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Levett JJ, Elkaim LM, Niazi F, Weber MH, Iorio-Morin C, Bonizzato M, Weil AG. Invasive Brain Computer Interface for Motor Restoration in Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review. Neuromodulation 2024; 27:597-603. [PMID: 37943244 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurom.2023.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Systematic review of the literature. OBJECTIVES In recent years, brain-computer interface (BCI) has emerged as a potential treatment for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). This is the first systematic review of the literature on invasive closed-loop BCI technologies for the treatment of SCI in humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS A comprehensive search of PubMed MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Ovid EMBASE was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. RESULTS Of 8316 articles collected, 19 studies met all the inclusion criteria. Data from 21 patients were extracted from these studies. All patients sustained a cervical SCI and were treated using either a BCI with intracortical microelectrode arrays (n = 18, 85.7%) or electrocorticography (n = 3, 14.3%). To decode these neural signals, machine learning and statistical models were used: support vector machine in eight patients (38.1%), linear estimator in seven patients (33.3%), Hidden Markov Model in three patients (14.3%), and other in three patients (14.3%). As the outputs, ten patients (47.6%) underwent noninvasive functional electrical stimulation (FES) with a cuff; one (4.8%) had an invasive FES with percutaneous stimulation, and ten (47.6%) used an external device (neuroprosthesis or virtual avatar). Motor function was restored in all patients for each assigned task. Clinical outcome measures were heterogeneous across all studies. CONCLUSIONS Invasive techniques of BCI show promise for the treatment of SCI, but there is currently no technology that can restore complete functional autonomy in patients with SCI. The current techniques and outcomes of BCI vary greatly. Because invasive BCIs are still in the early stages of development, further clinical studies should be conducted to optimize the prognosis for patients with SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan J Levett
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Lior M Elkaim
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Farbod Niazi
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michael H Weber
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Marco Bonizzato
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Neuroscience and Centre interdisciplinaire sur le cerveau et l'apprentissage, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Alexander G Weil
- Division of Neurosurgery, St-Justine University Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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2
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Bhatia A, Hanna J, Stuart T, Kasper KA, Clausen DM, Gutruf P. Wireless Battery-free and Fully Implantable Organ Interfaces. Chem Rev 2024; 124:2205-2280. [PMID: 38382030 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Advances in soft materials, miniaturized electronics, sensors, stimulators, radios, and battery-free power supplies are resulting in a new generation of fully implantable organ interfaces that leverage volumetric reduction and soft mechanics by eliminating electrochemical power storage. This device class offers the ability to provide high-fidelity readouts of physiological processes, enables stimulation, and allows control over organs to realize new therapeutic and diagnostic paradigms. Driven by seamless integration with connected infrastructure, these devices enable personalized digital medicine. Key to advances are carefully designed material, electrophysical, electrochemical, and electromagnetic systems that form implantables with mechanical properties closely matched to the target organ to deliver functionality that supports high-fidelity sensors and stimulators. The elimination of electrochemical power supplies enables control over device operation, anywhere from acute, to lifetimes matching the target subject with physical dimensions that supports imperceptible operation. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the basic building blocks of battery-free organ interfaces and related topics such as implantation, delivery, sterilization, and user acceptance. State of the art examples categorized by organ system and an outlook of interconnection and advanced strategies for computation leveraging the consistent power influx to elevate functionality of this device class over current battery-powered strategies is highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aman Bhatia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Jessica Hanna
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Tucker Stuart
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Kevin Albert Kasper
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - David Marshall Clausen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Philipp Gutruf
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
- Bio5 Institute, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Interdisciplinary Program (GIDP), The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
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3
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Canny E, Vansteensel MJ, van der Salm SMA, Müller-Putz GR, Berezutskaya J. Boosting brain-computer interfaces with functional electrical stimulation: potential applications in people with locked-in syndrome. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2023; 20:157. [PMID: 37980536 PMCID: PMC10656959 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-023-01272-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with a locked-in state live with severe whole-body paralysis that limits their ability to communicate with family and loved ones. Recent advances in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology have presented a potential alternative for these people to communicate by detecting neural activity associated with attempted hand or speech movements and translating the decoded intended movements to a control signal for a computer. A technique that could potentially enrich the communication capacity of BCIs is functional electrical stimulation (FES) of paralyzed limbs and face to restore body and facial movements of paralyzed individuals, allowing to add body language and facial expression to communication BCI utterances. Here, we review the current state of the art of existing BCI and FES work in people with paralysis of body and face and propose that a combined BCI-FES approach, which has already proved successful in several applications in stroke and spinal cord injury, can provide a novel promising mode of communication for locked-in individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Canny
