JP2006006667A - Brain function detector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely bring all electrodes into contact with the scalp matched with the individual difference of the head part of a patient. <P>SOLUTION: The subject brain function detector 1 comprises a flexible cap-like device body 2 to be put on the head part of the patient A and a plurality of electrodes 3 attached to the device body 2 at prescribed intervals and arranged in contact with the scalp B for detecting brain wave signals, and the electrode 3 is provided with an elastic member 4 including an electrolyte at the distal end to be brought into contact with the scalp B and fixed to the device body 2 in the state of being projected to the inner side and outer side of the device body 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a brain function detection device.

  Conventionally, analysis of brain function states has been performed for the purpose of early detection of Alzheimer's disease, and various methods for analyzing brain function states have been proposed (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 2). . In this analysis method, an electroencephalogram signal is detected, and the determination is made based on the smoothness of the spatial transmission and the standard deviation. When brain neuron activity is normal, the electroencephalogram signal is transmitted smoothly and there is little variation. It is lost and its standard deviation tends to increase.

  In order to perform such an analysis with high accuracy, it is indispensable to detect an electroencephalogram signal with high accuracy. Electroencephalogram signals are detected by bringing multiple electrodes into contact with the scalp, but in order to achieve a reliable contact between the electrode and the scalp due to the presence of hair and the unevenness of the shape of the head, the electrodes must be applied with paste. It is common to adhere to the scalp. However, when using a paste, it takes a long time to start the inspection, and the burden on the person to be inspected is great. Also, when removing the electrode after the inspection, the hair can be removed to remove the paste. There is an inconvenience that work is required and the burden on the inspected person is large.

On the other hand, pasteless electroencephalogram signal detection methods that do not use paste have also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). These detection methods are methods in which a fiber piece in a state where water is absorbed in a conductive solution or a water-containing gel impregnated with conductivity is impregnated into a foaming material, and each electrode is brought into contact with the scalp, and no paste is used. Therefore, there is an advantage that the time required for mounting and dismounting can be shortened.
Brain Function Research Institute, Inc., “DIMENSION, a new EEG analysis method for detecting functional deterioration of brain cortical neurons in early Alzheimer's disease”, [online], [March 8, 2004 search], Internet <URL: http : //www.bfl.co.jp/abst-32.html> Brain Function Laboratory Co., Ltd., “Method of Estimating Deterioration of Brain Cortical Neuron Function”, [online], [Search March 8, 2004], Internet <URL: http://www.bfl.co.jp/ abst-31.html> JP-A-10-165386 (second page, etc.) Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-63811 (FIG. 1 etc.)

The detection of the electroencephalogram requires accurate placement of a plurality of electrodes, and the electrodes are generally positioned and fixed to a predetermined holder that is placed on the head of the subject.
However, when the paste is not used, it is necessary to individually press the tip of the electrode against the scalp. However, the head of the examinee has hair and the shape of the head is not constant. Therefore, even if the inspection position is accurately determined by the holder, it is difficult to ensure that the tip portions of all the electrodes are in contact with the scalp.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and can adapt the individual difference of the head of the person to be inspected to more reliably bring the tip portions of all electrodes into contact with the scalp with high accuracy. An object of the present invention is to provide a brain function test apparatus capable of detecting a brain function state.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following means.
The present invention comprises a flexible hat-shaped device body that is placed on the head of an examinee, and a plurality of electrodes that are attached to the device body at a predetermined interval and are arranged in contact with the scalp to detect electroencephalogram signals. A brain function detecting device is provided that includes an elastic member including an electrolyte solution at a tip that is brought into contact with the scalp, and is fixed to the device main body in a state of protruding to the inside and the outside of the device main body.

According to the present invention, by covering the head of the person to be inspected with the cap-shaped device main body, the plurality of electrodes provided on the device main body have their one end in contact with the inner scalp and the other end on the outer side. It is arranged in a state of protruding. Since an elastic member containing an electrolytic solution is provided on one end side of the electrode, when the electrode is brought into contact with the scalp, the elastic member is elastically deformed and brought into close contact with the scalp with a predetermined pressure. As the electrolytic solution penetrates into the scalp, the brain wave signal of the subject is detected on the electrodes.
In this case, since the electrodes are fixed in a protruding state on the inner and outer sides of the apparatus main body, the head hair is scraped off by moving one end protruding inward while attached to the head of the subject. The elastic member at the tip of the electrode can be more reliably brought into contact with the scalp. Moreover, since the other end part protrudes outside, it can operate more easily and can move an internal edge part easily.

