Novel flexible dry PU/TiN-multipin electrodes: first application in EEG measurements

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Materials Science

Background:

• Dry biosignal electrodes are crucial for widespread electro-encephalography (EEG) monitoring and brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies.
• Achieving reliable skin contact, especially through hair, remains a challenge for dry EEG electrode design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a novel dry EEG electrode design.
• To evaluate the performance of the new electrodes against conventional Ag/AgCl electrodes.

Main Methods:

• A novel electrode design featuring a specific shape for hair interfusion and skin contact was developed.
• A Titanium-Nitride (TiN) conductive thin layer was deposited on a polyurethane substrate using multiphase DC magnetron sputtering.
• Comparative EEG measurements were conducted using the novel electrodes and conventional Ag/AgCl electrodes in a 6-channel setup, recording spontaneous EEG and visual evoked potentials.

Main Results:

• The novel electrodes successfully preserved the primary shape of the EEG signals, comparable to conventional electrodes.
• The variance of the recorded signals from both electrode types was of the same order of magnitude.
• Statistical analysis (Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test) showed no significant differences in signal quality for 25 out of 28 compared signal episodes.

Conclusions:

• The developed novel dry EEG electrodes demonstrate equivalent signal quality to conventional Ag/AgCl electrodes.
• The innovative design facilitates hair layer interfusion and ensures reliable skin contact.
• These findings support the potential of the novel electrodes for ubiquitous EEG monitoring and BCI applications.