FAQ	As of May 22, 2020

How to use
Q	Can it measure at the same time as EEG machine (electroencephalography)?
A	From several actual cases, the customers who already purchased Spectratech OEG-16 series have measured properly at the same time.　The OEG-17H has no record of simultaneous measurement.
Q	Can it measure at the same time as fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)?
A	It cannot measure at the same time because of the influence of a strong magnetic field generated by fMRI.
Q	Can one PC support two OEG-16 series that measure at the same time?
A	Yes, it can do. However, it is recommended to use a little powerful PC because CPU load may increase. In another way, it may be convenient to use a reasonable PC for each OEG-16 series.
Q	Can the measurement result of OEG-series be used with other software?
A	All of OEG-series saves the measurement result in TEXT format or CSV format. Therefore, it can be read easily with EXCEL of Microsoft, etc.
Q	Can it work on Windows10-based PC?
A	In the case of OEG-16 series, please prepare a PC with at least one USB standard connection port and a display function with a resolution of 1368x768 or higher that runs Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10. For computer performance, it is recommended that the CPU be Intel I5 or above and the main memory be 4GB or above.  In the case of OEG-17H, please prepare a PC with a network function (100M-ethernet) that runs Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10. As for the performance of the personal computer, choose a CPU with Intel I5 or higher, a main memory of 4GB or higher, and a resolution of 1368 * 768 or higher. * OS other than Windows (IOS, Linux, etc.) is not supported.
Q	How to upgrade the software and the hardware?
A	Customer can always update at Customer Corner on Spectratech's website.
Q	How can I know that an upgraded version of the software and the hardware was released?
A	It will be informed at Customer Corner on Spectratech's website.
Q	Can I install the attached application software on multiple OEG-series? (Free of charge)
A	Since the number of installations is not limited, you may install it on the necessary number of OEG-series. (No additional cost is expected depending on the number of installations.)
Q	I want to take in the biological measurement data of OEG-series in real time, and to control a robot. Have API and the library been opened to the public?
A	It is open to the public in detail at user’s manual.
Q	Is a license agreement required for the use of API and the library?
A	No license agreement is necessary for the researcher who uses it only for his/her own research purpose. No charge is also required. However, the license agreement with Spectratech is needed regardless of commercial or non-commercial offered form when a program, etc. is developed for purpose other than his/her own research purpose.
Q	Can the raw data be output?
A	Yes, it is output into DATA folder in each OEG series folder on PC. For the data format in detail, please refer to User’s manual.
Q	How long is the continuous measurement time?
A	OEG-17H can continuously measure up to 1 hour in FAST mode and up to 3 hours in FINE mode. 2 hours in FAST mode and 10 hours in FINE mode for OEG-16H and OEG-SpO2, 10 hours for OEG-16.
Q	Is it possible to record in sync with VIDEO?
A	You can record the VIDEO image being measured in synchronization with the measurement data. Of course, synchronized playback with recorded data is possible. (The video recording function option Spectratech OEG-VIDEO3D is required.)
Q	Can I connect multiple VIDEO cameras?
A	Only one VIDEO camera can be used.
Q	How to connect VIDEO camera to PC?
A	Connect with the attached USB cable. The standard distance between the VIDEO camera and PC is 5m.
Q	How big is the VIDEO recording file?
A	About 10MB is used for about 3 minutes of recording.
Q	Does the turbulence light mean a light that leaks from a contact face of a sensor and the skin, and enters?
A	Ambient lights other than the light from OEG-series’s light-emitting parts are called turbulence light. The light of fluorescent lamp and the sunlight correspond to it. The turbulence light enters from not only the contact face of a sensor and the skin but also the vertex direction.
Q	When mounting it, it takes a time because the hairs enter inside the sensor band. Is any idea devised?
A	As for OEG-series, each sensor is detachable individually after the sensor band or palletto was mounted. For outside of the head and upper part of the frontal lobe where the hairs easily get into, it can confirm presence of the hairs inside by removing the sensor only in the part. When hairs were found, they should be removed with an earpick, etc., and the sensor is mounted again after confirming it cleaned.
Q	Can I measure in the sunshine (around town)?
A	It is difficult to measure in the sunshine. It is necessary to prepare a deep hat, etc. that can shade the light as much as possible so that the sunlight should not get into.
Q	From what fields have the inquiries come a lot?
A	We have received inquiries from psychiatry, psychological science, education, rehabilitation, robot, artificial limb, safety control, BMI (brain-machine interface), and others.