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mariska J Vansteensel
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra M A van der Salm
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gernot R Müller-Putz
- Institute of Neural Engineering, Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interfaces, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | - Julia Berezutskaya
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Chen K, Forrest A, Gonzalez Burgos G, Kozai TDY. Neuronal functional connectivity is impaired in a layer dependent manner near the chronically implanted microelectrodes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.06.565852. [PMID: 37986883 PMCID: PMC10659303 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.06.565852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Objective This study aims to reveal longitudinal changes in functional network connectivity within and across different brain structures near the chronically implanted microelectrode. While it is well established that the foreign-body response (FBR) contributes to the gradual decline of the signals recorded from brain implants over time, how does the FBR impact affect the functional stability of neural circuits near implanted Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) remains unknown. This research aims to illuminate how the chronic FBR can alter local neural circuit function and the implications for BCI decoders. Approach This study utilized multisite Michigan-style microelectrodes that span all cortical layers and the hippocampal CA1 region to collect spontaneous and visually-evoked electrophysiological activity. Alterations in neuronal activity near the microelectrode were tested assessing cross-frequency synchronization of LFP and spike entrainment to LFP oscillatory activity throughout 16 weeks after microelectrode implantation. Main Results The study found that cortical layer 4, the input-receiving layer, maintained activity over the implantation time. However, layers 2/3 rapidly experienced severe impairment, leading to a loss of proper intralaminar connectivity in the downstream output layers 5/6. Furthermore, the impairment of interlaminar connectivity near the microelectrode was unidirectional, showing decreased connectivity from Layers 2/3 to Layers 5/6 but not the reverse direction. In the hippocampus, CA1 neurons gradually became unable to properly entrain to the surrounding LFP oscillations. Significance This study provides a detailed characterization of network connectivity dysfunction over long-term microelectrode implantation periods. This new knowledge could contribute to the development of targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at improving the health of the tissue surrounding brain implants and potentially inform engineering of adaptive decoders as the FBR progresses. Our study's understanding of the dynamic changes in the functional network over time opens the door to developing interventions for improving the long-term stability and performance of intracortical microelectrodes.
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5
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Chen K, Cambi F, Kozai TDY. Pro-myelinating clemastine administration improves recording performance of chronically implanted microelectrodes and nearby neuronal health. Biomaterials 2023; 301:122210. [PMID: 37413842 PMCID: PMC10528716 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Intracortical microelectrodes have become a useful tool in neuroprosthetic applications in the clinic and to understand neurological disorders in basic neurosciences. Many of these brain-machine interface technology applications require successful long-term implantation with high stability and sensitivity. However, the intrinsic tissue reaction caused by implantation remains a major failure mechanism causing loss of recorded signal quality over time. Oligodendrocytes remain an underappreciated intervention target to improve chronic recording performance. These cells can accelerate action potential propagation and provides direct metabolic support for neuronal health and functionality. However, implantation injury causes oligodendrocyte degeneration and leads to progressive demyelination in surrounding brain tissue. Previous work highlighted that healthy oligodendrocytes are necessary for greater electrophysiological recording performance and the prevention of neuronal silencing around implanted microelectrodes over the chronic implantation period. Thus, we hypothesize that enhancing oligodendrocyte activity with a pharmaceutical drug, Clemastine, will prevent the chronic decline of microelectrode recording performance. Electrophysiological evaluation showed that the promyelination Clemastine treatment significantly elevated the signal detectability and quality, rescued the loss of multi-unit activity, and increased functional interlaminar connectivity over 16-weeks of implantation. Additionally, post-mortem immunohistochemistry showed that increased oligodendrocyte density and myelination coincided with increased survival of both excitatory and inhibitory neurons near the implant. Overall, we showed a positive relationship between enhanced oligodendrocyte activity and neuronal health and functionality near the chronically implanted microelectrode. This study shows that therapeutic strategy that enhance oligodendrocyte activity is effective for integrating the functional device interface with brain tissue over chronic implantation period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keying Chen
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Franca Cambi
- Veterans Administration Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Takashi D Y Kozai
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; NeuroTech Center, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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6
