NOTE: End date changed to 12/31/2016 per NSBRI (Ed., 5/24/16)

NOTE: Period of performance corrected to 8/1/2015-7/31/2016, per NSBRI (Ed., 4/14/16)

NOTE: End date change to 5/31/2017 per NSBRI (Ed., 9/16/15)

NOTE: Change in Period of Performance to 8/1/2015-7/31/2016 (formerly 6/1/15-5/31/16), per NSBRI (Ed., 7/8/15)

Electroencephalography (EEG) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) are amenable to packaging in small, lightweight and low power devices. Importantly, they provide complementary electrophysiological and hemodynamic windows into brain physiology. Dr. Strangman has been developing the NINscan series of devices for mobile (including 24-hour) brain assessment. The most recent such device, NINscan-M, is a multi-use brain imaging system that includes a 64-channel NIRS imaging system and has the potential to support 8-channel EEG, as well as device-chaining to enable 16 or more channels of EEG, plus the potential to support other analog and/or digital sensor inputs. Dr. Strangman has also recently completed a software platform project, called SpaceMED, which can provide integrated data collection, management, and real-time data viewing from biomedical and environmental devices.

In this project, we enhanced our NINscan-M device to create NINscan-SE (a version specialized for sleep and EEG). The new NINscan-SE prototype provides 3-channel EEG, 2-channel EOG, 2-channel EMG, 1-channel ECG, accelerometry, and respiration monitoring, alongside the 64-channel NIRS imaging. We also developed a consolidated suite of data analysis tools to be used with the potentially large NINscan-SE datasets generated by sleep applications. This suite facilitates data format conversions to standard polysomnogrpahy formats (European Data Exchange, or EDF), as well as supporting standard preprocessing and analysis on the NINscan-SE datasets. To test NINscan-SE, we deployed the prototype in the Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) facility, Campaign 3, Missions 1-4, to test the system in an operational environment. This work provides a a Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-6 prototype device plus software tools that significantly advance the brain- and sleep-assessment capabilities for spaceflight and analogous Earth-based settings.

Earth Benefits: No current NIRS, EEG, or PSG device has both the portability and the multi-use features we propose; thus NINscan-SE could have substantial novel Earth applications. Hospital monitoring applications could include long-duration, non-invasive brain monitoring in the NeuroICU following stroke or traumatic injury, for which no similar technology exists. In-office brain function assessment could also be enabled, for assessment of psychiatric states, for monitoring the neural effects of cardiovascular or psychoactive drugs or other therapies, or for brain monitoring during rehabilitation. Mobile monitoring could perhaps have an even larger impact outside the hospital setting. With a wearable monitor, ambulatory syncope monitoring, or multi-parameter ambulatory epilepsy monitoring become possible. If deployed in emergency vehicles, NINscan-SE could potentially be used to detect cerebral or abdominal hemorrhage, ischemia and/or cortical spreading depression by first responders. Home monitoring uses include sleep apnea, as well as a variety of commercial possibilities.

NOTE: End date changed to 12/31/2016 per NSBRI (Ed., 5/24/16)

NOTE: Period of performance corrected to 8/1/2015-7/31/2016, per NSBRI (Ed., 4/14/16)

NOTE: End date change to 5/31/2017 per NSBRI (Ed., 9/16/15)

NOTE: Change in Period of Performance to 8/1/2015-7/31/2016 (formerly 6/1/15-5/31/16), per NSBRI (Ed., 7/8/15)

Electroencephalography (EEG) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) are amenable to packaging in small, lightweight and low-power devices. Importantly, they provide complementary electrophysiological and hemodynamic windows into brain physiology. Dr. Strangman has been developing the NINscan series of devices for mobile (including 24-hour) brain assessment. The most recent such device, NINscan-M, is a multi-use brain imaging system that includes a 64-channel NIRS imaging system and has the potential to support 8-channel EEG, as well as device-chaining to enable 16 or more channels of EEG, plus the potential to support other analog and/or digital sensor inputs. Dr. Strangman has also recently completed a software platform project, called SpaceMED, which can provide integrated data collection, management, and real-time data viewing from biomedical and environmental devices.

In this project, we will enhance our current NINscan-M device to create NINscan-SE (a version specialized for sleep and EEG). NINscan-SE will provide up to 8-channel EEG alongside the 64-channel NIRS imaging, require minimal training for use, and allow up to 4 additional sensors considered key for sleep research and complementary to those available in spaceflight and the various analog environments. In addition, the new NINscan-SE device will be made compatible with SpaceMED and NASA’s Exploration Medical System Demonstration (EMSD) middleware project, to provide data management and real-time monitoring capabilities. We will also consolidate a suite of data analysis tools to be used with the potentially large NINscan-SE datasets generated by sleep applications. This suite will facilitate data format conversions, as well as standard research and clinical EEG data analysis on the NINscan-SE datasets. Finally, we will collaborate with a research team scheduled to conduct Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) experiments to test the NINscan-SE system in an operational environment.

This effort will provide a device plus software tools that will significantly advance the brain- and sleep-assessment capabilities for spaceflight and Earth-based analogs.