Brain Monitoring: Buying Advanced Technology For Better Insights

Advanced Brain Monitoring is a neuro-diagnostics device company that is internationally recognised for its innovative technologies. Its products are used by clinicians, researchers, and in clinical trials to interpret brain and physiological functions as they relate to chronic diseases, early-stage neurodegeneration, sleep quality, and performance enhancement. The company has developed a proven EEG platform called BEAM™ that is built on an extensive normative database with over 10,000 sessions and a library of biomarkers developed using machine learning AI algorithms. This platform can be used to map the progression of cognitive decline across dementias and empower physicians to diagnose the type of dementia or psychiatric disorder. Advanced Brain Monitoring also offers wireless B-Alert systems that can be used for operational neuroscience applications and cognitive state/human factors assessments. The company's products provide flexibility in determining sensor placement to optimise cognition detection and can be downsized to a mobile acquisition system with real-time processing and feedback.

EEG systems for in-home sleep monitoring

Electroencephalography (EEG) systems are widely used for in-home sleep monitoring, providing valuable insights into sleep quality and patterns. These systems can be categorised into four main types: rigid headbands, flexible headbands, highly flexible EEG sleep-monitoring systems, and ear-EEG sleep-monitoring plugs and patches. Each type offers unique advantages and features, catering to specific needs and requirements.

Rigid Headbands

Rigid headbands are often fixed and may use wet or dry electrodes. Examples include the Dreem Headband (DH) and the Sleep Profiler (SP). The DH employs dry carbon-infused electrodes and captures various physiological activities beyond EEG, such as movement, position, breathing, and heart rate. The SP, on the other hand, uses three frontopolar EEG electrodes and can also monitor pulse rate and head movement.

Flexible Headbands

Flexible headbands offer more flexibility and comfort than rigid headbands. They may use dry electrodes and are designed to conform comfortably to the wearer's head. Examples include a flexible headband with silver-coated fabric dry sensors and an e-textile headband made from stretchable fabric. The e-textile headband integrates all electrodes into the headband, eliminating the need for individual electrode placement.

Highly Flexible EEG Sleep-Monitoring Systems

These systems prioritise user comfort and seamless integration with the body. Examples include the trEEGrid, a pre-gelled electrode grid system; a tattoo-based monitoring system with soft, printed dry electrodes; and at-home wireless sleep-monitoring patches that conform to the skin. These patches are soft, flexible, and highly adherent, making them ideal for long-term wear.

Ear-EEG Sleep-Monitoring Plugs and Patches

Ear-EEG technology offers a discreet and user-friendly alternative to traditional scalp EEG. Electrodes are placed within a specialised earpiece, capturing high-quality EEG signals. Examples include in-ear viscoelastic earpieces and dry electrode-based in-ear hardshell earpieces. These systems have fewer electrodes than traditional EEG systems but have proven effective for sleep stage classification.

In summary, EEG systems for in-home sleep monitoring offer a range of options, from rigid and flexible headbands to highly flexible systems and ear-EEG solutions. Each type has unique features, and the choice depends on specific requirements, comfort, and the number of electrodes needed. These systems have advanced sleep research and provided valuable insights into sleep quality and disorders.

Mobile EEG systems for healthcare professionals

Mobile EEG systems are wireless, user-friendly, and comfortable devices that can be used by healthcare professionals for on-call and portable EEG in minutes. These systems are cost-effective and practical, offering high-quality EEG data with minimal artifacts and noise. They are designed to be mobile during recordings and are often paired with software for data analysis and synchronization.

The STAT X-Series Mobile EEG System, for example, offers 9 or 20 channels of high-quality EEG, with the option to include ECG, EOG, or EMG channels. It features a rapid 10-minute setup, automated wireless impedance checks, and an 8+ hour rechargeable battery life. The system is FDA-cleared for prescription use and can be used on adolescent and adult patients.

Another example is the SMARTING system, which is a wire-free mobile EEG system that allows for the collection of research-grade brain signals. It offers a maximum sampling rate of 4000 Hz, 11 to 64 channel options, and a 24-bit resolution. This system also includes 3D head motion tracking and a real-time Artifact Subspace Reconstruction algorithm (ASR) to ensure high-quality data.

Mobile EEG systems have been found to be well-accepted and tolerated by patients and healthcare professionals due to their ease of use, comfort, and flexibility. They can be used in various settings, including epilepsy monitoring units, intensive care units, and at home, providing valuable data for seizure monitoring and management.

