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ActiveThree

  • ActiveThree

  • Unsurpassed EEG Signal Quality with Cutting-Edge SAR Technology

  • Product No: NS-1095
  • Manufacturer: Biosemi
  • EEG EMG ECG ABR EP ERP BCI PLETH FFT Respiratory HR HRV
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Description

ActiveThree is the next generation of biopotential measurement systems for scientific research. ActiveThree's signal quality surpasses any EEG system currently available thanks to cutting-edge analog-to-digital converter technology. BioSemi's third-generation active electrodes and amplifier system - the ActiveThree - combines unsurpassed signal quality, portability, low power consumption, and ease of use.

ActiveThree can come configured with up to 142 channels of EEG/EXG electrodes and sensors. All 142 channels are fully DC-coupled and equipped with a novel 24-bit SAR (successive approximation register) A/D converter. This is the latest ADC technology available on the market, allowing for the highest signal quality with high interference suppression, offering a clean frequency spectrum. New low-voltage components further allow for low power consumption compared to its predecessors. As a result, a much smaller-sized battery is used, leading to a decrease in both the size and weight of the main AD-box. Additionally, the battery can be purchased anywhere locally, as it is a standard single battery cell. Auxiliary sensors such as respiration belts, GSR/EDA sensors, and response switches are now automatically detected and configured by the system. Last but not least, the CMS/DRL circuitry has improved in interference suppression.

 

Auxiliary sensor inputs

The auxiliary sensor inputs on the ActiveThree have been completely resigned with six highly versatile inputs. No matter the type of sensor, auxiliary sensors can selectively be connected to any of the six auxiliary inputs. ActiveThree auto-detects the connected sensor and transmits the correct configuration to ActiView acquisition software. ActiView automatically updates the display to show and record data from the connected sensors, without the need to manually configure the sensor. Available auxiliary sensors include:

  • GSR/EDA electrodes
  • Respiration belt
  • Plethysmography (PPG)
  • Temperature sensor (e.g., skin temperature)
  • Response switch

 

Electrodes for Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)

ABR (auditory brainstem response) electrodes interface directly with ActiveThree through the six universal auxiliary inputs. The ABR active electrode circuitry has been improved and now features lower noise and a wider bandwidth compared to its predecessor. The high-pass frequency is set to 10 Hz and low-pass frequency is increased to 5.4 kHz.

 

Small Form-factor and Portability

ActiveThree was designed with lightweight and portability in mind. By carefully selecting novel electronic components, the ActiveThree circuitry was designed with a quarter of the power consumption (both supply voltage, as well as current consumption, are halved) compared to the ActiveTwo. None of these new components compromise the performance of the ActiveThree. This allowed for the use of a smaller and more lightweight battery, decreasing both the size and weight of ActiveThree's AD-box. ActiveThree comes in a form factor of 162 x 149 x 62 mm and a mere 800g.

 

Software Adjustable Speedmode Switch 

Compared to its predecessor, ActiveThree's sampling rate can now be adjusted within ActiView acquisition software. ActiveThree records and transmits all signals on the maximum (fixed) sample rate of 16,384 Hz and a bandwidth of 5.4 kHz. Down-sampling can be performed in ActiView software to a minimum of 256 Hz. ActiView uses a 5th-order CIC decimation filter when down-sampling to prevent aliasing. The bandwidth of down-sampled data is 1/5th of the selected sample rate.

 

System Features 

  • Cutting-edge SAR (successive approximation register) ADC technology for unsurpassed signal quality and high S/N ratio.
  • Smaller form-factor AD-box allows for versatile and portable applications.
  • Autodetection of auxiliary sensors for increased ease of use.
  • Improved CMS/DRL circuitry for high interference suppression.
  • Up to 136+6 channels in a single box.
  • Third-generation active electrode: unsurpassed signal quality and ultra-high S/N (signal-to-noise) ratio. Integrated high-frequency filter.
  • 24-bit ADC per channel built on SAR (successive approximation register) A/D converters.
  • Full DC operation.
  • User-selectable sample rate through software.

