Stress Therapy through Peltier Cooling

Project Title

Stress Therapy through Peltier Cooling

Project Area of Specialization NeuroTechProject Summary

The surgical therapy for incurable neocortex epilepsy is still not as good as possible. It may be due to three reasons; firstly, it is difficult to identify the exact location for seizure generation. Secondly, the range of the required surgery is no longer easy to anticipate, and thirdly removing the seizure (from the site in the brain where it is originated) may weaken the function of brain, spinal cord, muscles or nerves. Therefore, in our project we are looking for an alternate to epileptic surgery i.e focal cooling of brain by thermoelectric device. The aim of our proposal is to evaluate the effects of focal brain cooling cortex through thermoelectric device (Peltier) and then to monitor the brain signal through EEG. It is a quite attractive, non-invasive strategy for eliminating focal seizures. Doctors have identified that there is a relationship between seizures and temperature, and seizures have been halted in patients by reducing the temperature. The first record of focal cooling was given in 19th century. Recently studies have shown that by applying cooling (up to 20-25 degrees) to the cortical surface terminates the seizures and cause no damage to the brain tissue. Also, the development for cooling devices to terminate seizure and focal cooling have been improved in neuromodulation and this predicts that focal cooling therapy will become a reality in future.

Project Objectives

The quandary task of our project is to minimize the effects of seizures cause by epilepsy and stress and to reduce this effect. In past few years, anti-depressant or anti0epileptic drugs have been used and still they are been used for this purpose. But their effect causes adverse dimensions. Also the surgical therapy was not good as possible. It weakens the brain function. These are the reasons that compelled us to focus on the alternative tool for the treatment of seizure other than medication and surgery.

Project Implementation Method

EEG signals recorded from the 14 active electrodes that were places according to system of electrode position with 128Hz sampling frequency. The reference electrodes were placed on the right and left earlobe. All the recording took place in the TESTBENCH software of using emotive SDK headset device.

In order to study the effect of cooling on the human brain activities, pink noise and cooling presented to the participants.

The experiment consisted of 8 different blocks and lasted 24 minute. Participants were instruct to have their eye closed throughout the experiment. four groups were formed the first group consist of 8 subjects pink noise and thermal effect were provided to the participants as shown in table 6 The first block consisted of EEG recording in relax state used as reference. And it was followed up 3 minute of pink noise(PN1) and then cooling were provided for 3 minute(CE1).the sequence of PN1 AND CE1 was repeated two more times as PN2,CE2,PN3 AND CE3 respectively. EEG signals were recorded in all the 8 blocks.

The second group consist of 8 subjects only pink noise were presented to the participants as shown in table 7 The first block consisted of EEG recording in relax state used as reference. And it was followed up 6 minute of pink noise(PN1) and then after 2 minute of rest again pink noise  were provided for 6 minute(PN2).this process was repeated one more time and EEG recording take place in all blocks except during rest state

The 3rd group consist of 5 subjects and only thermal effect were presented to the participants as shown in table 8 The first block consisted of EEG recording in relax state used as reference. And it was followed up 6 minute of cooling effect(CE1) and then after 2 minute of rest state again cooling effect were provided for 6 minute(CE2).this process was repeated one more time and EEG recording take place in all blocks except during rest state.

The 4th group consist of 5 subjects in this group thermal effect and pink noise were presented to the participants at the same time as shown in table 9 The first block consisted of EEG recording in relax state used as reference. And it was followed up 6 minute of cooling effect(CE1) and pink noise(PN1) ,then after 2 minute of rest state again cooling effect and pink noise were provided for 6 minute(CE2+PN2).This process was repeated one more time and EEG recording took place in all blocks except during rest state.

