Neonates’ delicate skin can be damaged by standard electrode technology. Working with Children’s National Medical Center under NIH funding, QUASAR is developing a gentle, dry electrode EEG system designed specifically to meet the needs of neonates and the medical professionals caring for them. The miniaturized dry electrodes developed under this effort have broad utility for pediatric applications, and connect into existing wet EEG data acquisition systems, allowing for dry EEG collection without the need to replace existing equipment or workflows. QUASAR is currently pursuing validation of the technology in a NICU environment and FDA 510(k) clearance.
QUASAR is excited about the potential of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIR), a non-invasive, light-based neuroimaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood oxygenation levels. fNIR is attractive to medical and research professionals due to its non-invasive nature, portability, and accessibility. QUASAR is currently pursuing the incorporation of fNIR into a flight helmet for monitoring military aviators and pursuing the development of an integrated EEG/fNIR device as the two modalities complement each other to give a fuller picture of the brain’s activity than either one alone.
QUASAR’s miniaturized sensors and digital electronics are enabling our next generation of headsets, with up to 64 channels of dry EEG data integrated into a cleanable, compliant cap. In combination with our next generation of fNIR optodes, our future systems will provide an unprecedented insight into the human brain, in a form factor that does not require a trained technician to put on.
EEG research has long suffered from barriers to full inclusivity. Type 4 hair and the hairstyles people who have it often select, such as braids or twists, are common exclusion criteria for study participation. As people of African origin are more likely to have this type of hair, this can result in lower participation rates in research for this population.
Under NIH funding, QUASAR is developing electrodes and headsets designed to function well with this type of hair and the hairstyles commonly associated with it. The resulting system will be designed to support inclusion in EEG research and provide more comprehensive data to the medical field.
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