CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY

This patent application claims priority from PCT/ES2017/070348 filed May 24, 2017, which claims priority from ES U201630689 filed May 30, 2016. Each of these patent applications which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is a non-invasive interchangeable sensing device for a functional near infrared (fNIR) spectroscopy system intended to detect changes in the concentration of haemoglobin species on any body surface.

Preferably, this body surface is a brain surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Neurophysiological and neuroimaging technologies have contributed in recent years to the study of brain functioning.

The most common modalities of functional neuroimaging techniques are functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), both based on the indirect image of hemodynamic changes resulting from neuronal activity.

On the other hand, magneto-encephalography (MEG) and electroencephalography (EEG) techniques, which are direct imaging technologies based on the electric-magnetic manifestations of neuronal activity, are also known.

Currently, these techniques have limitations in terms of explaining the neuronal bases of biological processes since MEG and EEG technologies have a high temporal resolution but a low spatial resolution, while the opposite happens with fMRI and PET technologies.

Because of this, functional near infrared (fNIR) spectroscopy has recently begun to be used. FNIR spectroscopy is an emerging technology that uses near-infrared light to measure changes in the concentration of oxygenated haemoglobin (HbO) and deoxygenated haemoglobin (Hb) in different parts of the body including the cerebral cortex. FNIR spectroscopy has a temporal resolution of the order of seconds and a spatial resolution in the order of centimetres. Among other advantages it also stands out for being a noninvasive technique, safe for the user and cheap.

Despite this, various problems have been encountered in using this fNIR technology in different parts of the body. These problems are mainly due to the fact that the morphological configuration of the measurement sensor does not adequately adapt to the surface of the human, allowing the passage of ambient light and introducing unwanted light signals that produce errors in the measurements.

In addition, the current systems using this fNIR technology are poorly portable systems due to their large volume and are very limited to a specific application for a typical user, as their measurement sensors are not adaptable to different parts of the body, or to different morphologies of the same part of the body that different users may have. This is mainly because each part of the body has a different shape that can vary with the age and morphology of the user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes an interchangeable sensing device for a functional near infrared (fNIR) spectroscopy system to detect changes in the concentration of haemoglobin species on a body surface.

Preferably, this surface is a cranial surface for the fNIR system to detect changes in the concentration of haemoglobin species on the surface of the frontal cerebral cortex.

The interchangeable sensor device comprises:a plurality of units of measurement with different elastic configurations each designed to adapt to a body surface, where each unit of measurement comprises a first connector; anda control unit intended to control any of the units of measurement, wherein the control unit comprises a second connector which is connected to the first connector.

All units of measurement comprise:an elastic base comprising transmitting and receiving compartments with light guides,a plurality of transmitters, located in transmitting compartments, intended to emit a first luminous signal on the body surface,a plurality of receivers, located in the receiving compartments, intended to receive a second luminous signal from the body surface through the light guides,a measuring base plate, linked to the plurality of transmitters and receivers, comprising the first connector,a receptacle intended to protect the transmitters, receivers and the measuring base plate comprising a hole allowing the first connector to pass through, anda first clamping strap which at least covers the plurality of transmitters and receivers and which is intended to be linked to at least a first clamping mechanism to adjust the interchangeable sensing device to the body surface, and/ora second clamping strap comprising a hole allowing the passage of the first connector, wherein the second strap wraps around the receptacle and is intended to be linked to at least a second clamping mechanism for adjusting the interchangeable sensing device to the body surface.

More specifically, each unit of measurement comprises different configurations to adapt to the surface of different body areas, although preferably cranial areas.

Preferably, the unit of measure comprises at least two receivers per transmitter.

It should be noted that both the first and second fastening mechanism preferably use an elastic band that can be adapted to the user's body and can adjust the surface of the elastic base to the body surface in order to prevent ambient light from entering and creating interference in the transmitters or receivers.

The connection between the clamping straps and the fastening mechanisms is preferably made by means of a clip system, a Velcro system, a sewing system or a combination of the above.

As for the control unit, it comprises a rigid receptacle which houses:

a control base plate comprising the second connector to be linked to the unit of measurement in order to manage the first and second signals,a data transfer unit to transfer the second signal to an external computer unit which, using this second signal, calculates and detects changes in the concentration of haemoglobin species on the brain surface,an interface for transmitting luminous and/or acoustic signals on the operating status of an interchangeable sensor device,a power supply unit for powering both base plates, transmitters, receivers, the data transfer unit and the interface, and

wherein this control base plate is intended to control the transmitters and receivers of the unit of measurement, as well as the data transfer unit and the interface.

More specifically, the data transfer unit comprises a wireless and/or wired transfer mechanism intended to establish communication with the external computer unit.

Preferably, the data transfer unit is a WiFi or Bluetooth receiver/transmitter.

Preferably, the data transfer unit is a USB port.

This results in an interchangeable sensor device that allows units of measurement from different configurations to be used by simply disconnecting the unit of measurement and connecting another unit with a different configuration. For example, these units of measurement may have different distances between transmitters and receivers, or increase or decrease the number of these, have different ways to adapt different parts of the skull and even an individual's body. In addition, it is also possible to have several control units whose control base plate is configured for different, special electronic control situations, allowing these to be combined with any of the measurement units.

