Tunable Electrode Gel Beads for Electrophysiology

About this technology

Overview

Innovators at NASA Johnson Space Center have developed an electrode gel solution whose form factor is not a traditional salve, but a silica-based hydrogel bead. The bead’s absorbent properties allow the bead to con-tain liquid solutions whose chemical electrolyte composition can be calibrated to the type of monitoring, or stimulating, of electrical signals within the body via its conductive properties. Electrode gels work by reducing the resistance at the electrode-skin tissue interface, thereby improving signal quality. However, conventional electrode gels are dispensed via a squeeze tube directly onto an elec-trode by trained operators and can be burdensome and messy, leaving gel residue on patients. This is especially true in time-consuming appli-cations like EEGs where a single system can possess hundreds of electrodes. Furthermore, current electrode gels are one-time use, have limited shelf lives, and are not calibrated for multiple electrophysiology instruments. The Electrode Gel Bead addresses these shortcomings of COTS elec-trode gels due in part to the very nature of its soft “dry” outer casing containing a calibrated conductive solution that can be reused up to 10 times by reflourishing. The Electrode Gel Bead has a technology readi-ness level (TRL) 4 (component and/or breadboard validation in laboratory environment), and is now available for patent licensing. Please note that NASA does not manufacture products itself for commercial sale.