Electric Field Sensing of physiological activity using optical fibers - a disruptive biosensing principle (ELFISENS)

The "ELFISENS" project has set itself the goal of revolutionizing the monitoring of brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG). Conventional EEG is indispensable for monitoring newborns in intensive care, for example, but requires contact electrodes that can irritate the sensitive skin of infants. In contrast, the novel "ELFISENS" approach captures biosignals without touching the skin by directly reading bioelectric fields through optical fiber sensors within 3D-printed structures. In turn, piezoelectric materials convert the weak bioelectric fields into tiny mechanical expansions that can still be measured by the highly sensitive optical fiber sensors.

The non-contact "ELFISENS" sensors can be integrated into comfortable caps or even directly into pillows or mattresses, so that long-term monitoring, for example of newborn babies, is possible without side effects. In addition, the field of application of EEG technology could be extended to emergency situations or mobile applications in which the use of contact electrodes has been difficult to date.

Jun.-Prof. Dr. Thomas Kissinger, Jun.-Prof. Hongye Sun and Jun.-Prof. Dr. Patrique Fiedler from the Technical University of Ilmenau are conducting research into this.