In the said invention, it is preferable that the said apparatus main body is comprised with the water-repellent material.
By comprising in this way, it can prevent that electrolyte solution osmose | permeates into an apparatus main body, and can prevent that between electrodes short-circuit via the electrolyte solution sunk into the apparatus main body.

The device body may be made of a water-absorbing material, and the electrode may be fixed to the device body via an insulating material.
With this configuration, even if the electrolytic solution oozes out or sweating from the scalp occurs, these liquids are absorbed by the water-absorbing material. Since the electrodes are insulated from each other by an insulating material, a short circuit due to an electrolyte or sweat can be prevented.

In the said invention, it is preferable to provide the protrusion amount adjustment mechanism which enables adjustment of the protrusion amount to the apparatus main body inside of the said electrode.
Although the arrangement of the electrodes is set with high accuracy in the apparatus main body, the protrusion amount adjusting mechanism can be operated in order to absorb the difference in the shape of the head due to the individual difference of the examinee. Thereby, it becomes possible to arrange | position an electrode accurately with respect to all to-be-inspected persons, and to perform a more exact test | inspection.

Moreover, in the said invention, it is preferable that the said apparatus main body is comprised with the transparent material.
By configuring the apparatus main body with a transparent material, it is possible to visually recognize one end of the inner electrode from the outside.

Furthermore, in the said invention, it is preferable to provide the urging means which urges | biases the said electrode toward an apparatus main body inside separately.
By actuating the urging means, each electrode is pressed against the scalp separately within the apparatus main body, and the contact pressure is increased, so that an electroencephalogram signal can be detected more reliably.

In the above invention, the urging means may comprise a belt that is stretched around the head of the subject so as to press a specific electrode toward the inside of the apparatus main body.
Depending on the part of the head of the subject, there is a place where it is difficult to press the electrode. In that case, it is possible to contact the scalp more reliably by urging the electrode with a belt that is stretched around the head.

Moreover, in the said invention, it is good also as providing the hard helmet member arrange | positioned on the outer side of the said apparatus main body, and the said biasing means consisting of the elastic body arrange | positioned between the said helmet member and an apparatus main body. .
It is possible to increase the contact pressure between the tip of the electrode and the scalp by urging the main body of the device toward the scalp with an elastic body against the hard helmet member.

Furthermore, in the said invention, it is good also as a through-hole which penetrates the electrode which protrudes outside the said apparatus main body to the said helmet member.
In this case, by providing a through hole in the helmet member, the electrode can be operated from the outside, and by operating the outer end portion of the electrode, the head hair is scraped off by the inner end portion by the scalp. It can be reliably contacted.

Moreover, in the said invention, it is preferable that the said elastic body consists of a balloon which can be expanded-contracted with the fluid supplied inside.
By supplying a fluid into the balloon, the balloon can be inflated between the helmet member and the apparatus main body. Moreover, the balloon can be deflated by discharging the fluid in the balloon. Accordingly, it is possible to adjust the urging force for urging the apparatus main body toward the scalp against the helmet member, and to press the electrode fixed to the apparatus main body against the scalp with an appropriate pressure.

Furthermore, in the said invention, it is preferable that the said helmet member consists of a transparent material.
By constituting the helmet member with a transparent material, the state inside the helmet member can be visually recognized from the outside.

  Further, the present invention provides a helmet member that covers the head of an examinee, a balloon that is disposed inside the helmet member and that can be expanded and contracted by a fluid supplied to the inside, and the helmet member that is fixed to the balloon. And a plurality of electrodes that are arranged in contact with the scalp to detect an electroencephalogram signal, and the electrodes include an elastic member that contains an electrolyte at the tip that is brought into contact with the scalp A brain function detection device is provided.

  According to the present invention, the balloon is inflated by supplying a fluid into the balloon, and the balloon is deflated by discharging the fluid. Since the balloon is restrained from being displaced outward by the helmet member disposed outside, the balloon is inflated to press the inner head. In this case, the electrode provided on the balloon is also simultaneously urged in the direction of pressing the scalp, and the tip of the electrode can be brought into contact with the scalp with an appropriate pressure.

