Open-Source, High-Speed and High-Resolution Data Acquisition Platform for Biopotential Recordings and Neural EIT applications
Objective: Biopotential measurement devices, such as EEG, ECG, and EMG recorders, are available in low-cost, open-source implementations with standard specifications. However, high-end systems remain expensive and predominantly proprietary, limiting accessibility and customization by research laboratories. In addition, neurophysiology techniques such as bioimpedance-based Fast Neural Electrical…
Objective: Researchers seek to create an affordable, open-source data acquisition platform capable of high-speed, high-resolution recordings for biopotential measurements and neural Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). The project addresses the high costs and limited customization of existing proprietary systems.
Approach: The team designed a system utilizing off-the-shelf components to deliver simultaneous sampling across 32 channels, with 24-bit resolution, 10 kHz bandwidth, and a 50 kHz sampling rate. The design also emphasizes battery-powered operation and a two-order-of-magnitude cost reduction compared to high-end devices.
Performance Evaluation: Initial testing involved benchtop recordings using saline solutions, as well as standard non-invasive biopotential measurements such as ECG and EMG. In vivo validation included recording evoked electrophysiological responses and FN-EIT traces from a rat's sciatic nerve during tibial branch stimulation.
Results: EMG recordings showed comparable root mean square (RMS) peak amplitudes, with values of 814±153 V versus 897±113 V (p=0.07). Heart rates derived from ECG data closely matched between the two systems (64.8±4.0 bpm versus 65.1±3.1 bpm, p=0.54). During in vivo recordings, compound action potentials exhibited comparable amplitudes and morphology (129±26 mV versus 128±25 mV, p=0.15).
FN-EIT recordings revealed strongly correlated baseline voltages (R=0.93, p=0.11) and sub-microvolt noise levels (0.83±0.36 V versus 0.42±0.25 V, p<0.05). Furthermore, functional activity images generated by the novel device showed a 98.5% overlap in activated areas compared to the reference images.
Significance: The open-source device developed in this study has the potential to democratize access to high-specification, customizable data acquisition hardware for research laboratories. This could facilitate broader adoption of specialized neural recording techniques like FN-EIT, ultimately advancing the field of biopotential measurements and EIT applications.
Written by urgent.news from bioRxiv's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