Function
Q	Is there any good method to prevent the sensor from shifting when it moves strongly?
A	In case of OEG-16 series, We have prepared the adhesive pad that can attach the sensor to the skin firmly.
Q	If the hairs are shaved, can it measure also on the vertex and the temporal lobe, etc.?
A	In case of OEG-16 series,. It is impossible to do it usually because the root of hair still remains though it was shaved, and the light is attenuated very much. In such cases, please use Spectratech OEG-17H.
Q	To confirm that the biological signal is being measured with OEG-16, can I measure the pulse wave?
A	It cannot monitor the pulse wave because the biological signal bandwidth of OEG-16 is 0.76Hz max. It is necessary to have a biological signal bandwidth of 5Hz at least to monitor the pulse wave simultaneously. Meanwhile, it is understood that 99.9% of actual bioinstrumentation is 1Hz or less. The cost changes greatly though it is a difference between only 1Hz and 5Hz. It is impossible to commercialize it unless it upgrades sensor, amplifier, AD converter, and interface with PC by 1~2 levels. OEG-16 has placed top priority on cost reduction.
Q	I want to measure a pulse wave to confirm that I am measuring a biological signal. Can I do it?
A	OEG-17H, OEG-16H, OEG-SpO2 are newly developed products for measuring biological signals including pulse. The effective biological signal bandwidth is 6.1 Hz in Fast Mode, and you can observe the pulse wave that is changing from about 1 Hz to about 2 Hz.
Q	Why can Spectratech OEG-16 series be offered at a greatly lower price than other companies’ products?
A	There are 4 reasons. (1) It could develop the efficient, low-priced equipment by giving a clear-cut concept to dedicate for the frontal lobe. (2) The sensor uses a method to stick fast to the live body, which was designed so as not to use the expensive optical fibers. Therefore, the cable cost has been greatly reduced. (3) It has become possible to manufacture the main unit at a cost of one fifth or sixth of other companies’ by using the spread spectrum modulation technology originally developed by Spectratech. (4) Since Spectratech is a venture company, the indirect cost was small compared to a development by big company. (However, the commercialization of OEG-16 spent five and a half years for the formulation of basic theory, and four years for the basic experiment/equipment development/test, over nine years in total.)
Q	Are there the technologies and the patents originally developed?
A	A dozen patents are owned in total; basic patent, related patent, and patent pending. These technologies were developed for nine years from the basic theory, about four years from the basic experiment (patents applied in 2001). Spectratech’s Spread Spectrum Light Modulation Technology is protected by Patents referred to the registration numbers of USP7, 729, 732B2, USP7, 569, 821B2, JP3623743, JP4546274, and JP4465378.
Q	How about the performance compared with other companies' products?
A	In case of OEG-16H or OEG-SpO2, with the SpectratechOEG-16-02 Optical Phantom (roughly equivalent to the frontal lobe), it has SNR characteristic of about 60~70dB in 0.76Hz signal bandwidth, and it is comparable as long as it measures on the frontal lobe. In case of OEG-17H, with the SpectratechOEG-17-02 Optical Phantom (roughly equivalent to the Parietal lobe), it has SNR characteristic of about 50~60dB in 0.76Hz signal bandwidth, and it is comparable as long as it measures on the parietal lobe.
Q	How long is the sampling interval?
A	Effective biological signal bandwidth: 0.76 Hz for OEG-16 (sampling interval: 0.65 seconds). OEG-17H, OEG-16H and OEG-SpO2 are available in 0.76Hz (Fine Mode) and 6.1Hz (Fast Mode).
Q	To what extent can the attached software support?
A	For Event, the current one supports the event trigger input and the block design input. For Signal processing, it does the moving average, FFT (Low Pass, Band Pass, and High Pass Filter), and baseline correction (from the 1st to the 3ird). In addition, the attached software, no limited to this, will be upgraded in series including the customers’ requests. Please refer to the chapter of the general description software for details. For details, please refer to Summary Manual - Software Edition.

Support
Q	How is the support system when it broke down?
A	The main unit is to return to Spectratech, Inc. in Yokohama, Japan for repair. (Please contact us for details.)
Q	How is the maintenance service and fee?
A	The first year is under warranty, and it is free of charge. Maintenance fee starts from the second year. (Please contact us for details.)
Q	As I will use it in clinical practice, can I borrow alternative equipment when it broke down?
A	As alternative equipment is not prepared, please consider to purchase another equipment, if necessary.

Specification
Q	How large is the diameter of LED inside light-emitting part?
A	It is 4.0mm in window diameter, and the viewing half angle is ±45° (If=20mA).
Q	How large is the diameter of a sensor inside the light-receiving part?
A	In case of OEG-16 series, effective acceptance surface in 1.1mm, and entrance window in 3.0mm. In case of OEG-17H, effective acceptance surface in 3.0mm, and entrance window in 5.9mm.
Q	How long is the interval of the sensors in mm?
A	30mm for the standard type, and in case of OEG-16 series ,26mm is also available as an option.
Q	What is the recommended usage environment?
A	Operating temperature range: 5~30°C, Operating humidity range: 20~70% (Not condensed)

General
Q	What is the standard brain?
A	Space coordinates position to activate is naturally different on an individual basis. It is necessary to standardize NIRS data to match to fMRI or EEG, or to other examinee data. It has become common to convert individual live body measurement data into the coordinate system called standard brain, and to use it.
Q	Do you have a paper for the OEG series?
A	Only the range that we have examined by us is listed below. https://www.spectratech.co.jp/En/product/listOfSocietiesEn.html
Q	Can I custom-order a sensor band or sensor palette?
A	Yes. Please contact us for details.
Q	Can I ask for a data analysis?
A	Yes. Our analysis team will support it.
Q	Is a rental equipment available?
A	No.
Q	Is a rental equipment for evaluation purpose available?
A	Currently, no.

 

 

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