Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/68—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
  • A61B5/6801—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
  • A61B5/6802—Sensor mounted on worn items
  • A61B5/6803—Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/24—Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
  • A61B5/25—Bioelectric electrodes therefor
  • A61B5/279—Bioelectric electrodes therefor specially adapted for particular uses
  • A61B5/291—Bioelectric electrodes therefor specially adapted for particular uses for electroencephalography [EEG]
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/68—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
  • A61B5/6801—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
  • A61B5/6813—Specially adapted to be attached to a specific body part
  • A61B5/6814—Head
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B2503/00—Evaluating a particular growth phase or type of persons or animals
  • A61B2503/40—Animals
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/40—Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the nervous system
  • A61B5/4058—Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the nervous system for evaluating the central nervous system
  • A61B5/4064—Evaluating the brain

Definitions

• Electrophysiological measuring device for the head of an animal
• the invention relates to the field of electrophysiology.
• the invention more particularly relates to a device for collecting electrical biological signals on an animal, such as in particular, but not exclusively, a horse.
• signals are for example electroencephalographic signals.
• a veterinary center eg a veterinary school
• diagnostic aids such as fixed electroencephalographic appliances, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and scanners.
• MRI magnetic resonance imaging
• Electroencephalography for example, has been practiced in a veterinary clinic for many years. It provides information on the state of cerebral health of an animal.
• the horse head 1 has an elongate profile and has multiple bumps and depressions, the eyes 11 being positioned on the side of the head.
• the horse's brain is situated between its ears 12 at the top of the head (the ears 12 are thus close to the brain 13), and is small compared to the brain of the adult man.
• the horse's brain 13 comprises two left and right cerebral hemispheres (each hemisphere having a length of 12 to 13 cm and a width of 5 cm), and a cerebellum (weighing about 70 g, length equal to 5.5 cm and width equal to 6 cm).
• the brain of the adult man weighs about 1500 g, and measures about 15 cm from the front to the back of the cerebral hemispheres.
• the invention particularly aims to overcome these disadvantages of the prior art.
• an objective of the invention in at least one embodiment, is to propose an electrophysiological measuring device for an animal, such as a horse, which is non-invasive, easily positionable, comfortable, not very constraining, light and stable.
• Another objective of the invention is to propose an electrophysiological measuring device for an animal that is inexpensive, efficient and adapted for use by an itinerant veterinarian.
• Yet another object of the invention in at least one embodiment, is to propose an electrophysiological measuring device for an animal which allows the animal to remain free of its movements and which allows precise measurements, under close conditions. reality.
• the invention does not pose these problems related to the devices of the prior art.
• the invention relates to an electrophysiological measuring device for the head of an animal.
• the device comprises a helmet adapted to be disposed on the head of said animal and carrying electrophysiological measuring means.
• the invention provides an electrophysiological measuring device, in particular electroencephalographic measurement (EEG), which is adapted to be arranged around the head of an animal.
• EEG electroencephalographic measurement
• the device comprises a fixing helmet for holding sensors (electrodes for example) delivering measurement signals representative of an electrophysiological measurement, for example an EEG.
• the device of the invention when used in EEG provides information on the state of cerebral health of the animal and on its level of vigilance / attention. In fact, animals can undergo cerebrovascular accidents and EEG can be a quick and inexpensive way (as opposed to cerebral imaging) to detect functional abnormalities.
• the device of the invention is transportable and is also a diagnostic aid in veterinary medicine in the field.
• the measurement can be made despite the thick hairs of the animal (when it is a horse, for example), a conductive gel ensuring the contact between the electrode and the skin of the animal.
• said helmet comprises a first and a second strap intended to be placed around the head of said animal, at the front and back respectively of the ears of said animal, said first and second straps being connected by a third and a fourth strap to be placed under each of the ears of said animal respectively.
• said first and second strips are connected by at least one fifth strap intended to be placed between the ears of said animal.
• the device of the invention thus makes it possible to easily and accurately position the measurement means close to the animal's brain. It also allows to maintain the measuring means in place despite the movements of the animal.
• this device is easily positioned on the head of an animal, and in particular a horse, while allowing the animal to remain free of his movements.
• the straps are made of a material rigid enough to adhere to the skull of the animal and flexible to not worry the latter.
• said helmet comprises first means for adjusting the length of said fifth strap.
• said helmet comprises second means for adjusting the length of said first and second straps.
