Continuous advancements in semiconductor technologies, like ULSI/VLSI (Ultra/Very Large Scale Integration), have made application specific ICs and microcomputers with impressive processing power, available to the end user at a very affordable price. Combined with the ever-expanding demands by researchers and professionals to easily collect and access raw data related to their interests, the creation of a reliable, portable biosignals acquisition device is considered.
Aim:
This dissertation investigates the possibility to:
• Design and implement a portable, low-cost, high-quality Electroencephalograph (EEG) device to measure and record the electrical activity of human brain waves,
• Develop relevant software applications to drive the instrument and perform data processing.
Objectives:
• The –for the purpose built- 8/16/24-ch signal reception hardware device will be based on TI’s specific Analog Front End (AFE) Analog to Digital Converter (ADC), ADS1299.
• Latest generation Raspberry Pi 4 will be used as Host Controller.
• Python environment will be utilized for software development. • MariaDB open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) will store data retrieved.
Results:
The prototype 4-Ch unit, built for conducting a Proof of Concept (PoC), performed as expected, incorporating all commonly required features for extra cranial electro-encephalogram (EEG). Thus, the creation of a scalable medical instrumentation system at significantly reduced size, power, and overall cost is feasible.