Benefits of the Project

•Compact  wearable can be designed to help users overcome depression and anxiety with daily sessions that last for couple of minutes using  Neuro-modulation techniques

Muse is trying to help sufferers reduce anxiety with the aid of a sensing headband. A future headband will be made that uses EEG –NEURO feedback sensors to guide a wearer step-by-step through customize training.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable 1 Hardware Components

The components that we are using in our project are as follows:

• Peltier
• Heat sink
• Relay
• Arduino

1.1 Peltier

A Peltier module is used for brain cooling purposes. It is a thermoelectric unit that provide cooling from one side and generates heat from another side.

1.1.2 Heat sink

For the removal of heat from one junction of Peltier, we are using heat sink. . A heat sink is a flaccid device that removes heat. It is attached to Peltier in order to disperse heat to the surrounding so the device do not get heat up

1.2.1 Plate fin heat sink

Plate fin releases heat by the process of convection and uses straight fins that run the whole length to maximize the expanse of the heatsink.

1.3 Relay module

It is an electrical switch utilized for controlling circuit by low power signal.

1.4   Arduino

Arduino is used for creating electronics projects. It consists of a microcontroller (programmed circuit panel) and software that runs on the computer.

1.5 Emotive

14-channel EEG device (wireless) is a high resolution, multichannel EEG system.  It is used for recording the electrical activity of brain. It has 2 reference and 14 channels that can read signals from 14 different areas of brain when connected through electrodes. It is flexible device and gets easily fixed. The signal recorded in the form of brainwaves are transformed and processed to digital form and the results are transmitted wirelessly to the receivers of the USB. Names of channel are:

1: Channels of emotive

CHANNEL	NAME	CHANNEL NUMBER
AF3	Anteriofrontal	Channel 3
F7	Frontal	Channel 4
F3	Frontal	Channel 5
FC5	Frontal cortex	Channel 6
T7	Temporal	Channel 7
P7	Parietal	Channel 8
O1	Occipital	Channel 9
O2	Occipital	Channel 10
P8	Parietal	Channel 11
T8	Temporal	Channel 12
FC6	Frontal cortex	Channel 13
F4	Frontal	Channel 14
F8	Frontal	Channel 15
AF4	Anteriofrontal	Channel 16

1: Placement of electrodes on brain regions

  2: Emotive headset

2 SOFTWARE COMPONENTS 2.1 Test bench

Test bench collects information packets from the usb device individually and process them for analyzing, recording, displaying, and replaying time - dependent encephalogram signals. It shows the real time display of emotive headset information. Emotive pro is a multi-access ad multi-user device. 

CHANNEL

AF3

F7

F3

FC5

T7

P7

O1

O2

P8

T8

FC6

F4

F8

AF4

Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemType of Industry Medical Technologies NeuroTechSustainable Development Goals Good Health and Well-Being for PeopleRequired Resources

Elapsed time in (days or weeks or month or quarter) since start of the project	Milestone	Deliverable
Month 1	Literature Review about brain monitoring system	Task 1 ( learnt effectiveness of project)
Month 2	Literature review About thermal Sensation	Task 1 ( learnt effectiveness of project)
Month 3	Literature Review about brain therapies due to stress	Task 1 ( learnt effectiveness of project)
Month 4	Literature Review about thermal neuromodulation	Task 1 ( learnt effectiveness of project)
Month 5	Practicing to record EEG Data	Task 2 (Training on Brain Monitoring Device)
Month 6	Practicing to record EEG Data	Task 2 (Training on Brain Monitoring Device)
Month 7	Designing,Testing & fabrication of Cooling device for therapy	Task 3 (Designing & Fabrication of Device)
Month 8	Designing,Testing & fabrication of Cooling device for therapy	Task 3 (Designing & Fabrication of Device)
Month 9	Data Collection of 34 Subjects	Task 4 (Analysis of Subject)
Month 10	Data Processing and Analyzing	Task 4 (Analysis of Subject)
Month 11	Result Validation	Task 4 (Analysis of Subject)
Month 12	Report Writing	Task 5 (Final report)