VA Office of Research and Development
This study will improve access of Veterans with epilepsy living in rural areas to the most important diagnostic procedure for the care of patients with epilepsy: the routine electroencephalogram (EEG). The investigators will test a new method for recording EEG which uses a novel dry electrode system headset that does not require an EEG technologist to operate. The headset integrates the EEG electrodes and amplifier into a compact system which is easily placed on the head. This approach could make it possible for a nurse or nurse assistant with minimal training to record an EEG in a rural community based outpatient clinic (CBOC) as part of an epilepsy telemedicine outreach program along with clinical interviews. The investigators will compare performance of this dry electrode system to standard EEG when it is used by EEG technologists in three VA medical centers. This project has the potential to improve access of Veterans to the EEG procedure and decrease cost to the Veterans Health Care System.
Title: Testing a Novel Dry Electrode Headset for Electroencephalography Telehealth Justification: Many Veterans live far away from a VAMC with substantial electroencephalography (EEG) expertise. Travel is difficult for epilepsy patients since they often cannot drive. The investigators propose to study a novel dry electrode system (DES) which does not require EEG technologists to operate and can be operated by a nurse assistant. This DES integrates the electrodes and EEG amplifier into a compact headset which is easily placed on the head (without skin preparation) and could be used in an epile…
Inclusion Criteria: * Aim 1: subjects with history of an EEG within last five years at VA * Aim 2: subjects scheduled for an outpatient EEG Exclusion Criteria: * weave hairstyles
all subjects will receive both a standard EEG and a dry electrode EEG
all subjects will receive both a standard EEG and a dry electrode EEG