In the above invention, an electrode unit composed of the balloon and the electrode may be detachably fixed to the helmet member.
By providing a balloon for each electrode, the contact pressure can be adjusted for each electrode, and differences due to individual differences in the head shape of the subject can be absorbed.

Furthermore, in the above invention, the helmet member and the balloon may be made of a transparent material.
By configuring the helmet member and the balloon with a transparent material, the tip of the electrode can be visually recognized from the outside, and it is possible to check whether the head hair is scraped and is in contact with the scalp.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to make sure that the tips of all the electrodes are brought into contact with the scalp more reliably according to individual differences in the head of the examinee, and to detect the brain function state with high accuracy. There is an effect.

A brain function detection apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
As shown in FIG. 1, the brain function detection device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a hat-shaped device body 2 that is placed on the head of the subject A and a plurality of electrodes 3 attached to the device body 2. And.

  The apparatus main body 2 is made of a flexible material, and is configured to be deformed to some extent in accordance with the shape of the head of the subject A. The apparatus body 2 is made of a water-repellent material, or at least an inner surface thereof is coated with a water-repellent material.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each of the electrodes 3 is formed in an elongated cylindrical shape, and includes an elastic member 4 made of a sponge, a nonwoven fabric, or the like containing an electrolytic solution at the tip that is brought into contact with the scalp B. The elastic member 4 at the tip is brought into contact with the scalp B and elastically deformed, so that the impregnated electrolyte is oozed out and permeated into the scalp B, and the electrode plate (not shown) inside the elastic member 4 and the scalp B are connected. It can be electrically connected. A cable 5 connected to the internal electrode plate is drawn from the rear end of the electrode 3.

The electrode 3 is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 2 and can be adjusted in position by an electrode holder 6 attached to the apparatus main body 2.
For example, the electrode holder 6 is crushed between a base 7 fixed to the apparatus main body 2, a cover 8 fastened to the base 7 with screws, and between the base 7, the cover 8, and the outer surface of the electrode 3. A seal member 9 such as an O-ring that fixes the electrode holder 6 and the electrode 3 is formed.

  The base 7 is provided with a through hole 7a, and a female screw 7b is formed on the inner surface of the through hole 7a. On the outer surface of the electrode 3, a male screw 3a that can be fastened to the female screw 7b is provided at an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction. By rotating the electrode 3 inserted into the through hole 7a of the base 7 about its longitudinal axis, the external thread 3a can be fastened to the internal thread 7b on the internal surface of the through hole 7a of the base 7. Yes.

When the electrode 3 is attached to the electrode holder 6, the elastic member 4 impregnated with the electrolytic solution protrudes inside the apparatus main body 2, and the rear end from which the cable 5 is pulled out protrudes outside the apparatus main body 2. It is arranged in a protruding state with an amount l and a protruding amount m.
In this state, the electrode 3 is rotated in either direction around the longitudinal axis, so that the electrode 3 is moved along the longitudinal axis, and the protrusion amounts l and m of the electrode 3 inside and outside the device main body 2 are changed. It can be made to.

The operation of the brain function detection apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below.
In order to detect an electroencephalogram signal by the brain function detection device 1 according to the present embodiment, a hat-shaped device body 2 is placed on the head of the person A to be inspected, and a plurality of electrode holders 6 provided on the device body 2 are provided. The electrode 3 is inserted into each.
By rotating the inserted electrode 3 about its longitudinal axis, the male screw 3a is rotated in the female screw 7b of the base 7 constituting the electrode holder 6, and thereby the protruding amount of the electrode 3 into the apparatus main body 2 is obtained. l can be adjusted.

  In other words, the shape of the head of the subject A has individual differences, and the contact state of all the electrodes 3 cannot be improved only by fixing the electrodes 3 to the rigid apparatus body. According to the above, by making the flexible device main body 2 and the protruding amount l of the electrode 3 inside the device main body 2 adjustable, it is possible to absorb individual differences and to be mounted on the heads of all examinees A Contact state can be achieved.

  In this case, according to the present embodiment, since the electrode 3 protrudes in and out of the apparatus main body 2, the electrode 3 protruding to the outside of the apparatus main body 2 is grasped, and the electrode 3 as shown by an arrow P in FIG. By swinging 3, the flexible device main body 2 can be deformed, and the elastic member 4 at the tip of the electrode 3 disposed inside the device main body 2 can be displaced as indicated by an arrow Q.

