Cleaning your Flow system

Kernel Flow is designed to be used in a variety of settings, and to function well under a range of environments and circumstances. But with 52 dual-laser light sources and more than 300 ultra-precise optical detectors, even tiny bits of dust or debris can interfere with performance and impact the lifespan of your equipment.

To ensure that your Flow device operates optimally and that you continue to receive accurate and consistent results, it must be handled with appropriate care, cleaned between each use, and stored in an environment that supports and protects it properly.

After each use

Make a habit of following the steps below upon completion of every session:

• Disconnect all cables Always remove cables by gripping the connector, not the cable itself, and never pull, dangle or hang the headset from attached cables. 
• Remove the Sizing Bars While no damage can come from leaving a set of Sizing Bars connected to the headset, by removing them from the headset you are less likely to begin a new session with a previously set installed rather than choosing the best set for the current participant.

Clean the Module surfaces

During use, the headset may accumulate dust, oil, or other debris that can interfere with its operation. For both sanitation and to maintain maximum efficacy, the headset should be thoroughly cleaned directly after removal from a participant’s head.

1. Gently remove the headset from the Headset Stand and place it onto the (inverted) protective foam insert from the shipping case loosening and tightening the Tension Dial as necessary to keep the plates from moving excessively.
   
2. Thoroughly clean the entire device, especially the exposed module surfaces with a mild (low-alcohol) antimicrobial cleaning solution and with a lint-free cloth such as Sani-Cloth Plus.
3. Place the headset back onto the Headset Stand.

Avoid using solvent-based solutions such as IPA (isopropyl alcohol), as the solvent can dissolve the polymers in the modules.

Clean and maintain the EEG electrodes

The internal EEG Electrodes are brush-style Soft Dry Electrodes (SDE).

While the electrodes are made of rubber, they must be handled carefully, so as not to damage the bristles. Bending the bristles (as seen in the picture below) may cause irreparable damage.

Because the bristles will come in contact with participants' hair and scalp, they should be cleaned between sessions.

To clean the SDEs:

• Gently wipe the contact surfaces with a cotton pad or sterilized gauze moistened with isopropanol.
• When deeper cleaning is required use an extra-soft toothbrush moistened with isopropanol.
• SDEs can be sterilized via ethylene oxide (EtO) or gamma sterilization (25 kGy) without loss of electrical properties and without influencing the stability of the coating layer.
• If the white coating layer begins showing signs of deterioration, the SDEs must be replaced.

See Also: Storing your flow headset and modules.

Any misuse or mishandling of the product, including failure to properly clean and store the product, will void the warranty.