FR2585956A1 - Removable device for holding electrodes intended to apply transcerebral currents - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for holding electrodes on the head of a patient in order to apply to him/her calibrated transcranial currents such as are used in transcerebral electrotherapy. The device consists of a frame 1 comparable to that of a pair of glasses and two arms 2 which are foldable or not foldable. In place of the traditional lenses, filling elements 3 support two electrodes 4 which are applied onto the ocular globes of the patient. At the end 6 of the arms 2, two electrodes 5 are applied against the mastoids. The device according to the invention has an electrical connector on which there is available the electrical circuit formed by the electrodes and the skull of the patient. The current applied by an external generator to this dipole may only follow a transcranial path. The device is intended particularly for electro-sleep treatments.

Description

 The present invention relates to a device for applying electrodes to either side of a patient's head in order to subject him to transcranial electric currents.

These transcranial currents. regulated, calibrated, limited, are traditionally used in the field of electrical therapeutics and particularly in the treatment of insomnia by transcerebral electrotherapy also called electro-sleep.

The work of Russian, Austrian, German and
Americans describe the use of machines of the "Electrosone 50" or "Electroderm 1" (Trademark) type with electrodes held by elastic bands or double bandages with integrated electrodes. Straps are also used to hold the electrodes. Information describing the current state of the art can be found in the following works:
* Saul H. Rosenthal.

 "A qualitative description of the electrosleep experience '.

(Qualitative description of experiences in electro-sleep.)
University of Texas medical school. San Antonio. Texas.

 * Richard E. Mc Kenzie.

"Some psychophysiologic effects of electrical transcranian
stimulation (Electrosleep J ".

(Psychophysiological effects due to stimulation
transcranial (Electro-sleep).)
University of Texas Medical School. San Antonio. Texas.

 * Oldrich Grünner.

 "F, Iectronic noise in cerebral electrotherapy".

 Electronic noise and transcerebral electrotherapy.

 Bolneological Researen En, tltwlte Ierenik Graefenberg.

 Czechoslovakia.

 * Hans Guenther Stedelevyr. Maiyores.

 "Wireless electrostimulation of the brain".

(Remote brain electrostimulation.)
Munich. West Germany.

 An international database: MEDLINE accessible by the "Questel" server through the "Transpac" network also provides information on the state of the art under the keyword: "Electrosleep".

 Until now, the strips or strips supporting the electrodes required for their installation and their correct positioning the presence of medical personnel or medical aid.

The device according to the invention overcomes this drawback:
It indeed has a rigid frame (1) resembling that of a pair of prescription glasses, with branches (2) articulated or not;
The electrodes integral with this mount and these branches are maintained in the correct position for the establishment of transcranial currents. This device can be installed with reliable positioning by the patient himself, without external assistance, thus making him autonomous in his treatment.

 In addition to the precision and reliability for the application of the electrodes, the device according to the invention has a much more subjective characteristic: By having the appearance of an object as commonplace as a pair of glasses, it is intended to be secure by eliminating any analogy with major electrical treatments such as seismotherapy (Electrochoc) or other shock therapies.

On the other hand. when the device is in place, it places opaque parts in front of the patient's eyes: this contributes to bringing the patient into a relaxed state conducive to therapy.

 In place of traditional sight glasses, filling pieces (3), encased in the frame (1), serve as support for the front electrodes (4), which are applied against the closed eyelids, on each of the globes eyepieces of the person being treated. The center of the electrodes is located in line with traditional sight glasses. The thickness of the electrodes fills the natural gap that can be observed between the eyes and the glasses of a pair of glasses whose frame normally rests on the nasal bone.

 The branches (2) which are intended to rest on the ears of the patient have at their end (6) an electrode (5) each. These posterior electrodes are applied against the mastoids, bony parts of the skull slightly protruding, located at the rear of the auricular pavilions, approximately at the level of the lobe. So that these electrodes ensure good contact with the skin, they come to tangent the sphere cranial thanks to the angled shape of the ends (6) of the branches (2). A first fold angle ({3) identical to that of a pair of conventional glasses, allows the branch to bypass the ear. A second fold angle (ai, towards the inside of the sphere that the device tends to enclose, presses each posterior electrode against the mastoid.

The stability of the device, once placed on the patient's head, is ensured by the elasticity of the branches which have a stop at the spacing beyond 900 for the angle (o () formed by the frame (i) and each of the branches (2). This elasticity applies lateral forces to the sides of the skull, the combination of which creates
a pLneenlent. guarantor of maintenance. position and reliability of the electrical contacts up to each of the electrodes (4) and (5).

