to the scalp of the user, and wherein the method further comprises, responsive to the instructions, removing the plurality of wearable sensors, replacing the plurality of attachments with another plurality of attachments, and repositioning the plurality of wearable sensors on the scalp of the user.
8. A system for monitoring of brain activity comprising:
a plurality of wearable sensors configured to detect electroencephalogram (EEG) signals indicative of a brain activity of a user, each wearable sensor comprising at least two electrodes configured to monitor the EEG signals when the wearable sensor is positioned on a scalp of the user and an electronic circuitry configured to process the EEG signals monitored by the at least two electrodes and wirelessly transmit processed EEG signals to a first portable computing device;
a first non-transitory computer readable medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of the first portable computing device, cause the at least one processor of the first portable computing device to:
facilitate an activation of the plurality of wearable sensors by causing instructions to be displayed on a display of the first portable computing device; and
subsequent to the activation of the plurality of wearable sensors, transfer control of the plurality of wearable sensors to a second portable computing device to permit the second portable computing device configured to be worn by the user to wirelessly receive the processed EEG signals, the second portable computing device not including a display or including a display that is smaller than the display of the first portable computing device; and
a second non-transitory computer readable medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of the second portable computing device, cause the at least one processor of the second portable computing device to:
subsequent to transferring control, communicate the processed EEG signals to one or more remote computing devices,
wherein transferring control causes the first portable computing device to cease receiving and communicating the processed EEG signals from the plurality of wearable sensors to the one or more remote computing devices, thereby handing off control from the first portable computing device to the second portable computing device,
wherein the first portable computing device is configured to facilitate activating and positioning the plurality of wearable sensors on the scalp of the user, and
wherein the second portable computing device is not any of the plurality of wearable sensors, and the second portable computing device is configured to communicate with the one or more remote computing devices to facilitate monitoring of the brain activity of the user using the processed EEG signals and detecting one or more disorders indicated by the brain activity.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first portable computing device comprises a tablet and the second portable computing device comprises a smartwatch or a smartphone.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to of the first portable computing device to, prior to transferring control to the second portable computing device, authenticate the second portable computing device.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein authenticating the second portable computing device comprises scanning a QR code of the second portable computing device.
12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the executable instructions further cause the at least one processor of the second portable computing device to:
cause display of an alert on the display of the second portable computing device;
cause display of user instructions for resolving the alert on the display of the second portable computing device; and
pause collection of the processed EEG signals.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the executable instructions cause the at least one processor of the second portable computing device to detect the alert responsive to determining that an impedance of at least one wearable sensor of the plurality of wearable sensors does not satisfy an impedance threshold.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein:
the user instructions are associated with replacing an attachment configured to removably attach the at least one wearable sensor to the scalp of the user, the instructions comprising removal of the at least one wearable sensor, replacement of the attachment with another attachment, and repositioning the at least one wearable sensor on the scalp of the user; and
the executable instructions further cause the at least one processor of the second portable computing device to, responsive to verifying the impedance of the at least one wearable sensor after it has been intended to be repositioned on the scalp of the user, resume collection of the processed EEG signals.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein verifying the impedance of the at least one wearable sensor comprises determining that the impedance of the at least one wearable sensor satisfies the impedance threshold.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the executable instructions cause the at least one processor of the second portable computing device to facilitate selection of the at least one wearable sensor from the plurality of wearable sensors, and wherein the executable instructions cause the at least one processor of the second portable computing device to display a position of the at least one wearable sensor on the scalp of the user on the display of the second portable computing device.
17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the executable instructions cause the at least one processor of the second portable computing device to cause display on the display of the second portable computing device of the alert responsive to passage of a duration of time since replacement of a plurality of attachments configured to removably attach the plurality of wearable sensors to the scalp of the user.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the duration of time comprises 24 hours.
19. The system of claim 8 further comprising a second non-transitory computer readable medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of the second portable computing device, cause the at least one processor of the second portable computing device to:
responsive to a detection of a possible seizure, cause display of instructions for confirming occurrence of a seizure.
20. The system of claim 8 , further comprising the second portable computing device.