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Lam DV, Javadekar A, Patil N, Yu M, Li L, Menendez DM, Gupta AS, Capadona JR, Shoffstall AJ. Platelets and hemostatic proteins are co-localized with chronic neuroinflammation surrounding implanted intracortical microelectrodes. Acta Biomater 2023; 166:278-290. [PMID: 37211307 PMCID: PMC10330779 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Intracortical microelectrodes induce vascular injury upon insertion into the cortex. As blood vessels rupture, blood proteins and blood-derived cells (including platelets) are introduced into the 'immune privileged' brain tissues at higher-than-normal levels, passing through the damaged blood-brain barrier. Blood proteins adhere to implant surfaces, increasing the likelihood of cellular recognition leading to activation of immune and inflammatory cells. Persistent neuroinflammation is a major contributing factor to declining microelectrode recording performance. We investigated the spatial and temporal relationship of blood proteins fibrinogen and von Willebrand Factor (vWF), platelets, and type IV collagen, in relation to glial scarring markers for microglia and astrocytes following implantation of non-functional multi-shank silicon microelectrode probes into rats. Together with type IV collagen, fibrinogen and vWF augment platelet recruitment, activation, and aggregation. Our main results indicate blood proteins participating in hemostasis (fibrinogen and vWF) persisted at the microelectrode interface for up to 8-weeks after implantation. Further, type IV collagen and platelets surrounded the probe interface with similar spatial and temporal trends as vWF and fibrinogen. In addition to prolonged blood-brain barrier instability, specific blood and extracellular matrix proteins may play a role in promoting the inflammatory activation of platelets and recruitment to the microelectrode interface. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Implanted microelectrodes have substantial potential for restoring function to people with paralysis and amputation by providing signals that feed into natural control algorithms that drive prosthetic devices. Unfortunately, these microelectrodes do not display robust performance over time. Persistent neuroinflammation is widely thought to be a primary contributor to the devices' progressive decline in performance. Our manuscript reports on the highly local and persistent accumulation of platelets and hemostatic blood proteins around the microelectrode interface of brain implants. To our knowledge neuroinflammation driven by cellular and non-cellular responses associated with hemostasis and coagulation has not been rigorously quantified elsewhere. Our findings identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention and a better understanding of the driving mechanisms to neuroinflammation in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny V Lam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; Advanced Platform Technology Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Anisha Javadekar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; Advanced Platform Technology Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | - Marina Yu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Longshun Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; Advanced Platform Technology Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Dhariyat M Menendez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; Advanced Platform Technology Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Anirban Sen Gupta
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Capadona
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; Advanced Platform Technology Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Andrew J Shoffstall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; Advanced Platform Technology Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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7
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Dong Y, Wang S, Huang Q, Berg RW, Li G, He J. Neural Decoding for Intracortical Brain-Computer Interfaces. CYBORG AND BIONIC SYSTEMS 2023; 4:0044. [PMID: 37519930 PMCID: PMC10380541 DOI: 10.34133/cbsystems.0044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-computer interfaces have revolutionized the field of neuroscience by providing a solution for paralyzed patients to control external devices and improve the quality of daily life. To accurately and stably control effectors, it is important for decoders to recognize an individual's motor intention from neural activity either by noninvasive or intracortical neural recording. Intracortical recording is an invasive way of measuring neural electrical activity with high temporal and spatial resolution. Herein, we review recent developments in neural signal decoding methods for intracortical brain-computer interfaces. These methods have achieved good performance in analyzing neural activity and controlling robots and prostheses in nonhuman primates and humans. For more complex paradigms in motor rehabilitation or other clinical applications, there remains more space for further improvements of decoders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanrui Dong
- School of Mechatronical Engineering and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots,
Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Shirong Wang
- School of Mechatronical Engineering and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots,
Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Qiang Huang
- School of Mechatronical Engineering and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots,
Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Rune W. Berg
- Department of Neuroscience,
University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Guanghui Li
- Department of Neuroscience,
University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Jiping He
- School of Mechatronical Engineering and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots,
Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
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8
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Eisenkolb VM, Held LM, Utzschmid A, Lin XX, Krieg SM, Meyer B, Gempt J, Jacob SN. Human acute microelectrode array recordings with broad cortical access, single-unit resolution, and parallel behavioral monitoring. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112467. [PMID: 37141095 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