 The device according to the invention ensures by electrical wires (7) the electrical connection of the electrodes which it comprises to an external current generator whose properties of intensity, shape, frequency of the signal can be multiple. The front electrodes are electrically connected to each other, the rear electrodes are also connected to each other; The two circuit nodes thus formed are accessible by a connector (8) in order to form, with the patient's head, an electrical dipole (if the device is correctly in place on the head). The currents injected by the generator inside the dipole can only follow transcranial paths between the front electrodes and the posterior electrodes.

 According to a variant, each branch (2) of the device and the end (6) comprising the rear electrode are two separate parts (Figure 4). These parts are adjusted and held in place by a screw passing inside the lights made in the branch (2) and in the end (6). A wing nut ensures the tightening of the slide-hinge (9) thus formed. The position of the posterior electrodes is then adjustable with two degrees of freedom: horizontal and vertical.

 The device according to the invention comprises metal electrodes (FIGS. 5 and 6) which are discs (10) approximately the size of a coin. To ensure good contact with the skin, they are padded with a spongy material (11) intended to be soaked in physiological saline (sodium chloride dissolved in water in the proportion of 90 / ..). In order not to undergo corrosion which could cause undesirable salt residues, the electrodes are made of stainless metal.

According to a variant, the spongy material (11) used is a charged synthetic foam giving it the quality of conductor of electricity, including dry.

 The device according to the invention ensures the semi-rigid holding of the electrodes (FIG. 5) against the frame and the branches by a conical spring (12) working in compression; The electrodes are thus applied against the patient's skin with a low pressure and over their entire surface.

 According to a variant (FIG. 6), the electrodes are mounted on the frame and on the branches by a ball joint (13). The electrodes are then applied against the patient's skin over their entire surface.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:
Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the device
according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a top view of this device
by showing essential angles.

 Figure 3 shows a rear view of this device.

Figure 4 shows in exploded view a detail of a
variant of this device.

Figure 5 shows a cutaway electrode
this device in one embodiment.

Figure 6 shows a cutaway electrode
this device according to a variant and in another form
of achievement.

The device shown in Figure 1 comprises a frame (1) whose largest dimension or width is of the order of 15cm; the height of the order of 6cm and the thickness of the order of lcm with regard to the frame.

The branches (2) have an approximate length of 15cm.

The electrodes (4) and (5) are discs with a diameter of around 3cm and a thickness taking into account the padding of around 1.5cm.

 The previous dimensions are given for use on medium and adult patients.

 The materials that can be used for the frame and the temples are those of traditional eyewear: metal, plastic or plastic reinforced with metal.

 In the embodiment of the variant (FIG. 4), the branches (2) comprise an additional articulation of the slide-hinge type (9). The locking of this articulation is done using a screw and a wing nut.

 The device according to the invention is particularly intended for electro-sleep treatments involving weak transcranial currents of the order of a few milliamps.

Claims (10)

 l) electrode support device for applying transcerebral currents, characterized in that it comprises a rigid frame (l) comparable to that of a pair of prescription glasses as well as two branches (2); the whole intended to rest on the nasal bone on the one hand and on the ears on the other hand of a possible patient or user.  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that instead of traditional sight glasses, two filling pieces (3) are embedded in the frame (1) and hold in place two front electrodes (4) intended to make contact with eyeballs, closed eyelids, when the device is placed on a patient's face.  3) Device according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterized in that the ends of the branches (6) each comprising a posterior electrode (5), by their angled oblique shape tangent the cranial sphere at the height of the mastoids.  4) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the branches, foldable or not, have a stop at the spacing beyond 900 for the angle ()) formed by the mount (1) and each of the branches (2) in order to maintain a lateral pressure guaranteeing stability on the patient's skull and the reliability of the electrical contacts at the level of each of the electrodes.  5) Device according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3 characterized in that the electrodes are connected by electrical wires (7) in order to constitute an electrical circuit accessible by a connector (8) for a generator whose generated current does can only follow d {fs; trata-scr & ian paths between the front electrodes and the posterior electrodes.  6) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ends (6) of the branches are adjustable by a sliding-hinge system (9) in order to adapt to different cranial morphologies.  7) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrodes consist of a mechanical piece of stainless metal (10) padded with a spongy material (11) natural or synthetic.  8) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the padding material (11) is an electrically conductive synthetic foam.  9) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrodes (4) and t5) are mounted on their support in a semi-rigid manner by using a conical spring (12).  10) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the electrodes (4) and (5) are movable on their support thanks to their fixing by a ball joint (13).