Web-based remote monitoring of live EEG

Abstract

In a critical care setting, delays in the diagnosis of neurological conditions can have a significant impact on patient outcomes. Recording the electrical activity of the brain (EEG) is often used to diagnose and monitor neurological conditions. A trained neurophysiologist is then required to analyse these signals. However, in many cases this expertise is not available on-site. A web-based remote monitoring system for EEG data is presented that reduces the delays that can arise when off-site expert analysis is required. The system allows EEG data to be streamed to a remote location in near-real-time and viewed while acquisition is ongoing. Data streamed earlier may also be reviewed, providing the user with a continually updating view of the entire EEG recording. All communications are performed using web technologies in order to minimise issues with firewalls and to enable analysis on most web-connected PCs. The only tool required for viewing EEG data is a modern web browser with the commonly-available Adobe Flash plugin installed. Since these are ubiquitous, data analysis is not limited by geographic location. Moreover, multiple users can independently view the data simultaneously