Wearable brain cap with contactless electroencephalogram measurement for brain-computer interface applications

Many brain computer interfaces (BCI) are based on feature selection from electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. To acquire these signals, a set of electrodes is used, most of the times attached to a brain cap. Several brain cap designs have been presented, as well many different electrodes. So far, all the brain caps are difficult and uncomfortable to wear. Moreover, the electrodes, wet or dry, are also difficult to place. Despite the huge potential that a BCI offers, for disabled and healthy people, new brain caps are required to overcome these two main problems. In this work, a wearable brain cap is presented with the ability to measure the required EEG signals without requiring any electrical contact with the head. The wearable cap is obtained using a flexible polymeric material, with new integrated contactless electrodes. The electrodes may be obtained using a new electroactive gel, which is used to read the EEG signals.