EEG (electroencephalography) is a well-established clinical diagnostic method and a valuable tool in neurocognitive research. Lately it is becoming increasingly important for applications like Brain-Computer-Interfaces (BCI), NeuroErgonomics and NeuroMarketing. These usages would be even more effective, if EEG would not be so delicate. A lot of working time is wasted in the established applications, and the development of the newer applications is heavily impaired by electrodes that fall off or lose contact to the skin, and by incomprehensive EEG data due to overlaying movement artefacts.
This situation could be cured very often by electrodes that are fixed to head or skin in an absolutely reliable way, in order to fully benefit of the EEG’s property to be a non-invasive, uncomplicated method to register brain activity as the basis of everybody’s behaviour. Our plan was to develop with the Innovation Associate such a reliable fixation method with chemical methods.
We, the German company Easycap GmbH, are experienced in manufacturing EEG electrodes and accessories for many different applications, including a high level of support, and therefore we can make sure, that a new product for this field will be user-centered and exactly fitting. In addition, we have the structure for subsequent certification, marketing, and sales to a widespread community.
With the help of the Innovation Associate, a chemist from the USA, Easycap has successfully developed a new, reliable electrolyte gel. Further, there have been validation and verification methods which have been improved to include qualitative results in combination with some new quantitative methods. This has allowed for a better analysis of whether the new design produces the outcomes which meet the needs of both Easycap and the end user. Additionally, there was benefit to Easycap and the Innovation Associate in terms of new patent ideas, prototypes and transferable skills gained by both parties during the project and the core training on industrial innovation management by the IMProve academy.
There still are some unmet goals within the 12-month-window of the project. This includes mainly some market entry activities as well as regulatory aspects. The product development process of medical devices is a long process as the requirements of the Medical Device Directive (MDD)/Medical Device Regulation (MDR) have to be followed if the product is to be sold on the European market. This process can´t be completed within a 12-month-project which as a main goal named the development of the innovative gel. The remaining goals of the project are expected to be completed by Easycap by 2020.
