Wireless physiological signal acquisition system

Early detection of hearing difficulties in infants is pivotal to their growth and development in later stages of life. Cortical Auditory Evoked Potentials (CAEP) testing is used to determine the hearing thresholds of non-responsive patients such as infants. In this research thesis a method to wirelessly transmit various segments of the CAEP test system is devised and a prototype is developed that will utilise offline processing. The thesis will anlyse the effect of the wireless system on on the accuracy of the test due to electromagnetic interference caused by the transmission of the signals. The thesis will draw upon comparisons with current leading systems to aid in the analysis of results. The thesis results show the CAEP test can be successfully conducted using a wireless system utilising offline processing to present results. The results also show there is a presence of electromagnetic interference in the recordings, however due to the current processing the interference will only be present in the processed response if two conditions are met: firstly, if the transmission frequency is less than 30Hz, and secondly, if the transmission is time locked to the stimulus presentation. Further research is recommended in the areas of user ability and reliability in the system.