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Design and Development of a Novel EEG Electrode for Emergency Neurological Diagnosis

par Grandjean, Victor-Paul
Président du jury Bartik, Kristin
Promoteur Delchambre, Alain
Publication Non publié, 2026-05-21

Thèse de doctorat

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Résumé :

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a fundamental tool for the assessment of brain function and for the diagnosis of acute neurological disorders such as epileptic seizures, encephalopathy, and ischemic stroke. In urgent clinical contexts, including emergency departments and intensive care units, rapid and reliable EEG acquisition is essential for informed clinical decision-making. However, the widespread use of EEG in these environments is limited by practical constraints associated with conventional electrodes, including long preparation times and the need for specialized paramedical personnel.These limitations highlight the necessity of developing innovative EEG electrode technologies that enable rapid deployment, ease of use, and robust signal quality, all without compromising patient comfort or safety.This thesis describes the design of a new EEG electrode tailored for neurological diagnosis in emergency situations. It follows the design methodology described in the ISO 13485 standard related to quality management of medical devices. This includes an in-depth understanding of the need, an exhaustive set of specifications compliant with the European Medical Device Regulation, as well as rapid design iterations in order to converge toward a validated solution.The proposed electrode addresses the main challenges of emergency EEG acquisition by combining rapid application by non-specialized personnel with reference-grade signal quality and full compatibility with existing clinical EEG systems.At the core of the solution is a novel hydrogel capable of recording bioelectrical signals. It is composed of two interpenetrating polymer networks and shows high water absorption and retention abilities. Unlike conventional high–water-content hydrogels described in the literature, this material exhibits solid-like mechanical behavior, with a Young’s modulus in the 10-100 kilopascal range. These properties allow easy handling without compromising patient comfort, while the high water content maintains effective skin hydration over extended periods, ensuring high signal quality.The electrode enables continuous EEG recording for several hours with electrode–skin interface impedances below 10 kΩ. It achieves signal quality comparable to that of conventional reference electrodes, as evaluated by five neurologists during a preclinical study involving ten subjects. In addition, installation time is reduced to less than ten minutes without prior training, compared with approximately 40 minutes required for two specialized paramedics in the case of conventional electrodes. Finally, the thesis presents future improvements as well as the initial steps toward industrialization and commercialization in order to prepare the transfer of the research into a viable medical device.