There are vast gaps in our understanding of the organization and operation of the human nervous system at the level of individual neurons and their networks. Here, we report reliable and robust acute multichannel recordings using planar microelectrode arrays (MEAs) implanted intracortically in awake brain surgery with open craniotomies that grant access to large parts of the cortical hemisphere. We obtained high-quality extracellular neuronal activity at the microcircuit, local field potential level and at the cellular, single-unit level. Recording from the parietal association cortex, a region rarely explored in human single-unit studies, we demonstrate applications on these complementary spatial scales and describe traveling waves of oscillatory activity as well as single-neuron and neuronal population responses during numerical cognition, including operations with uniquely human number symbols. Intraoperative MEA recordings are practicable and can be scaled up to explore cellular and microcircuit mechanisms of a wide range of human brain functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor M Eisenkolb
- Translational Neurotechnology Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Lisa M Held
- Translational Neurotechnology Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander Utzschmid
- Translational Neurotechnology Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Xiao-Xiong Lin
- Translational Neurotechnology Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Großhaderner Straße 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Sandro M Krieg
- Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Bernhard Meyer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Jens Gempt
- Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Simon N Jacob
- Translational Neurotechnology Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
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9
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Chen K, Cambi F, Kozai TDY. Pro-myelinating Clemastine administration improves recording performance of chronically implanted microelectrodes and nearby neuronal health. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.31.526463. [PMID: 36778360 PMCID: PMC9915570 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.31.526463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Intracortical microelectrodes have become a useful tool in neuroprosthetic applications in the clinic and to understand neurological disorders in basic neurosciences. Many of these brain-machine interface technology applications require successful long-term implantation with high stability and sensitivity. However, the intrinsic tissue reaction caused by implantation remains a major failure mechanism causing loss of recorded signal quality over time. Oligodendrocytes remain an underappreciated intervention target to improve chronic recording performance. These cells can accelerate action potential propagation and provides direct metabolic support for neuronal health and functionality. However, implantation injury causes oligodendrocyte degeneration and leads to progressive demyelination in surrounding brain tissue. Previous work highlighted that healthy oligodendrocytes are necessary for greater electrophysiological recording performance and the prevention of neuronal silencing around implanted microelectrodes over chronic implantation. Thus, we hypothesize that enhancing oligodendrocyte activity with a pharmaceutical drug, Clemastine, will prevent the chronic decline of microelectrode recording performance. Electrophysiological evaluation showed that the promyelination Clemastine treatment significantly elevated the signal detectability and quality, rescued the loss of multi-unit activity, and increased functional interlaminar connectivity over 16-weeks of implantation. Additionally, post-mortem immunohistochemistry showed that increased oligodendrocyte density and myelination coincided with increased survival of both excitatory and inhibitory neurons near the implant. Overall, we showed a positive relationship between enhanced oligodendrocyte activity and neuronal health and functionality near the chronically implanted microelectrode. This study shows that therapeutic strategy that enhance oligodendrocyte activity is effective for integrating the functional device interface with brain tissue over chronic implantation period. Abstract Figure
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10
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Towards clinical application of implantable brain-computer interfaces for people with late-stage ALS: medical and ethical considerations. J Neurol 2023; 270:1323-1336. [PMID: 36450968 PMCID: PMC9971103 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-022-11464-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) frequently develop speech and communication problems in the course of their disease. Currently available augmentative and alternative communication technologies do not present a solution for many people with advanced ALS, because these devices depend on residual and reliable motor activity. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) use neural signals for computer control and may allow people with late-stage ALS to communicate even when conventional technology falls short. Recent years have witnessed fast progression in the development and validation of implanted BCIs, which place neural signal recording electrodes in or on the cortex. Eventual widespread clinical application of implanted BCIs as an assistive communication technology for people with ALS will have significant consequences for their daily life, as well as for the clinical management of the disease, among others because of the potential interaction between the BCI and other procedures people with ALS undergo, such as tracheostomy. This article aims to facilitate responsible real-world implementation of implanted BCIs. We review the state of the art of research on implanted BCIs for communication, as well as the medical and ethical implications of the clinical application of this technology. We conclude that the contribution of all BCI stakeholders, including clinicians of the various ALS-related disciplines, will be needed to develop procedures for, and shape the process of, the responsible clinical application of implanted BCIs.