The head C of the inspected person A usually has hair C, and simply pressing the electrode 3 causes the hair C to be interposed between the elastic member 4 at the tip of the electrode 3 and the scalp B. Thus, a sufficient contact state between the electrode 3 and the scalp B cannot be achieved. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, since the tip of the electrode 3 can be swung from the outside of the apparatus main body 2, the hair C is scraped and exposed between the tips of the electrode 3. The elastic member 4 can be pressed against the scalp B.
That is, according to the brain function detection apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the electroencephalogram signal is accurately detected by sufficiently bringing the elastic member 4 into contact with the scalp B regardless of the hair C and the individual head shape. There is an effect that can be done.

  Further, in the brain function detection device 1 according to the present embodiment, since the device main body 2 has a water-repellent material or at least the inner surface is subjected to water-repellent processing, sweat generated from the head of the subject A, electrodes 3 Even when the electrolyte impregnated in the elastic member 4 at the tip leaks, it is possible to prevent moisture such as sweat and electrolyte from continuously adhering to the inner surface of the apparatus body 2 between the plurality of electrodes 3. . As a result, there is no possibility that the electrodes 3 are electrically short-circuited, and a decrease in the detection accuracy of the electroencephalogram signal due to the short-circuit can be prevented.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a part that cannot achieve good adhesion between the scalp B and the apparatus main body 2 is integrated with the apparatus main body 2 or separated from the apparatus main body 2. The belt 10 may be provided to improve the adhesion. The belt 10 may have an arbitrary shape, but preferably has a plurality of holes 10a as shown in FIG. 3 in order to avoid the electrode 3 and the electrode holder 6 and to bring the apparatus main body 2 into close contact with the scalp B.
The hat-shaped device body 2 is preferably made of a transparent material. By using a transparent material, it becomes possible to visually recognize the tip of the electrode 3 disposed inside the apparatus main body 2 from the outside, and the contact state of the elastic member 4 can be confirmed.

In addition, when detecting the electroencephalogram signal, if the apparatus main body 2 is put on the head of the person A to be inspected, the size and shape of the apparatus main body 2 may not match the head, but this is shown in FIG. Thus, it is good also as inserting the spacer 12 in such a location. The spacer 12 is formed of an elastic member such as a sponge or a balloon capable of injecting gas or liquid. Also. The spacer is provided with a through hole 13 (or slit) into which the electrode 3 can be inserted. Since the spacer 12 is composed of an elastic member or an expandable balloon, the apparatus main body 2 is extended with substantially uniform tension by inserting the spacer 12. In this state, the electrode 3 is inserted into the electrode holder 6 to bring the electrode 3 into close contact with the scalp B.
By inserting the spacer 12, the apparatus main body 2 can be extended with substantially uniform tension as a whole regardless of the size and shape of the head of the subject A. As a result, there is an advantage that the plurality of electrodes 3 attached to the flexible device body 2 can be brought into contact with the scalp B with substantially equal pressure.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the apparatus main body 2 is subjected to water repellency treatment on the water repellent material or at least the inner surface. Instead, as shown in FIG. The electrode holder 6 itself or the attachment portion 11 of the electrode holder 6 to the apparatus main body 2 may be made of an electrically insulating material. By doing so, the electrolytic solution leaking inside the apparatus main body 2 and sweat generated from the scalp B of the person A to be inspected are absorbed by the apparatus main body 2, while the electrically insulating electrode holder 6 is interposed between the electrodes 3. Or since it is electrically insulated by the attachment part 11, an electrical short circuit can be prevented. Further, by causing the apparatus main body 2 to absorb a liquid such as an electrolytic solution, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an electrical short-circuit phenomenon between the electrodes 3 due to the liquid continuously adhering along the scalp B. There is.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, the structure which enables adjustment of protrusion amount l, m inside and outside of the apparatus main body of the electrode 3 with the internal thread 7b provided in the base 7 and the external thread 3a provided in the electrode 3 is possible. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which the female screw 7b and the male screw 3a are omitted may be employed.
In this case, the electrode 3 may be fixed to the electrode holder 6 only by the seal member 9 such as an O-ring.

