The headset is made by the company Flow. The credit is given to the Kernel.
Accurate, high-resolution observations of the brain can be made with recent advances in brain image techniques. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a widely used technique that uses near-infrared light to determine the concentration of hemoglobin in the brain, via differences in the light absorption patterns of hemoglobin.
Continuous-wave fNIRS is the most common method of brain scanning. These systems can't differentiate between the two. Time-domain (TD)-fNIRS is a recent advancement in this technique, which uses Picosecond pulse of light and fast detectors to estimate photon scattering and absorption in tissues. Such systems are expensive and complex and have a large form factor, limiting their widespread adoption.
Researchers from a company called Kernel have developed a headset that uses the technology of the fNIRS. The device, called "Kernel Flow," weighs 2.05 kilograms and contains 52 modules that fit on either side of the head. The performance and specifications of the Kernel Flow system are reported in the JBO.
The headset modules have two laser sources that are less than 150 picoseconds wide. A source light pipe is used to direct the beam to the head. The laser pulse is captured by six spring-loaded detector light pipes that are 2mm in diameter and then transmitted to six hexagonally arranged detectors 10mm away from the laser source. The detectors record the photon arrival times into histograms and are capable of handling high photon count rates.
The brain signals of two people who performed a finger-tapping task were recorded by researchers. The changes in the concentrations of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin were measured during the testing session.
The system was found to be similar to the conventional ones. Ryan Field, the Chief Technology Officer at Kernel and the corresponding author of the study, said that the performance of the device was similar to a benchtop system.
Field acknowledges the need for more testing as the results are promising but not perfect. We are collecting data to show more human neuroscience applications. He says that they are evaluating the performance of the system with different hair and skin types.
The next generation of brain scanning devices are delivered by the next generation of Kernel Flow packages. The benefits of health and science will be made accessible by systems like Kernel Flow. The FDA recently authorized a study using the Kernel Flow system to measure the effects of ketamine on the brain.
The German Research Center for Environmental Health is a guest editor of the JBO. I am looking forward to what the brain has to say.
Han Y. Ban and his team describe a high channel count, time-domain functional near-infrared spectroscopy system. There is a book titled "10117/1.JBO.27.7.074710".
The journal has information about the sciences.
A Wearable device for Non-Invasive Optical Brain Scan was retrieved fromphys.org on January 18th, 2022.
The document is copyrighted. Any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research cannot be reproduced without written permission. The content is not intended to be used for anything other than information purposes.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