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11
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Frenzel J, Kupferer A, Zink M, Mayr SG. Laminin Adsorption and Adhesion of Neurons and Glial Cells on Carbon Implanted Titania Nanotube Scaffolds for Neural Implant Applications. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:3858. [PMID: 36364633 PMCID: PMC9656521 DOI: 10.3390/nano12213858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Interfacing neurons persistently to conductive matter constitutes one of the key challenges when designing brain-machine interfaces such as neuroelectrodes or retinal implants. Novel materials approaches that prevent occurrence of loss of long-term adhesion, rejection reactions, and glial scarring are highly desirable. Ion doped titania nanotube scaffolds are a promising material to fulfill all these requirements while revealing sufficient electrical conductivity, and are scrutinized in the present study regarding their neuron-material interface. Adsorption of laminin, an essential extracellular matrix protein of the brain, is comprehensively analyzed. The implantation-dependent decline in laminin adsorption is revealed by employing surface characteristics such as nanotube diameter, ζ-potential, and surface free energy. Moreover, the viability of U87-MG glial cells and SH-SY5Y neurons after one and four days are investigated, as well as the material's cytotoxicity. The higher conductivity related to carbon implantation does not affect the viability of neurons, although it impedes glial cell proliferation. This gives rise to novel titania nanotube based implant materials with long-term stability, and could reduce undesirable glial scarring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Frenzel
- Leibniz Institute of Surface Engineering (IOM), 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Division of Surface Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Research Group Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Astrid Kupferer
- Leibniz Institute of Surface Engineering (IOM), 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Division of Surface Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mareike Zink
- Research Group Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefan G. Mayr
- Leibniz Institute of Surface Engineering (IOM), 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Division of Surface Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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12
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Dobariya A, El Ahmadieh TY, Good LB, Hernandez-Reynoso AG, Jakkamsetti V, Brown R, Dunbar M, Ding K, Luna J, Kallem RR, Putnam WC, Shelton JM, Evers BM, Azami A, Geramifard N, Cogan SF, Mickey B, Pascual JM. Recording of pig neuronal activity in the comparative context of the awake human brain. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15503. [PMID: 36109613 PMCID: PMC9478131 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19688-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Gyriform mammals display neurophysiological and neural network activity that other species exhibit only in rudimentary or dissimilar form. However, neural recordings from large mammals such as the pig can be anatomically hindered and pharmacologically suppressed by anesthetics. This curtails comparative inferences. To mitigate these limitations, we set out to modify electrocorticography, intracerebral depth and intracortical recording methods to study the anesthetized pig. In the process, we found that common forms of infused anesthesia such as pentobarbital or midazolam can be neurophysiologic suppressants acting in dose-independent fashion relative to anesthetic dose or brain concentration. Further, we corroborated that standard laboratory conditions may impose electrical interference with specific neural signals. We thus aimed to safeguard neural network integrity and recording fidelity by developing surgical, anesthesia and noise reduction methods and by working inside a newly designed Faraday cage, and evaluated this from the point of view of neurophysiological power spectral density and coherence analyses. We also utilized novel silicon carbide electrodes to minimize mechanical disruption of single-neuron activity. These methods allowed for the preservation of native neurophysiological activity for several hours. Pig electrocorticography recordings were essentially indistinguishable from awake human recordings except for the small segment of electrical activity associated with vision in conscious persons. In addition, single-neuron and paired-pulse stimulation recordings were feasible simultaneously with electrocorticography and depth electrode recordings. The spontaneous and stimulus-elicited neuronal activities thus surveyed can be recorded with a degree of precision similar to that achievable in rodent or any other animal studies and prove as informative as unperturbed human electrocorticography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aksharkumar Dobariya
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Mail Code 8813, Dallas, TX, 75390-8813, USA
| | - Tarek Y El Ahmadieh
- Department of Neurosurgery, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA
| | - Levi B Good
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Mail Code 8813, Dallas, TX, 75390-8813, USA
| | | | - Vikram Jakkamsetti
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Mail Code 8813, Dallas, TX, 75390-8813, USA