• the device of the invention is adaptable to any type of horse.
• said first and second strips each comprise two portions connected by a connecting element.
• said measurement means comprise a plurality of electrodes.
• each of said electrodes is disposed in a hole in one of said strips.
• the device is compact and inexpensive.
• the helmet includes straps having a plurality of holes for receiving electrodes.
• said device comprises means for holding said electrodes against the head of said animal.
• said electrodes are dry electrodes.
• said device comprises means for stimulating said animal carried by said helmet.
• stimuli sound, visual, cognitive
• FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the anatomy of the horse's head
• Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of an electrophysiological helmet according to a first embodiment of the invention
• Figure 3 shows the electrophysiological helmet of Figure 2 when positioned on the head of a horse
• Figure 4A shows a schematic top view of the electrophysiological helmet of Figure 2;
• FIG. 4B shows an electrophysiological helmet according to a second embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the means for holding a helmet measuring electrode on the skin of the animal;
• FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the electronic means for processing and storing the signals measured by the electrodes carried by the helmet of the invention.
• Figures 1 to 3, 4A, 5 and 6 illustrate the electrophysiological measuring device 2 according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• a helmet consisting of two transverse straps 211, 212 intended to be placed at the rear and the front of the ears 12 of a horse 1 (as shown in Figure 3) in substantially frontal planes.
• these strips 211, 212 enclose the head of the animal.
• the helmet further comprises two longitudinal strips 201, 202 spaced apart and intended to be placed in parasagittal planes on each side of the forelock 14 of the horse 1, between the ears 12 of the latter.
• These longitudinal strips 201, 202 connect the transverse strips 211, 212 in the upper part of the helmet 2.
• the transverse strips 211, 212, which are spaced at the top of the helmet, are closer to the lower part of the helmet and are, for example, guided in a protective element 206 (possibly padded) coming to press against the neck of the animal.
• the transverse strips 211, 212 each comprise two portions that are integral with the protective and joining element 206.
• At least a portion of the straps of the helmet comprises one or more holes 23 through the thickness of the strap in which it is formed.
• the width of the strips is preferably between 10 mm and 40 mm.
• adjustment means 205, 215 are provided on each of the longitudinal strips 201, 202 and on the transverse strips 211, 212 respectively so as to adapt the size of the helmet, and therefore the electrophysiological measuring device, to the skull of the horse. 1.
• the adjustment means 205 make it possible to adjust the spacing between the transverse strips 211 and 212.
• the adjustment means 215 make it possible to adjust the radius, and therefore the volume, of the helmet.
• These adjustment means 205, 215 are, in this example, in the form of a loop carrying an articulated rod mounted at a first end of a strap (the strap 212 for example) and in which passes the other end of 212.
• the length of the strips can thus be easily adjusted by the user depending on the size of the skull of the animal. Once the helmet setting on the head of the animal is done, the rod is inserted in one of the holes 23 formed in the strap 212 so as to maintain the setting chosen by the user.
• Velcro trademark fasteners
• the helmet is furthermore designed to prevent inadvertent movement of the electrophysiological measuring device and to maintain the positioning of the measuring sensors (which are preferably cup-type or dry electrodes) with respect to the skull (with contact in the case of electrodes cup-type or non-contact type in the case of dry electrodes).
• the measuring sensors which are preferably cup-type or dry electrodes
• the straps of the helmet comprise several rivets 22 housed in holes 23 and through the thickness of the straps.
• measurement sensors which are here electrodes 30, an electrode 30 being associated with a rivet 22, and
• the device 2 of the invention is intended to perform electroencephalographic (EEG) measurements of the horse.
• EEG electroencephalographic
• the device 2 comprises at least two electrodes which are intended to be applied on either side of the head of the animal (symmetrically on each side of the skull).
• the device 2 further comprises a posterior electrode (parieto-occipital) and a front electrode (frontal). These four electrodes are thus placed near the brain of the horse which for memory is between the ears at the top of the head.
• the device 2 comprises four rivets 22 (two rivets 22 are mounted on each of the longitudinal strips 201, 202) each carrying an electrode (not visible) and allows measurements to be made for each of the hemispheres of the brain of the patient. 'animal.
• a first hollow tube integral with the electrode 30 and opening into the latter is placed in a second hollow tube disposed in the opening hole of the rivet 22, the latter being fixed on the strap 211.
