Polymer-based dry electrode

s.cheshires.cheshire
edited August 2017 in Electrodes
I have seen a couple of papers online regarding research of polymer-based dry electrodes which provide all the benefits of dry over wet (spiky over flat) with the additional benefit of increased comfort when worn (no more spiky metal in the head).

I was wondering if anyone was aware if these were being manufactured yet, a patent is in place from 2012 so its been quite a while since people were playing about with this idea.

Comments

  • wjcroftwjcroft Mount Shasta, CA
    ANT Neuro has these elastic caps now. Quite expensive though. Some past posts mentioning the ANT prototype titanium nitride (TiN) electrodes,


    It looks like ANT has gone with Ag-AgCl plated over the PU polyurethane, rather than the TiN,


    Another way to go (for Makers) is with this 3D printable graphene PLA filament. Very low resistance (high conductance). Not as soft as the PU polyurethane in the Ant electrodes, but still somewhat flexible and softer than hard plastic.


    I believe the OpenBCI lab has some of this and was planning on doing some test runs. Mentioning @Conor @biomurph @KZurn @jbzurn and @openbci. It's unclear yet how graphene would perform vs. the industry standard electrode material (Ag-AgCl), but it's certainly worth some test runs. Karl may also have some interest in trying this out at FRI.

    William

  • wjcroftwjcroft Mount Shasta, CA
    Two papers,


  • s.cheshires.cheshire
    Thanks again for the rapid and detailed response!
    I am currently researching ahead of hopefully proposing some work for funding so I may well pop up with random questions from time to time, its great to have an active and open forum for this technology.

    Sam
  • hackrhackr Maryland, USA
    Very interesting stuff. If you do buy it please post updates and photos.

    I almost wonder if we could start a Kickstarter campaign or something to get funding for @wjcroft ; to buy some higher end equipment like that and then we could pay him fees to borrow the equipment or something? OK, that's probably an overly complicated pipe dream, but some maker spaces I've belonged to did similar things. Like an OpenBCI club where we pay you membership fees and we can borrow stuff (and we can get some SquareTrade or other insurance in case someone breaks/steals it)? idk. Just thinking out loud.
  • wjcroftwjcroft Mount Shasta, CA
    edited September 2017
    For the graphene 3D printed electrodes, you just need a printer and the filament from Black Magic; a reel is $70. Note that printed combs would need to have some thought put into their design, to feel "softer" than the current FRI combs. The graphene is not going to flex much if any. The polyurethane used by ANT is related to foam you find in seat cushions, but much stiffer and smoother. There is a whole industry devoted to PU molding,


    FRI just added long pin combs, 5mm; these do look like they have more rounded tips, likely adding to comfort.


    You can see photo of original comb here,


    To make the graphene 3D printed combs, here's some guesses about what properties might improve the feel. Well, actually not a guess since the Cognionics combs use similar features:

    * instead of the comb pins perpendicular to the skin (as in the current FRI combs), angle the pins at say a 45 degree angle. If such pins were thin enough they might have a little flex.

    * Put a spherical tip (say twice the diameter of the pin) on each pin of the comb. This increases contact area and would soften the feel.

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