| | - Ronnie Brown
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Misha Dunbar
- Animal Resource Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Kan Ding
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Jesus Luna
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Raja Reddy Kallem
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Pharmacology, Experimental Therapeutics Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA
| | - William C Putnam
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Pharmacology, Experimental Therapeutics Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA
| | - John M Shelton
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Bret M Evers
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Amirhossein Azami
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Negar Geramifard
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Stuart F Cogan
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Bruce Mickey
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Juan M Pascual
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Mail Code 8813, Dallas, TX, 75390-8813, USA.
- Department of Physiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development/Center for Human Genetics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
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Atkinson EW, Kuliasha CA, Kasper M, Furniturewalla A, Lim AS, Jiracek-Sapieha L, Brake A, Gormaley A, Rivera-Llabres V, Singh I, Spearman B, Rinaldi-Ramos CM, Schmidt CE, Judy JW, Otto KJ. Examining the in vivo functionality of the Magnetically Aligned Regenerative Tissue-Engineered Electronic Nerve Interface (MARTEENI). J Neural Eng 2022; 19. [PMID: 35998559 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac8bfe] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although neural-enabled prostheses have been used to restore some lost functionality in clinical trials, they have faced difficulty in achieving high degree of freedom, natural use compared to healthy limbs. This study investigated the in vivo functionality of a flexible and scalable regenerative peripheral-nerve interface suspended within a microchannel-embedded, tissue-engineered hydrogel (the Magnetically Aligned Regenerative Tissue-Engineered Electronic Nerve Interface, MARTEENI) as a potential approach to improving current issues in peripheral nerve interfaces. APPROACH Assembled MARTEENI devices were implanted in the gaps of severed sciatic nerves in Lewis rats. Both acute and chronic electrophysiology were recorded, and channel-isolated activity was examined. In terminal experiments, evoked activity during paw compression and stimulus response curves generated from proximal nerve stimulation were examined. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was performed to assess the complex impedance of recording sites during chronic data collection. Features of the foreign-body response in non-functional implants were examined using immunohistological methods. MAIN RESULTS Channel-isolated activity was observed in acute, chronic, and terminal experiments and showed a typically biphasic morphology with peak-to-peak amplitudes varying between 50 to 500 µV. For chronic experiments, electrophysiology was observed for 77 days post-implant. Within the templated hydrogel, regenerating axons formed minifascicles that varied in both size and axon count and were also found to surround device threads. No axons were found to penetrate the foreign-body response. Together these results suggest the MARTEENI is a promising approach for interfacing with peripheral nerves. SIGNIFICANCE Findings demonstrate a high likelihood that observed electrophysiological activity recorded from implanted MARTEENIs originated from neural tissue. The variation in minifascicle size seen histologically suggests that amplitude distributions observed in functional MARTEENIs may be due to a combination of individual axon and mini-compound action potentials. This study provided an assessment of a functional MARTEENI in an in vivo animal model for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric W Atkinson
- College of Medicine, University of Florida, 1064 Center Dr., New Engineering Building, Gainesville, 32611-7011, UNITED STATES
| | - Cary A Kuliasha
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, 968 Center Dr., New Engineering Building, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-7011, UNITED STATES
| | - Mary Kasper
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 1275 Center Drive, P.O. Box 116131, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-7011, UNITED STATES
| | - Abbas Furniturewalla
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, 968 Center Dr., New Engineering Building, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-7011, UNITED STATES
| | - Alexander S Lim
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 1275 Center Dr., P.O. Box 117200, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-7011, UNITED STATES
| | - Ladan Jiracek-Sapieha
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, 968 Center Dr., Gainesville, Florida, 32611-7011, UNITED STATES
| | - Alexis Brake
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 1064 Center Dr., New Engineering Building, Gainesville, 32611-7011, UNITED STATES
| | - Anne Gormaley
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 1064 Center Dr., New Engineering Building, Gainesville, 32611-7011, UNITED STATES
