Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019).

Due to drawbacks of wet electrodes such as the need for conductive gel and scalp preparation, Avertus Inc.x000D
uses two different kinds of dry electrodes in the current electroencephalogram (EEG) recording headsets.x000D
Electrodes for hairy locations are equipped with straight macroscale gold plated retractable pins, whereasx000D
electrodes for non-hairy locations are a conductive textile over conductive foam. Pin electrode becomex000D
uncomfortable with time for people with thin hair because the springs in the pin electrodes create pressure.x000D
They are an injury hazard under impact condition and the retractable nature of the pin electrodes makes thex000D
device bulky. Moreover, using two different kinds of electrodes causes the impedance mismatch issue. In thisx000D
project, we will develop a low cost flexible conductive material and fabricate electrodes from it. A conductivex000D
polymer composite (CPC) consisting of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and metal nanoparticles (Nps) withx000D
conductivity >1000 S/m will be prepared as electrode material. Electrodes for hairy and non-hairy locationsx000D
will be produced from the CPC in different shapes for scalps with different contours. To characterize thex000D
performance for each electrode structure the contact impedance between the dry skin and electrode will bex000D
measured. The fabricated electrodes will be integrated with the Avertus's prototype headset and EEG signalsx000D
will be recorded. Effect of long-term usage, sanitization and multiple usage on the electrode performance willx000D
be evaluated. The proposed flexible conductive dry electrodes will miniaturize the headset and allow it to bex000D
worn comfortably and safely for long time. The use of same material for hairy and non-hairy locationx000D
electrodes will remove the impedance mismatch issue in the current headset.