Overall, mobile EEG systems offer healthcare professionals a convenient and efficient way to collect high-quality EEG data, making them a practical solution for brain monitoring and research.

BEAM™ EEG platform for early detection of dementia

Advanced Brain Monitoring is a neuro-diagnostics device company that has developed the BEAM™ EEG platform for the early detection of dementia. The platform is built on an extensive normative database with over 10,000 sessions and a library of biomarkers developed using machine learning AI algorithms.

BEAM™ is a non-invasive, cost-effective, and safe method for routine testing. It can be used to monitor treatment efficacy and empower physicians to use individual patient biosignatures to assist in diagnosing the type of dementia or psychiatric disorder. The platform has been fully operational for over 5 years and has been deployed in over 50 clinical trials worldwide.

The BEAM™ EEG platform is currently seeking strategic partnerships with key services providers to neurology clinics to expand their product offerings. Neurologists can pay a nominal monthly service fee that includes the device, software, and unlimited reports. The service provider will receive a percentage of the monthly fees, providing them with recurring revenue.

If you are interested in purchasing the BEAM™ EEG platform, you can contact Advanced Brain Monitoring through their website or via the following contact details:

• Phone: (866) 677-2737
• Fax: (760) 476-3620
• Email: gmcnamara@b-alert.com

B-Alert systems for cognitive state assessments

Advanced Brain Monitoring's wireless B-Alert systems are designed to expand the possibilities of operational neuroscience applications and cognitive state/human factors assessments. The B-Alert system is simple, easy to use, comfortable, and wearable, allowing high-quality data to be acquired in real or virtual environments by personnel with limited technical training. The system is flexible, allowing users to determine the placement of sensors to optimize cognition detection. The B-Alert X-Series Wireless EEG system is an ideal platform for adding neuroscience to any study in real-world or simulated environments.

The B-Alert system offers two options for channel capacity: the X10 system delivers 9 channels of high-quality EEG plus one optional ECG, EOG, EMG, or ECG channel, while the X24 system offers 20 channels of high-quality EEG with the same optional additional channels. The system integrates with AcqKnowledge software, which provides powerful analysis tools, including automated scoring and reporting options, as well as B-Alert Cognitive State analysis software. The B-Alert Cognitive State software enables real-time monitoring of fatigue, stress, confusion, engagement, and workload, utilizing Heart Rate (HR), Heart Rate Variability (HRV), and LF/HF ratio to measure stress.

The B-Alert Wireless EEG system is designed for comfort and ease of use, with a lightweight, low-profile design that can be worn for 8+ hour sessions. The system includes Universal Sensor Strips that apply all sensors simultaneously, resulting in a fast setup that covers the brain's executive functions, motor control, and visual system activity. The B-Alert system also features seamless integration into scenario-specific headgear and data quality monitoring, making it accessible to non-technical personnel.

The B-Alert gauges and dashboards are fully customizable to fit the user's requirements for real-time and offline analysis. The standard format includes easy-to-read dashboard gauges that present B-Alert's highly-validated metrics: engagement, workload, and drowsiness, along with heart rate. Heat maps display EEG power spectral densities (PSD) in both spatial and temporal maps for the traditional Hz bands (Beta, Alpha, Theta, Sigma). The B-Alert system also offers offline analysis calculations, including engagement and workload metrics, heart rate and heart rate variability, and partial raw acquisition and impedance checks.

Sleep Profiler™ for remote sleep monitoring

Sleep Profiler™ is a lightweight, wireless, in-home EEG sleep monitor that bridges the gap between laboratory polysomnography and actigraphy. It is placed on the forehead and has three frontopolar channels that provide the EEG, EOG, and EMG signal features needed to characterise by-stage sleep time.

Sleep Profiler™ is ideal for multi-night or repeated measures assessment of patients with symptoms of non-OSA sleep disorders. It is also being used by researchers to assess REM sleep without atonia in patients with RBD, prodromal sleep biomarkers for neurodegenerative disease, the effect of Suvorexant on progressive supranuclear palsy, and differences between normal cognition and mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s Dementia, and Dementia with Lewy Body.

Sleep Profiler™ is available from Advanced Brain Monitoring, a neuro-diagnostics device company that is internationally recognised for its innovative technologies. Its products are used by clinicians, researchers, and in clinical trials to interpret brain and physiological function as they relate to chronic diseases and early-stage neurodegeneration, and to improve sleep quality and enhance performance.

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