For Immediate Release

Electrical Geodesics, Inc. (EGI) Licenses Key Technology for EEG/fMRI Recording from UCLA

Eugene, Oregon - November 18, 2008 -  New techniques for imaging the functional activity of the human brain by simultaneously recording changes in its electrical activity (EEG) and blood flow (fMRI) are contributing important insights into normal and pathological brain functioning.  However, the EEG signal recorded with existing EEG/fMRI technologies is often of disappointing quality. 

Today, EGI announced that it had licensed a key patent from The Regents of the University of California covering methods for improving the signal quality of the EEG when it is recorded during an MRI exam (U.S. Patent No. 7,286,871, “Method and apparatus for reducing contamination of an electrical signal”).  The licensed techniques, developed by Dr. Mark Cohen of UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, allow the artifact introduced into the recorded EEG signal by the large gradient pulses emitted by the MRI during its normal operation to be effectively removed from the data using timing pulses generated by the MRI.  Additional claims in the patent protect the use of “twisted” pairs electrodes to help improve the signal-to-noise ratio, which also results in cleaner EEG recordings. 

Commenting on the importance of the Cohen patent, Dr. Don Tucker, CEO and Chief Scientist of EGI said, "Low noise recordings are essential to allow EEG source localization for the MR-registered recordings.  The UCLA technology provides a unique and effective method of noise cancellation in the MR environment." 

EGI plans to incorporate the licensed technology in its announced Q-1 2009 release of the world’s first truly high-density MRI compatible EEG system: the 256- and 128-electrode Geodesic EEG System (GES) 300-MR. This new high-density EEG/fMRI system will be available as an upgrade package to its existing, industry-leading dense array EEG system (dEEG), the GES 300.  Ann Bunnenberg, President of EGI noted, “EGI is particularly pleased to make this important new technology available to all of our current GES 300 system customers.” 

Based in Eugene, Oregon, EGI is the leading developer and manufacturer of dEEG systems for medicine, neurosurgery, and neuroscience research worldwide.  Additional background information on EGI is available at www.egi.com.