By adopting such a configuration, when the electrode 3 is inserted into the electrode holder 6 so as to project a certain amount inside the apparatus body 2, the electrode 3 is held against the electrode holder 6 by the electrode 3 image seal member 9. The flexible device main body 2 is deformed according to the shape of the head of the person A to be inspected, so that the electrode 3 can be brought into contact with the scalp B.
By doing in this way, it becomes possible to replace the electrode 3 simply by loosening the seal member 9. Further, since the electrode 3 is held only by the frictional force of the seal member 9, the protruding amount of the electrode 3 can be easily adjusted. Moreover, there exists an advantage that the structure of the electrode holder 6 can be simplified.

Next, a brain function detection apparatus 20 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In the description of the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to portions having the same configuration as the brain function detection device 1 according to the first embodiment described above, and the description will be simplified.

  The brain function detection apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment has a helmet member 21 that is relatively hard and hardly deformed outside the brain function detection apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, and is flexible with the helmet member 21. For example, an elastic body 22 such as sponge or urethane rubber is disposed between the apparatus main body 2 and the apparatus main body 2.

  The helmet member 21 is provided with through-holes 23 through which the electrodes 3 projecting outside the apparatus main body 2 are penetrated at positions corresponding to the plurality of electrodes 3 fixed to the apparatus main body 2. The through hole 23 has a sufficiently large diameter with respect to the outer diameter of the electrode 3, and the electrode 3 can be freely moved inside the through hole 23, and the hair C can be scraped off by the tip of the electrode 3. It is like that.

  According to the brain function detection device 20 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the device main body 2 is applied to the scalp B by the elastic force of the elastic body 22 filled between the helmet member 21 and the device main body 2. The electrode 3 that is urged in the direction of movement and is fixed to the apparatus main body 2 is also pressed against the scalp B. Thereby, the contact state of the electrode 3 and the scalp B is improved, and the detection accuracy of the electroencephalogram signal can be improved.

  In the above embodiment, the elastic body 22 is arranged between the helmet member 21 and the apparatus main body 2. However, instead of this, as shown in FIG. 7, the helmet member 21 and the apparatus main body 2 are arranged. The balloon 24 that can be inflated with a fluid containing a liquid such as air or water may be disposed between the two and the fluid may be fed into the balloon 24 by a pump 25 disposed outside. By doing in this way, compared with the case of the elastic body 22, there exists an advantage that the pressing pressure of the electrode 3 can be arbitrarily adjusted with the pressure of the fluid sent from the pump 25. FIG. The balloon 24 may be a single balloon or a plurality of balloons.

  In FIG. 7, the balloon 24 is disposed between the apparatus main body 2 and the helmet member 21, but as shown in FIG. 8, an airbag 26 in which the balloon and the apparatus main body are integrally formed is used. It may be. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the electrode holder 6 is fixed to the airbag 26, and the electrode 3 is fixed to the electrode holder 6 so as to be movable in the axial direction. By doing so, the number of parts can be reduced. The helmet member 21 and the balloon 24 or the airbag 26 are preferably made of a transparent material, as in the first embodiment.

  In addition, the electrode holder 6 is fixed to the airbag 26, and the electrode 3 is detachably fastened to the electrode holder 6 so that the position of the electrode 3 can be adjusted and only the electrode 3 can be replaced. can do. Instead of this, the electrode 3 may be fixed to the airbag 26, and the airbag 26 and the plurality of electrodes 3 may be replaced with a disposable part. In this case, it is preferable to provide a connector 28 from which the tube 27 can be removed at the air supply portion from the pump 25 to the airbag 26.

Next, a brain function detection apparatus 30 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
The brain function detection apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of helmet members 31 that are placed on the head of the subject A and that are relatively hard and have little deformation, and are attached to the through holes 32 that are opened in the helmet members 31. Electrodes 33 and urging means 34 for urging these electrodes 33 individually toward the scalp B are provided.

The electrode 33 is configured in a substantially cylindrical shape, and has a flange 33a on the outer peripheral surface thereof.
The electrode 33 is attached to the helmet member 31 via the electrode holder 35. The electrode holder 35 is a cylindrical member that is fixed to the through hole 32 in a positioned state, and includes a through hole 35a that allows the electrode 3 to pass therethrough, and has an inner diameter that is slightly larger than the flange 33a.

The through hole 35a has a sufficiently larger diameter than the electrode 33, and the electrode 33 can be moved in the radial direction in the through hole 35a.
Further, inside the electrode holder 35, a balloon 36 sandwiched between the electrode holder 35 and the flange 33a is accommodated. The balloon 36 is connected to an external pump 37 so that fluid such as air or water is fed into the balloon 36.

