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Unitat de Valorització de la URV posted this:
Licensing Manager at Fundació URV

A specific electrode has been designed for the recording of aEEG in the neonatal and pediatric ICU’s. The new electrode solves the problems of conventional commercial electrodes. The main difference of the new device is a design of suitable dimensions and shape that adapts to the cephalic surface of children and improves its support. It allows a safe replacement of the electroconductive gel, and a manipulation of the child without difficulties. Most available surface electrodes are not properly sized for term and preterm infant’s application. Also, they are usually attached to a long wire that connects them to the bioelectric signal amplifier. This long wire electrode hinders the manipulation of the newborn by health care staff. In addition, the electrode wire is usually attached laterally to the electrode. In the lying position, the usual position of children in the ICU’s, this joint causes a lever force that facilitates the electrode decoupling. Superficial cup electrodes available have a hole through which the electroconductive gel is replaced in order to maintain its high conductive capacity during long-term recordings. During this process, a blunt-tipped syringe is usually used to remove the old electroconductive gel and apply the new one. At this time, it is usually necessary to apply vertical pressure to beat the conductive gel layer that may have dried on the long-term recordings. This pressure can cause an involuntary contact with the scalp surface, which should be avoided in newborns due to their fragility and proximity to the fontanelles. Disposable adhesive electrodes have the disadvantage of not allowing the replacement of the electroconductive gel and therefore they must be replaced periodically. This involves more manipulation and possible changes in the recording conditions (placement, impedance, etc.). The subdermal needle electrodes which are often used in the aEEG to achieve low impedance recordings have the disadvantage of producing pain. Pain should always be avoided to improve comfort but in the aEEG it also has the disadvantage of not allowing the accurate assessment of a parameter as important as the latency of onset of the asleep-wake cycle. In addition, the subdermal electrodes have the same drawbacks as most surface electrodes available: are connected to a long wire to the amplifier and are easily detached.
An electrode device for electroencephalography