US 8,478,394 B2 · Field deployable concussion assessment device

Abstract

A device and method for assessment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is described. The device is configured to acquire brain electrical signals from a patient's forehead using one or more neurological electrodes. The acquired brain electrical activity data is subjected to artifact rejection and feature extraction, and a subset of features are then combined in at least one classifier function. The classifier functions statistically place a patient in one of four categories related to the extent of brain dysfunction: 1) normal brain electrical activity; 2) abnormal brain electrical activity consistent with non-structural injury with less severe manifestations of functional brain injury; 3) abnormal brain electrical activity consistent with non-structural injury with more severe manifestations of functional brain injury; and 4) abnormal brain electrical activity consistent with structural brain injury.

Claims36

Dependent claims

An apparatus for assessment of traumatic brain injury in a patient, comprising:

a patient sensor comprising at least one neurological electrode;
and
a handheld base unit operatively coupled to the patient sensor, the base unit comprising:
a digital signal processor configured to perform automatic identification and removal of artifacts from brain electrical signals acquired by the at least one neurological electrode, extract one or more features from the acquired brain electrical signals, and execute at least one classification function to classify the patient into one of four categories indicative of the presence and severity of traumatic brain injury;
wherein at least one classification function is designed using a training database comprising a population of controls and patients who reportedly sustained closed head injuries and the training database is organized using Standard Assessment of Concussion (SAC) scores.

2 more elements

A method for assessment of traumatic brain injury in a patient, comprising the steps of:

connecting at least one neurological electrode to the patient's forehead to acquire brain electrical signals;
and
providing a base unit operatively connected to the at least one neurological electrode to process the acquired brain electrical signals;
wherein the base unit comprises a digital signal processor configured to perform automatic identification and removal of artifacts from brain electrical signals acquired by the at least one neurological electrode, extract one or more features from the acquired brain electrical signals, and execute at least one classification function to classify the patient into one of four categories indicative of the presence and severity of traumatic brain injury, wherein the at least one classification function is designed using a training database comprising a population of controls and patients who reportedly sustained closed head injuries and the training database is organized using Standard Assessment of Concussion (SAC) scores.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Field deployable concussion assessment device

Life of this patent

Field deployable concussion assessment device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36