  The electrode 33, the electrode holder 35, and the balloon 36 constitute a set of electrode units, and are configured to be detachable from the helmet member 31 by screws 38 or the like in units of electrode units.

  According to the brain function detection device 30 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, when the balloon 36 is inflated by operating the pump 37 and feeding the fluid into the balloon 36, the electrode 33 is formed in the electrode holder 35. Is moved and acts to press the elastic member 4 provided at the tip of the electrode 33 against the scalp B. Thereby, the contact state between the electrode 33 and the scalp B is improved, and an electroencephalogram signal can be detected with high accuracy.

  In this case, by moving the electrode 33 in the radial direction within the through hole 35a, the elastic member 4 at the tip of the electrode 33 can be pressed against the scalp B where the hair C has been scraped and exposed by the tip of the electrode 33. Therefore, it is possible to detect the electroencephalogram signal with higher accuracy and improve the analysis accuracy of the brain function state.

  In FIG. 9, a tube 38 connecting the pump 37 and the balloon 36 is disposed through the electrode holder 35. Instead, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the flow paths 31 a and 35 b may be formed inside the electrode holder 35, and the flow paths 31 a and 35 b may be connected when the electrode holder 35 is attached to the helmet member 31.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a brain function detection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the structure of the electrode vicinity of the brain function detection apparatus of FIG. It is a side view which shows the brain function detection apparatus which has a belt for sticking an apparatus to a test subject. It is sectional drawing explaining the case where the spacer which fills the clearance gap between a to-be-inspected person and an apparatus is inserted. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the brain function detection apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the modification of the brain function detection apparatus of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the other modification of the brain function detection apparatus of FIG. It is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the brain function detection apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the modification of the brain function detection apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

A Inspected person B Scalp l, m Protrusion amount 1 Brain function detection device 2 Device body 3 Electrode 3a Male screw (projection amount adjustment mechanism)
4 Elastic member 7b Male thread (Projection adjustment mechanism)
10 Belt (biasing means)
11 Mounting part (insulating material)
21, 31 Helmet member 22 Elastic body 23, 35a Through hole 24 Balloon (elastic body: electrode unit)
35 Electrode holder (electrode unit)

Claims (14)

A flexible hat-shaped device body that covers the head of the subject;
A plurality of electrodes that are attached to the device body at a predetermined interval and that are arranged in contact with the scalp to detect brain wave signals;
A brain function detecting device, wherein the electrode includes an elastic member containing an electrolytic solution at a tip that is brought into contact with the scalp, and is fixed to the device body in a state of protruding to the inside and the outside of the device body.   The brain function detection device according to claim 1, wherein the device main body is made of a water-repellent material. The device body is made of a water-absorbing material,
The brain function detection device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is fixed to the device body via an insulating material.   The brain function detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a protrusion amount adjustment mechanism that enables adjustment of a protrusion amount of the electrode to the inside of the device main body.   The brain function detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device body is made of a transparent material.   The brain function detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an urging unit that urges the electrodes individually toward the inside of the apparatus main body.   The brain function detection device according to claim 6, wherein the urging unit includes a belt that is stretched around the head of the subject so as to press a specific electrode toward the inside of the device main body. A hard helmet member disposed outside the device body,
The brain function detection device according to claim 6, wherein the urging unit is formed of an elastic body disposed between the helmet member and the device main body.   The brain function detection device according to claim 8, wherein the helmet member is provided with a through-hole through which an electrode protruding outside the device main body passes.   The brain function detection device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the elastic body is a balloon that can be expanded and contracted by a fluid supplied therein.   The brain function detection device according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the helmet member is made of a transparent material. A helmet member to be placed on the head of the subject;
A balloon disposed inside the helmet member and expandable and contractable by a fluid supplied to the inside;
A plurality of electrodes fixed to the balloon, arranged to protrude inward and outward of the helmet member, and arranged in contact with the scalp to detect an electroencephalogram signal;
A brain function detecting device, wherein the electrode includes an elastic member containing an electrolytic solution at a tip that is brought into contact with the scalp.   The brain function detection device according to claim 12, wherein an electrode unit including the balloon and an electrode is detachably fixed to the helmet member.   The brain function detection apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the helmet member and the balloon are made of a transparent material.

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