Abstract
BackgroundAdvances in transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) are hampered by the conventional rubber electrodes manually attached to the head with rubber bands. This procedure limits montages to a few electrodes, is error prone with respect to electrode configurations and is burdensome for participants and operators. A newly developed flexible cap with integrated textile stimulation electrodes was compared to the conventional setup of rubber electrodes inserted into sponges fixated by rubber bands, with respect to usability and reliability. Two operators applied both setups to 20 healthy volunteers participating in the study. Electrode position and impedance measures as well as subjective evaluations from participants and operators were obtained throughout the stimulation sessions.ResultsOur results demonstrated the superiority of the flexible cap by means of significantly higher electrode configuration reproducibility and a more efficient application. Both, operators and volunteers evaluated the flexible cap as easier to use and more comfortable to wear when compared to the conventional setup.ConclusionIn conclusion, the new cap improves existing and opens new application scenarios for tES.
Highlights
Advances in transcranial electrical stimulation are hampered by the conventional rubber electrodes manually attached to the head with rubber bands
Non-invasive techniques to modulate neuronal activity include the transcranial electrical stimulation [1]. tES can be classified based on the current form to transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation, transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, and transcranial Random Noise Stimulation
To overcome limitations in the electrodes configurations for tES applications, we propose a flexible cap with integrated textile stimulation electrodes, which can be produced in lot size one, and cap size and electrode positions can be customized to the need of each patient
Summary
Advances in transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) are hampered by the conventional rubber electrodes manually attached to the head with rubber bands. A newly developed flexible cap with integrated textile stimulation electrodes was compared to the conventional setup of rubber electrodes inserted into sponges fixated by rubber bands, with respect to usability and reliability Two operators applied both setups to 20 healthy volunteers participating in the study. In order to establish a safe low impedance of the electrode–skin interface, the rubber electrodes were embedded in sponge pockets soaked with saline solution [11] or spread with conductive gel to contact the scalp These procedures, incorporating several pieces of equipment, are complex and require professionally trained personnel to perform them, even when applying fixation approaches based on caps [12] or headgears [13]. Clinical studies are carried out by different operators, with different patients and in different places, the manual and unstable electrode placement has a negative effect on the reproducibility of the tests [15]
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