Development of an Ambulatory Ear EEG Wearable for Sleep Monitoring

Abstract

This thesis presents design and validation of a compact (under 20g, 3cm x 3cm front- end electronics), low-power (under 50mW), around-the-ear EEG wearable intended for ambulatory sleep monitoring outside of controlled laboratory environments. The system integrates a custom flexible printed-circuit dry electrode array with active electrode buffering, a biopotential analog front end, and wireless data transmission to enable unobtrusive, overnight acquisition of EEG and related biosignals. Various BCI experiments are conducted including volition-driven control via ocular artifacts, auditory oddball, and SSVEP. Design decisions are motivated by limitations of existing polysomnography and consumer sleep trackers, particularly with respect to comfort, accessibility, and signal fidelity. The hardware architecture, namely electrode design, front-end electronics, and safety considerations are described, along with the software architecture which includes the signal processing. This work aims to provide a fully integrated platform for ear-centered EEG research and long-term sleep monitoring.