BrainCap MR: Superior electrode system for simultaneous EEG-fMRI
The simultaneous recording of EEG-fMRI data is a well-established technique and our MRI product portfolio is the gold standard for this application. We strive to keep our products up to date to guarantee the highest safety and comfort for the participant as well as outstanding data quality. As such, our BrainCap MR Rev. 3 (from April 2020) has evolved in recent years to keep up with the demands of this dynamic research area.
The BrainCap MR is available for BrainAmp MR amplifiers and can be used in scanners up to 3 T. Its use is subject to our general 3 T EEG-fMRI safety guidelines.
Maximum safety standards
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- Electrodes are fitted with current-limiting resistors
- Resistors in the cap connector act like an additional RF-filter
- Electrode cables are routed and secured to avoid loops and cable movement
- Drop-down electrodes (e.g., ECG) are sheathed to avoid direct contact with the skin
- Small gaps are inserted into the electrode rings to avoid induction in closed loops
- ECG electrodes contain higher resistors than EEG electrodes to compensate for the technical characteristics of longer wires
- Wire length from electrode to the amplifier input is fixed to the minimal required length
- Cable tree exit point options are available to fit with different MRI head coils
- MR labelling and safety guidelines according to industry standards
Comfort
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- Flat electrodes allow for high comfort when the head is resting inside the MR scanner
- Empty electrode holders are added to caps with fewer than 64 channels to compensate for gaps between the electrodes and more evenly distribute pressure when the head is resting on the electrodes inside the MR scanner
- A new cap cut has been adopted that encompasses more of the head, cheeks and neck. As a result, these caps fit better on more head shapes, and they rarely slip backwards from frontopolar sites
Ease of use
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- Serial number sticker for easy tracking, assembly and layout questions
- Colored and labeled electrodes for quick location identification (e.g., 10-20, 10-10)
Data quality
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- Carbon Wire Loops (CWL) for state-of-the-art correction of motion-related artifacts
What happens to old electrode caps that do not meet the current safety standards?
If you have an older BrainCap MR (before April 2020) there is no urgent need to change your cap. You can continue to use your caps in your current setup as long as you continue to adhere to the safety guidelines. The only difference in the safety guidelines for older caps compared to the new ones is that the sequence limitations are stricter for old caps. This is due to the longer cable tree on older caps (see our MR sequence guidelines). It is worth considering replacing your old BrainCap MR with the latest version if you would like to benefit from the new safety standards and the increased flexibility regarding the MRI sequence limitations.