 

Technical Specifications

Subject isolation

BF (Body Floating)

Number of channels

0 to 136 monopolar active electrodes + 6 bipolar auxiliary sensors

Output sample-rate (down-sampling available in software)

16,384 Hz

Bandwidth (-3dB)

DC – 5.4 kHz, 0.002 dB ripple in passband

Low-pass response

140 tap FIR filter, -65 dB @ 8 kHz (Nyquist frequency)

High-pass response

fully DC coupled

Digitalization

24 bit SAR converter with 4x oversampling and integrated decimation filter,
one converter per channel, synchronous sampling

Sampling skew and jitter

< 1 ns

Sample rate accuracy

0.8 Hz

Quantization-resolution

LSB = 31.25 nV, no missing codes

Gain accuracy

0.1 %

Anti-aliasing filter

1st order analog filter, -3dB at 7.8 kHz 

Total input noise (Ze < 10 kOhm), full bandwidth

2.8 uVRMS (approx. 15 uVpk-pk), see noise spectrum below

1/f noise (Ze < 100 kOhm), 0.1 - 10Hz

2 uVpk-pk , see pink noise plot below

Input current noise

< 1 pArms

Input bias current

< 100 pA per channel

Input impedance

600 MOhm @ 50 Hz (1012 Ohm // 5 pF)

DC offset:

< 2 mV

Input range

+200 mV to -200 mV

Intermodulation distortion, testsignals: 2990 and 3010 Hz

< 0.01 % , see IMD spectrum below

Channel separation

> 100 dB

Common Mode Rejection Ratio

> 100 dB @ 50 Hz

Isolation Mode Rejection Ratio

> 160 dB @ 50 Hz

Power Consumption

 0.5 Watt (6 channels) to 1 Watt (142 channels)

Battery capacity

3500 mAh, 3.7 V Li-ion 18650 type

Battery life

10 hours (142 channels) to 20 hours (6 channels)

Leakage current, normal operation

< 1 uA rms.

Leakage current, single fault condition

< 40 uArms

Trigger inputs

16 inputs on optical receiver (isolated from subject section), TTL level 

Trigger outputs

12 outputs on optical receiver (isolated from subject section), TTL level 

Computer interface

USB2.0, Windows or Linux

Size of AD-box (width x depth x height)

162 x 149 x 62 mm

Weight of AD-box, including battery

0.8 kg

Environment

Indoor use:
Temperature: +10°C to +40°C
Humidity: 30 to 75%
Pressure: 700 hPa to 1060 hPa

Warranty

3 years (1 year on electrodes)

Conformity

EN61326 (EMC), EN60601-1 (safety)

 

Performance of Electrodes and new ADC Technology

The graphs below depict comprehensive insight into the spectrums of the noise and pink noise levels of the novel Active Electrode and ADC technology of the ActiveThree. The new ADCs of the ActiveThree are based on SAR (successive approximation register) technology for unsurpassed signal quality and high S/N ratio.

 

Final Noise of the ActiveThree Active Electrodes

Noise spectrum of the novel ActiveThree Active Electrode
Noise spectrum of 1 channel referenced to the average of 128 channels. The area under the curve (the total noise) is 2.8 uVrms. Note that spectrum is completely free of spikes by spurious tones.

Pink Noise of the ActiveThree Active Electrodes

Plot of the 1/f (pink) noise of the novel ActiveThree Active Electrode
Plot of the 1/f (pink) noise of 1 channel referenced to the average of 128 channels and filtered with a 0.1 - 10 Hz bandpass filter.

 

ABR Noise with Frequency Extending Down to 10 Hz

Noise spectrum of the novel ActiveThree Active Electrode
Area under the curve (the total noise) is 0.35 uVrms and the noise density at 1 kHz is 5 nV/Hz^1/2 (vs. 3.9 uVrms and 50 nV/Hz^1/2 for a pair of standard active electrodes). Ignore the spikes by mains supply interference (50 Hz and odd harmonics). The ActiveThree ABR sensor has a factor of 10 lower noise than standard active electrodes.
 
ABR sensor specifications:
  • Sampling rate: 16,384 Hz
  • Bandwidth (-3dB): 10 Hz to 5.4 kHz
  • AC input range: 32 mV peak-to-peak
  • DC input range: -1.2 V to +1.2 V
  • Noise over full bandwidth: 0.35 Vrms, approx. 2 uV peak-to-peak
  • CMRR: 150 dB
  • Quantization resolution: LSB is 1,953 pV (1/512 uV)

 

 

ActiveThree Picture Gallery

 

 

BioSemi Advertorial

ActiveThree - Official Advertorial

Please note: Important! This product is for research applications only. Not a medical device as defined in EU directive 93/42/EEC. Not designed or intended to be used for diagnosis or treatment of disease.