• a spring 4 is fixed firstly to the electrode 30 and secondly to the rivet 22.
• the first tube 5 integral with the electrode 30 is suitable to slide in the second tube 6.
• the electrodes 30 are, in this example, cup-type electrodes in the form of a 5 mm disc which is drilled in the center to allow the injection of a conductive gel via the inside of the first tube 5.
• the gel conductor improves the contact of the electrode 30 with the skin and thus optimizes the passage of the current.
• the electrode 30 is covered with a thin layer of silver providing optimized electrical contact with the skin of the animal and avoiding polarization phenomena.
• Each of the four electroencephalographic measuring electrodes is connected to a device for measuring and recording the cerebral activity of the horse.
• the device of the invention comprises electronic means for processing and storing the bioelectrical signals measured by the electrodes 30, these electronic processing and storage means being arranged in a housing carried by the helmet .
• FIG. 6 is an example of implementation of the electronic circuit carried by the helmet, in which the electrodes 30 are connected by wire connection to two signal amplifiers 31 of predetermined gain (the gain being possibly adjustable), feeding an analog converter / digital (A / D) 32 for digitizing the signal and a digital data storage card, such as an SD card, 32.
• Filtering means may be provided.
• the SD card 32 is removable and can be read on a computer terminal once the electroencephalography is performed using the device of the invention.
• a transmission unit of the bio-electrical signals is implemented in the housing, thus allowing telemetry.
• Such an electroencephalographic measuring device makes it possible to know the functional state of the brain of the animal in its environment. It is therefore not necessary to immobilize the animal.
• the device of the invention can enable a veterinarian to detect a stroke or the functional consequences of a strong head injury in the field, that is to say in an equestrian center or at a training place when This is a racehorse, for example.
• Electrodes can be implemented on the device of the invention.
• This may include dry electrodes which are inserted into the rivets of the helmet. In this case, it is not necessary for the electrodes dry in contact with the skin of the animal. However, a conductive gel must be placed between the dry electrode and the skin of the animal, this gel being injected via the rivet and the dry electrode which are drilled in their center. In addition, the dry electrodes must be located relatively close to the animal's brain so that EEG signals can be measured, for example. In addition,
• the helmet of the device of the invention allows a fine adjustment of the positioning of the dry electrodes around the brain of the animal.
• FIG. 4B illustrates a variant of the device of the invention.
• the helmet 2 'comprises two strips 207, 208 additional to the helmet 2 of Figure 4A.
• the helmet 2 comprises four straps, two longitudinal straps 201', 202 'being intended to be placed on each side of the horse's toupee, the two other longitudinal straps 207, 208 being intended to be placed under the 12 ears of the horse 1.
• All strips 201 ', 202', 207, 208, or only a portion comprise one or more measuring electrodes, and are adjustable so as to adapt the helmet 2 'to horses of different sizes.
• additional strips can be provided on each side of the ears and in front of the eyes so as to increase the number of electrodes and thus allow other types of recording, such as for example electro-occulograms (OEG ) or evoked potentials recordings (auditory, visual, cognitive) generated by acoustic and / or visual stimulation.
• OEG electro-occulograms
• evoked potentials recordings auditory, visual, cognitive
• the number of thongs can vary, the only limiting factor being the space available on the head of the animal.
• the helmet comprises one or more evoked potentials detection electrodes (these electrodes measure the electrophysiological response of the animal to a stimulus).
• the straps are formed of a material rigid enough to wrap the head of the animal without inadvertent deformation of the helmet, and flexible enough to not interfere with the animal.
• a plexiglass tab between the rivet 22 and the spring 4 so as to stiffen the strap and thus limit the movements of the corresponding electrode.
• a strap which can be associated with the element 206, minimizes the movements of the helmet when the animal lowers his head to graze grass, for example.
• Such a device can be adapted for other animal species such as dogs, cats, sheep, pigs, cows and ponies in particular.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Medical Informatics (AREA)
• Biophysics (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Surgery (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Measurement And Recording Of Electrical Phenomena And Electrical Characteristics Of The Living Body (AREA)

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• 2013
  • 2013-06-28 FR FR1356313A patent/FR3007633B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2014
  • 2014-06-25 EP EP14733165.6A patent/EP3013226A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2014-06-25 WO PCT/EP2014/063420 patent/WO2014207050A1/fr not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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