BRAIN SIGNAL SENSING HEADSET
Devices for recording brain activity of a subject include a first arm shaped to extend along a subject's head, the first arm having a first aperture that allows access to the subject's head. A sensor assembly of the device has multi-directional adjustability in orientation. The sensor assembly includes a shell configured for multi-directional rotation; a sleeve inside the shell; an elastic element attaching a first end of the sleeve to an interior end of the shell; and a sensor removably inserted into the sleeve, with a contact surface of the sensor facing the subject's head. The device also includes a housing that contains an energy source and operational components for the sensor assembly.
1 . A device for recording brain activity of a subject, comprising:
i) a first arm shaped to extend along a subject's head, the first arm having a first aperture that allows access to the subject's head;
ii) a sensor assembly that has multi-directional adjustability in orientation, the sensor assembly comprising:
a shell configured for multi-directional rotation;
a sleeve inside the shell;
an elastic element attaching a first end of the sleeve to an interior end of the shell; and
a sensor removably inserted into the sleeve, with a contact surface of the sensor facing the subject's head; and
iii) a housing that contains an energy source and operational components for the sensor assembly.
2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
iv) a second arm removably coupled to the housing, the second arm extending along the subject's head;
wherein the first arm is removably coupled to the housing and extends along the subject's head in a direction different than the second arm.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an electroencephalography (EEG) electrode.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a light sensor.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the sensor is a near-infrared sensor.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the shell has tabs protruding from opposite sides of an outer surface of the shell; and
the outer surface of the shell is spherical to provide the multi-directional rotation within the tabs.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the elastic element comprises a first spring force; and
the device further comprises a compressible pad mounted to the first arm and facing the subject's head, the compressible pad having a second spring force that is less than the first spring force.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the shell has a Z-axis perpendicular to the subject's head;
the elastic element enables movement of the sensor along the Z-axis; and
the multi-directional rotation comprises angular tilting with respect to the Z-axis and rotation about a Y-axis perpendicular to the Z-axis.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is removably inserted into the sleeve with a turn-locking mechanism, the sensor comprising a cylindrical body having a protrusion that mates with a recess in an interior of the sleeve.
10 . A sensor assembly for recording brain activity of a subject, comprising:
a shell;
a sleeve inside the shell;
an elastic element attaching a first end of the sleeve to an interior end of the shell; and
a sensor removably inserted into the sleeve, with a contact surface of the sensor positioned to face a subject's head.
11 . The sensor assembly of claim 10 , wherein:
the shell has tabs protruding from opposite sides of an outer surface of the shell; and
the outer surface of the shell is spherical to provide multi-directional rotation within the tabs.
12 . The sensor assembly of claim 11 , wherein:
the shell has a Z-axis perpendicular to the subject's head;
the elastic element enables movement of the sensor along the Z-axis; and
the multi-directional rotation comprises angular tilting with respect to the Z-axis and rotation about a Y-axis perpendicular to the Z-axis.
13 . The sensor assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sensor is removably inserted into the sleeve with a turn-locking mechanism, the sensor comprising a cylindrical body having a protrusion that mates with a recess in an interior of the sleeve.
14 . The sensor assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises:
a shaft that is insertable into the sleeve; and
an electrical trace on a top surface of the shaft.
15 . The sensor assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a pogo pin at an end face inside the shell, the pogo pin positioned to contact the electrical trace.
16 . The sensor assembly of claim 10 , wherein the shell comprises a knob coupled to a top surface of the shell, the knob enabling rotation of the sensor about a central axis of the sensor.
17 . The sensor assembly of claim 16 , further comprising a plunger inside and parallel to the elastic element, the plunger coupling the sleeve to the knob.