Electroencephalography (EEG) is a safe, noninvasive technique for monitoring neonatal brain function. Acute and long-term EEG monitoring of infants has clinical utility for evaluating the effects of hypoxic ischemic insults and detecting the presence of epileptic activity. Medical intervention may be effective for several neonatal brain pathologies if these are detected early. In Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), for example, disorders in the neurophysiology of sleep regulation may be potentially life-threatening for many infants, and may be amenable to treatment, but we have a limited understanding of both the normal neonatal sleep neurophysiology and its disregulation. The information available in neonatal EEG can be greatly enhanced by using an adequate number of electrodes to accurately map the spatial distribution of the EEG without spatial aliasing. The Geodesic EEG Neonatal Brain Monitor will be designed from experimental studies and theoretical simulations of the required sampling density for scalp potentials on the infant head. Dense Array EEG methods will be developed that incorporate the unique features of infant skull anatomy to estimate the potentials in the brain of the infant. The Geodesic EEG Neonatal Brain Monitor will be adapted for a variety of clinical uses, initially focusing on monitoring brain function in sleep in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). A low-cost product line would result from the Phase II work, ranging from simple 4- channel EEG with vital signs monitors to a 256-channel dense array system. These products will bring major advances to monitoring both normal and pathological brain states of the neonate, providing information on the maturation of arousal control and sleep in preterm and full term infants that may be important in understanding a variety of clinical disorders.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase II (R44)
Project #
5R44DA020431-03
Application #
7120172
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BDCN-E (10))
Program Officer
Aigner, Thomas G
Project Start
2000-09-01
Project End
2009-06-30
Budget Start
2006-09-01
Budget End
2009-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$363,520
Indirect Cost
Name
Electrical Geodesics, Inc.
Department
Type
DUNS #
809845365
City
Eugene
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97403