Flexible Multi-Layer Semi-Dry Electrode for Scalp EEG Measurements at Hairy Sites

One of the major challenges of daily wearable electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring is that there are rarely suitable EEG electrodes for hairy sites. Wet electrodes require conductive gels, which will dry over the acquisition time, making them unstable for long-term EEG monitoring. Additionally, the...

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Main Authors: Haoqiang Hua, Wei Tang, Xiangmin Xu, David Dagan Feng, Lin Shu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-08-01
Series:Micromachines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/10/8/518
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author Haoqiang Hua
Wei Tang
Xiangmin Xu
David Dagan Feng
Lin Shu
author_facet Haoqiang Hua
Wei Tang
Xiangmin Xu
David Dagan Feng
Lin Shu
author_sort Haoqiang Hua
collection DOAJ
description One of the major challenges of daily wearable electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring is that there are rarely suitable EEG electrodes for hairy sites. Wet electrodes require conductive gels, which will dry over the acquisition time, making them unstable for long-term EEG monitoring. Additionally, the electrode−scalp impedances of most dry electrodes are not adequate for high quality EEG collection at hairy sites. In view of the above problems, a flexible multi-layer semi-dry electrode was proposed for EEG monitoring in this study. The semi-dry electrode contains a flexible electrode body layer, foam layer and reservoir layer. The probe structure of the electrode body layer enables the electrode to work effectively at hairy sites. During long-term EEG monitoring, electrolytes stored in the reservoir layer are continuously released through the foam layer to the electrode−scalp interface, ensuring a lower electrode−scalp contact impedance. The experimental results showed that the average electrode−scalp impedance of the semi-dry electrode at a hairy site was only 23.89 ± 7.44 KΩ at 10 Hz, and it was lower than 40 KΩ over a long-term use of 5 h. The electrode performed well in both static and dynamic EEG monitoring, where the temporal correlation with wet electrode signals at the hairy site could reach 94.25% and 90.65%, respectively, and specific evoked EEG signals could be collected. The flexible multi-layer semi-dry electrode can be well applied to scalp EEG monitoring at hairy sites, providing a promising solution for daily long-term monitoring of wearable EEGs.
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spelling doaj.art-64322ed4f1494d3ca8b4f68df232bbbb2022-12-22T03:05:26ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2019-08-0110851810.3390/mi10080518mi10080518Flexible Multi-Layer Semi-Dry Electrode for Scalp EEG Measurements at Hairy SitesHaoqiang Hua0Wei Tang1Xiangmin Xu2David Dagan Feng3Lin Shu4School of Electronic and Information Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, ChinaSchool of Electronic and Information Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, ChinaSchool of Electronic and Information Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, ChinaSchool of Computer Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, AustraliaSchool of Electronic and Information Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, ChinaOne of the major challenges of daily wearable electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring is that there are rarely suitable EEG electrodes for hairy sites. Wet electrodes require conductive gels, which will dry over the acquisition time, making them unstable for long-term EEG monitoring. Additionally, the electrode−scalp impedances of most dry electrodes are not adequate for high quality EEG collection at hairy sites. In view of the above problems, a flexible multi-layer semi-dry electrode was proposed for EEG monitoring in this study. The semi-dry electrode contains a flexible electrode body layer, foam layer and reservoir layer. The probe structure of the electrode body layer enables the electrode to work effectively at hairy sites. During long-term EEG monitoring, electrolytes stored in the reservoir layer are continuously released through the foam layer to the electrode−scalp interface, ensuring a lower electrode−scalp contact impedance. The experimental results showed that the average electrode−scalp impedance of the semi-dry electrode at a hairy site was only 23.89 ± 7.44 KΩ at 10 Hz, and it was lower than 40 KΩ over a long-term use of 5 h. The electrode performed well in both static and dynamic EEG monitoring, where the temporal correlation with wet electrode signals at the hairy site could reach 94.25% and 90.65%, respectively, and specific evoked EEG signals could be collected. The flexible multi-layer semi-dry electrode can be well applied to scalp EEG monitoring at hairy sites, providing a promising solution for daily long-term monitoring of wearable EEGs.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/10/8/518EEGsemi-dry electrodeflexible electrodemulti-layer
spellingShingle Haoqiang Hua
Wei Tang
Xiangmin Xu
David Dagan Feng
Lin Shu
Flexible Multi-Layer Semi-Dry Electrode for Scalp EEG Measurements at Hairy Sites
Micromachines
EEG
semi-dry electrode
flexible electrode
multi-layer
title Flexible Multi-Layer Semi-Dry Electrode for Scalp EEG Measurements at Hairy Sites
title_full Flexible Multi-Layer Semi-Dry Electrode for Scalp EEG Measurements at Hairy Sites
title_fullStr Flexible Multi-Layer Semi-Dry Electrode for Scalp EEG Measurements at Hairy Sites
title_full_unstemmed Flexible Multi-Layer Semi-Dry Electrode for Scalp EEG Measurements at Hairy Sites
title_short Flexible Multi-Layer Semi-Dry Electrode for Scalp EEG Measurements at Hairy Sites
title_sort flexible multi layer semi dry electrode for scalp eeg measurements at hairy sites
topic EEG
semi-dry electrode
flexible electrode
multi-layer
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/10/8/518
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AT daviddaganfeng flexiblemultilayersemidryelectrodeforscalpeegmeasurementsathairysites
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