| | - Victor Rivera-Llabres
- Chemistry, University of Florida, P.O. Box 117200, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-7011, UNITED STATES
| | - Ishita Singh
- Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, 1030 Center Drive, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-7011, UNITED STATES
| | - Benjamin Spearman
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 1064 Center Dr., New Engineering Building, Gainesville, 32611-7011, UNITED STATES
| | - Carlos M Rinaldi-Ramos
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 1275 Center Dr, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, UNITED STATES
| | - Christine E Schmidt
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Florida, P.O. Box 116131, Gainesville , Florida, 32611, UNITED STATES
| | - Jack W Judy
- NIMET, University of Florida Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, 1041 Center Dr, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-6550, UNITED STATES
| | - Kevin J Otto
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 1064 Center Dr., Gainesville, Florida, 32611-7011, UNITED STATES
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14
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Thomas WM, Leber M, Crew J, Warren DJ. Evaluation of Pneumatic Insertion Stability of Utah Slanted Electrode Arrays in Rat Sciatic Nerve. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2022; 2022:5099-5102. [PMID: 36086163 DOI: 10.1109/embc48229.2022.9871237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Utah Electrode Array (UEA) and its variants (e.g., the Utah Slanted Electrode Array, or USEA) have been prominent contributors to advances in the field of neural engineering over the past decade. The most common means of inserting UEA and USEA devices into neural tissue is pneumatic insertion performed by an insertion wand and a pneumatic controller. As design changes from the well-established standards occur to better suit specialized surgical applications, it becomes essential to verify that the alterations do not compromise the structural integrity of the device during insertion. This paper characterizes and demonstrates the reliability of specialized USEAs and insertion wands designed for auditory nerve implants following pneumatic insertion into a rat sciatic nerve. The results show that proposed changes in the USEA form factor and pneumatic insertion ergonomics do not compromise implant stability and device structural viability.
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15
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Davis KC, Meschede-Krasa B, Cajigas I, Prins NW, Alver C, Gallo S, Bhatia S, Abel JH, Naeem JA, Fisher L, Raza F, Rifai WR, Morrison M, Ivan ME, Brown EN, Jagid JR, Prasad A. Design-development of an at-home modular brain-computer interface (BCI) platform in a case study of cervical spinal cord injury. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2022; 19:53. [PMID: 35659259 PMCID: PMC9166490 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-022-01026-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to develop a portable and modular brain-computer interface (BCI) software platform independent of input and output devices. We implemented this platform in a case study of a subject with cervical spinal cord injury (C5 ASIA A). BACKGROUND BCIs can restore independence for individuals with paralysis by using brain signals to control prosthetics or trigger functional electrical stimulation. Though several studies have successfully implemented this technology in the laboratory and the home, portability, device configuration, and caregiver setup remain challenges that limit deployment to the home environment. Portability is essential for transitioning BCI from the laboratory to the home. METHODS The BCI platform implementation consisted of an Activa PC + S generator with two subdural four-contact electrodes implanted over the dominant left hand-arm region of the sensorimotor cortex, a minicomputer fixed to the back of the subject's wheelchair, a custom mobile phone application, and a mechanical glove as the end effector. To quantify the performance for this at-home implementation of the BCI, we quantified system setup time at home, chronic (14-month) decoding accuracy, hardware and software profiling, and Bluetooth communication latency between the App and the minicomputer. We created a dataset of motor-imagery labeled signals to train a binary motor imagery classifier on a remote computer for online, at-home use. RESULTS Average bluetooth data transmission delay between the minicomputer and mobile App was 23 ± 0.014 ms. The average setup time for the subject's caregiver was 5.6 ± 0.83 min. The average times to acquire and decode neural signals and to send those decoded signals to the end-effector were respectively 404.1 ms and 1.02 ms. The 14-month median accuracy of the trained motor imagery classifier was 87.5 ± 4.71% without retraining. CONCLUSIONS The study presents the feasibility of an at-home BCI system that subjects can seamlessly operate using a friendly mobile user interface, which does not require daily calibration nor the presence of a technical person for at-home setup. The study also describes the portability of the BCI system and the ability to plug-and-play multiple end effectors, providing the end-user the flexibility to choose the end effector to accomplish specific motor tasks for daily needs. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02564419. First posted on 9/30/2015.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin C Davis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Dr, MEA 204, Coral Gables, Miami, FL, 33146, USA
