Method and system for brain wave analysis

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said contacts are external contacts applied to the scalp of the subject.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein said function is a polarity coincidence correlation.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the brain waves are obtained simultaneously with a driven response.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 wherein the driven response is obtained by photic stimulation.

Claim 7

A brain wave analyzing instrument including at least two electrical contacts adapted to be positioned in bilateral symmetry on the head of a subject, an amplifier connected to each of said contacts to amplify the brain waves detected by the said contacts, and means connected to both amplifiers for automatically and in real time providing the correlation function between the said amplifier brain waves.

Claim 8

A brain wave analyzing instrument including at least two electrical contacts adapted to be positioned in bilateral symmetry on the head of a subject, an amplifier connected to each of said contacts to amplify the brain waves detected by the said contacts, and means connected to both amplifiers for automatically and in real time providing the correlation function between the said amplifier brain waves.

Claim 9

The brain wave analyzing instrument of claim 6 wherein the correlation means is a polarity coincidence correlator.

Claim 10

The brain wave instrument of claim 7 wherein the correlator has two input channels, each of which channels includes a comparator to digitalize the polarity of the said brain waves.

Claim 11

The brain wave instrument of claim 8 and also including a digital shift register connected in one of the said channels and utilized as a time delay.

Claim 12

The brain wave instrument of claim 7 wherein the polarity coincidence correlator includes an ''''exclusive or'''' logic circuit and a flip-flop circuit in series.

Claim 13

The brain wave analyzing instrument of claim 6 wherein the instrument also includes a low-pass electronic filter connected to each amplifier in series with one of said contacts.

Claim 14

The brain wave analyzing instrument of claim 6 wherein the instrument also includes a high-pass filter connected to each amplifier in series with one of said contacts.

Claim 15

The brain wave analyzing instrument of claim 6 wherein the instrument also includes a derivative circuit connected to each amplifier in series with one of said contacts.

Claim 16

The brain wave analyzing instrument of claim 6 wherein the instrument also includes an integrating circuit connected to each amplifier in series with one of said contacts.

Claim 17

The brain wave analyzing instrument of claim 6 wherein the instrument also includes an average response computer connected between said amplifiers and said correlation means.

Claim 18

The brain wave analyzing instrument of claim 6 wherein the instrument also includes a time-delay circuit connected to each amplifier in series with one of said contacts.

Claim 19

The brain wave analyzing instrument of claim 6 and also including a signal ratio comparator connected to the two contacts, said signal ratio comparator having a channel connected to each contact and including in each channel a rectifier, a time averager and a log amplifier, said comparator also including a meter connected across the two channels.

Claim 20

A neurological diagnostic aiding system including a set of electrodes adapted to be positioned on a patient in bilaterally symmetrical placements to receive the patient''s brain waves, switches to select two electrodes at a time, amplifiers connected to each switch, a filter circuit connected to said amplifiers to separate the amplified brain waves into pre-selected frequency bands, an average response computer connected to the said filter circuit, a stimulator adapted to provide stimuli to the patient and connected to said average response computer, a programmer to provide a sequential series of switching connections, said programmer being connected to the electrode switches, the filter circuit and to the stimulator, and means to provide a visual indication of the system''s outputs connected to the average response computer.

Claim 21

A neurological diagnostic aiding system including a set of electrodes adapted to be positioned on a patient in bilaterally symmetrical placements to receive the patient''s brain waves, switches to select two electrodes at a time, amplifiers connected to each switch, a filter circuit connected to said amplifiers to separate the amplified brain waves into pre-selected frequency bands, an average response computer connected to the said filter circuit, a stimulator adapted to provide stimuli to the patient and connected to said average response computer, a programmer to provide a sequential series of switching connections, said programmer being connected to the electrode switches, the filter circuit and to the stimulator, and means to provide a visual indication of the system''s outputs connected to the average response computer.

Claim 22

A neurological diagnostic aiding system as in claim 18 wherein the visual indication means comprises a digital voltmeter and a pen recorder.

Claim 23

A neurological diagnostic aiding system as in claim 18 and also including a polarity coincidence circuit providing a correlation function when the electrodes are positioned in bilateral symmetry on the patient''s head, said circuit being connected to the said electrodes.

Claim 24

A neurological diagnostic aiding system as in claim 18 and also including a signal ratio comparator which compares the energy, within each frequency band, from the two electrodes.