Related Experiment Videos
Head phantoms for electroencephalography and transcranial electric stimulation: a skull material study
Alexander Hunold1, Daniel Strohmeier2, Patrique Fiedler2
1Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Department of Computer Science and Automation, Technische Universität Ilmenau, POB 100565, D-98684 Ilmenau, Germany, Phone: +49 3677 69-1348, Fax: +49 3677 69-1311.
Biomedizinische Technik. Biomedical Engineering
|August 19, 2017
Summary
Researchers explored plastic clay as a skull model for head phantoms used in electroencephalography and transcranial electric stimulation. Clay offers adjustable conductivity and reusability, proving suitable for phantom development.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Physical head phantoms are crucial for evaluating electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial electric stimulation (TES) procedures.
- The skull's conductivity significantly impacts volume conduction, necessitating realistic skull modeling in phantoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plastic clay as a viable material for modeling the skull in head phantoms.
- To analyze the conductivity of various clay types and firing temperatures.
Main Methods:
- Five types of plastic clay, varying in granularity and fire clay content, were analyzed.
- Samples were fired at temperatures ranging from 550°C to 950°C.
- Conductivity was measured using time-resolved four-point impedance measurements in a 0.9% sodium chloride solution, with reusability tested after rinsing.
Main Results:
- Clay conductivities stabilized between 0.0716 S/m and 0.0224 S/m after an initial 5-minute impedance change upon immersion.
- Conductivity varied based on clay type and firing temperature.
- Rinsing procedures demonstrated effective sample cleaning and reusability.
Conclusions:
- Plastic clay exhibits suitable properties, including formability, ion permeability, and adjustable conductivity, for skull modeling in head phantoms.
- The findings support the use of clay for developing more realistic and cost-effective head phantoms for EEG and TES research.