SPbPU: Helmet for electroencephalography

Main article: Electroencephalography (EEG)

2022: Creation of a domestic medical device by students for the EEG

St. Petersburg Polytechnic University On July 6, 2022, he announced medical the creation by students of a domestic product that will change the method of conduct familiar to all patients. electroencephalography During this procedure, the doctor applies a special gel to the scalp, and the electrodes are attached to the cap. The development of students is based on gel-free electrodes, and they will be attached to a helmet with movable elements. This will make the accuracy of the study higher, and the procedure itself is more comfortable for both the patient and the health worker. The development has already become interested in. Portugal

The idea of ​ ​ creating so-called "dry" electrodes was suggested to students by doctors. Even the highest quality gel is a little, but distorts the readings during the study, and it takes time to apply and remove it from hair after EEG. Work on the creation of this device for electroencephalography is carried out by Anna Vinokurova, a startup student of the Higher School of Technological Entrepreneurship of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic. The development team covered the electrodes with a polymer material with high electrical conductivity. The tests took place in one of the St. Petersburg clinics and immediately showed a good result in terms of study accuracy. But doctors honestly admitted that it takes even more time to mount the "dry" electrodes than before.

So the idea was born not just to create an electrode with a polymer coating, but a fundamentally different way to attach them using a universal helmet for all patients. To work on the design, we involved students of the Higher School of Automation  of Irobototechnics of the Polytechnic Institute, told Anna Vinokurova.

Young engineers first conducted a serious study of the market for similar devices. Such products of foreign manufacturers look many times more massive due to the wi-fi modules built right into the helmet. In addition, they do not have the ability to change the position of the electrodes on the patient's head, which is why helmets are not suitable for everyone. So the idea was born to create a simple and compact helmet with movable electrodes and without a difficult additional load.

Data from the helmet by wire is supplied to a standard device that is available in any medical institution. In addition to convenience, this will allow doctors to save budget and not change the entire fleet of medical equipment for electroencephalography, noted the head of the student development team Jafar Kovalenko.

The main update in development is moving electrodes, which change their position in several planes. After the helmet is put on the patient, the health worker will literally be able to adjust the equipment with the movement of his hand, taking into account the individual features of the shape of the patient's head. This will ensure maximum accuracy during electroencephalography. But it is also important that the time for the procedure is seriously reduced, this will allow the doctor to receive more patients in one shift. Note that polymer coated electrodes can be disinfected with alcohol or placed in a high temperature autoclave.

Based on complex calculations and a lot of preparatory work, the guys printed a prototype device on a 3D printer and carry out the next stage of debugging. Foreign partners have already become interested in the development. However, the team decided to stay in Russia. The guys applied for a Start-1 grant for young entrepreneurs from the Innovation Assistance Fund. Talented students are also supported at their native university. Students won in the competition of student projects of the course "Fundamentals of project activity" in the nomination "Scientific and technical projects." The cash prize was allocated from the Special Development Capital Fund of SPBPU.