Sintered Silver/Silver Chloride Electrodes Tips
- ONLY USE DISTILLED WATER OR PURE SALINE SOLUTION!
We recommend using Reagent Grade Saline.
- If sintered electrodes are dry for 3-7days they should be reactivated.
*Activate electrodes by soaking them in saline solution for 30 minutes prior to running a session.
- If you are using just distilled water to clean your electrodes please be advised that leaving them in the distilled water will remove the salt out of the electrodes and will most likely deactivate them.
- Don’t leave the electrodes in the saline solution all the time. When they are not in use, simply store them in a dark dry place. Wrapping a napkin or tissue around them is sufficient.
- Dry electrodes before applying the Ten20 Paste to them
- Braid the electrodes loosely from the Neuroamp up to the head (this helps subtract out noise the electrodes might pick up.
- If you are using tactile bear (Tactile feedback) make sure that it is not sitting on the same surface that the electrodes are sitting on. If it’s sitting on the chair, try having the client put it on their lap instead.
- Ground Electrode
: The ear lobe and mastoid do not get very good connections. Instead use CZ (on top of the head) for the ground.
- When running a One Channel session, make sure you have all 3 electrodes plugged into the Channel 1 slots as pictured below.
The Impedance meter
:
The impedance Registers only for a second and then goes back to one red light on ground.
If the electrodes are not attached to anybody or if isn't any electrodes plugged into the Neuroamp then that is normal.
It is recommended that you plug the Neuroamp directly into the computer and not into a USB Hub.
If the electrodes are attached to someone then make sure your ground has a good connection.
"See #7 Ground electrode above"
If the impedance meter
is on, the neurofeedback session will remain paused until the impedance meter
is turned back off.
Checking the impedance meter
:
Once you have a good connection make sure that impedance meter
is then turned off.
(The light on the Neuroamp you want to see is power light, press check impedance meter
button again if you need to) then try resuming your session in Cygnet by pressing the play button.
There is no need to continuously check electrodes unless there is some sort of movement that you think has pulled the electrodes off or if the “Check electrode” message comes on in Cygnet
Check Electrode message in Cygnet:
If you see the “Check electrode” light come on in Cygnet first make sure you are using the most current version of Cygnet Click on Help at the top of Cygnet, Click on About, Cygnet Version should be 1.1.3.14 (or later).
The “Check Electrode” message can come on If a electrode has a poor connection or comes loose during the session or when moves or If the client shifts their position in the chair.
The “Check Electrode” message may also come on if the electrodes are hanging loose (try braiding the electrodes). The electrodes may pick up extra noise because of vibration from tactile feedback.
Artifact can cause the “Check Electrode” Light to come on such as eye blinks, It can also be triggered by excess 60 Hz activity, which can also be a sign of increased muscle tension.
See also Cygnet Manual 1 9 0_en_D Page 7
The “Check Electrode” function of the Cygnet software is intended to warn you about faulty electrode contacts. However, no claims are made regarding the quality of the EEG signal. It is the responsibility of the practitioner to decide if the EEG signal is suited for the intended purpose.
See also Cygnet Manual 1 9 0_en_D Page 33
Check Electrodes display:
If the line frequency
pick-up exceeds 100V, Cygnet asks you to check the electrode contacts. The “Check Electrode” signal does not mean that the contacts are necessarily bad but suggests that you check - the actual line pick up level depends not only on the electrode contact quality but also on your environment.
Sintered Silver/Silver Chloride Electrodes Test:
1 Channel Electrode Test:
Make a little ball of Ten20 Paste and attach all 3 electrodes to the ball of conductive paste press the check impedance meter
button on the Neuroamp all 3 electrodes should go in the green
2 Channel Electrode Test:
In cup of saline solution* mix a little Ten20 paste into the solution (if there isn't already any in there) press the check impedance meter
button on the Neuroamp all 5 electrodes should go in the green.
If one of the electrodes don't light up or doesn’t light up in the green your electrode may have been damaged. Try activating it again 30-45mins and then test again.
