Simple Innovation to Electrodes Makes a Big Difference
Researcher expects improvements in epilepsy diagnosis and
prevention of life-threatening seizures Walt Besio developed a
tripolar ring electrode, which is compared here to a
conventional electrode. Credit and Larger Version December 20,
2012 The electroencephalogram (EEG) for human use has been
around since 1924. Small metal discs placed along the scalp
measure electrical activity in the human brain, which is
important in diagnosing or evaluating epilepsy, sleep disorders
and other conditions. But these electrodes have changed little
since their introduction, and are far from perfect. Among other
things, they pick up extraneous noise and movement in addition
to brain wave activity, often making the readings difficult to
interpret. Walt Besio thinks he has a better way. The National
Science Foundation- (NSF) funded scientist, who is associate
professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Rhode
Island, has invented a new and improved electrode, o