If you want to call him with his abbreviation, EEG. Or if you prefer use the extended diction, electroencephalogram. What matters is that you know how useful it can be To study the nervous system. With the test there is the electrical force and the number of impulses that occur in each second in the different brain areas, and therefore any alterations can be grasped. For this the investigation can be used in the study of different pathological conditionsstarting fromepilepsywhich is linked to electrical alterations of one or more nuclei of neurons or localized lesions such as can be observed in case of cancer or after trauma. Obviously, these are only examples.
But alongside the applications of diagnostics, which must always be selected by the specialist, progress in technology must be detected. So much so that in the near future one could examine the situation with devices similar to a hair. Proposes it, Instead of traditional metal electrodes, a network of threads and stickers, A team of researchers from the Pennsylvania State University that created A device similar to a hair for long -term non -invasive monitoring of cerebral electrical activity.
How the new electrodes work
As reported by a note from the University, the electrode, light and flexible, attacks directly to the scalp and provides stable and high quality recordings of brain signals. Above all, it allows you to maintain stable performance for over 24 hours of continuous use, as revealed to the research published on Biomedical Innovations.
“This electrode allows a more constant and reliable monitoring of EEG signals and can be worn without being noticed, which improves both the functionality and patient comfort”
He reports in the note of the University Tao Zhou, professor of engineering and mechanics at the Wormley Family and senior author of the study.
To overcome these limitations, the research team has designed a Small monitoring device that resembles one strand of hair And it is made of 3D printed hydrogel material. One end is the electrode. It has the appearance of a small point and captures the electrical signals of the brain with a scalp. A long and thin component similar to a thread extends from the electrode, which connects to the monitoring system. The device also uses a 3D printable bio -adhesive ink that allows the electrode to adhere directly to the scalp without the need for viscous gel or other skin preparations. This minimizes the space between the electrode and the scalp, improving the signal quality. The lightness, flexibility and elasticity of the device also allow you to keep it in place, even when you comb or wear and remove a baseball hat, and to wear it for longer periods of time, making it suitable for continuous monitoring.
The team discovered that the new device offers performance comparable to the golden electrodes, the standard electrodes currently used for the EEG. However, the electrode similar to a hair has maintained a better contact with the skin And it worked reliablely for over 24 hours of continuous use, without any degradation of the signal quality. Since the electrodes should not be removed and replaced as traditional EEG monitoring systems, they eliminate the risk of inconsistent data, even between different evaluation sessions.
Final curiosity: unlike traditional metal electrodes, the new electrodes imitate human hair and are inconspicuous on the head. Since the device is printed in 3D, Zhou explained that it is possible to print the electrode in different colors to adapt to a person.
Limits to overcome
What changes? Normally small metal electrodes are positioned on the scalp and understand the weak electrical impulses generated by brain cells. The electrodes are connected to threads which are then connected to a device that displays thebrain activity in the form of waves. The traditional EEG monitoring process, however, can be cumbersome and sometimes disordered. Its limits make it difficult to use for long -term continuous monitoring.
Not only that. To obtain a good recording of brain activity, The electrodes must adapt to the scalp. Any spaces between the electrode and the skin or the presence of thick hair can reduce the quality of the recorded signal. Researchers and doctors must apply gel on the scalp to maintain good contact between the electrodes and the skin and the quality of the signal. For some people, however, gels can cause skin irritation. It is a process that takes time And it must be repeated when the gels dry out, especially for those who must be monitored continuously or in the course of several sessions. The process of application and reaction is also inaccurate and can involve the use of different quantities of gel on the electrodes. Finally, conventional EEG EEGs are rigid and can move when your head moves, even slightly, which can also affect the uniformity of the data.