| | - Benyamin Meschede-Krasa
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Iahn Cajigas
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, 1095 NW 14th Terrace, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Noeline W Prins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Dr, MEA 204, Coral Gables, Miami, FL, 33146, USA
- Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka
| | - Charles Alver
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Dr, MEA 204, Coral Gables, Miami, FL, 33146, USA
| | - Sebastian Gallo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Dr, MEA 204, Coral Gables, Miami, FL, 33146, USA
| | - Shovan Bhatia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - John H Abel
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jasim A Naeem
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Dr, MEA 204, Coral Gables, Miami, FL, 33146, USA
| | - Letitia Fisher
- Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Fouzia Raza
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Wesley R Rifai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Dr, MEA 204, Coral Gables, Miami, FL, 33146, USA
| | - Matthew Morrison
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Dr, MEA 204, Coral Gables, Miami, FL, 33146, USA
| | - Michael E Ivan
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, 1095 NW 14th Terrace, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Emery N Brown
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Jonathan R Jagid
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, 1095 NW 14th Terrace, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
- Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
| | - Abhishek Prasad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Dr, MEA 204, Coral Gables, Miami, FL, 33146, USA.
- Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
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16
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Vasko JL, Aume L, Tamrakar S, Colachis SCI, Dunlap CF, Rich A, Meyers EC, Gabrieli D, Friedenberg DA. Increasing Robustness of Brain-Computer Interfaces Through Automatic Detection and Removal of Corrupted Input Signals. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:858377. [PMID: 35573306 PMCID: PMC9096265 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.858377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
For brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) to be viable for long-term daily usage, they must be able to quickly identify and adapt to signal disruptions. Furthermore, the detection and mitigation steps need to occur automatically and without the need for user intervention while also being computationally tractable for the low-power hardware that will be used in a deployed BCI system. Here, we focus on disruptions that are likely to occur during chronic use that cause some recording channels to fail but leave the remaining channels unaffected. In these cases, the algorithm that translates recorded neural activity into actions, the neural decoder, should seamlessly identify and adjust to the altered neural signals with minimal inconvenience to the user. First, we introduce an adapted statistical process control (SPC) method that automatically identifies disrupted channels so that both decoding algorithms can be adjusted, and technicians can be alerted. Next, after identifying corrupted channels, we demonstrate the automated and rapid removal of channels from a neural network decoder using a masking approach that does not change the decoding architecture, making it amenable for transfer learning. Finally, using transfer and unsupervised learning techniques, we update the model weights to adjust for the corrupted channels without requiring the user to collect additional calibration data. We demonstrate with both real and simulated neural data that our approach can maintain high-performance while simultaneously minimizing computation time and data storage requirements. This framework is invisible to the user but can dramatically increase BCI robustness and usability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan L Vasko
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Laura Aume
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH, United States
| | | | | | - Collin F Dunlap
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Adam Rich
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Eric C Meyers
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - David Gabrieli
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH, United States
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17
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Functional Characterization of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Models of the Brain with Microelectrode Arrays. Cells 2021; 11:cells11010106. [PMID: 35011667 PMCID: PMC8750870 DOI: 10.3390/cells11010106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived neuron cultures have emerged as models of electrical activity in the human brain. Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) measure changes in the extracellular electric potential of cell cultures or tissues and enable the recording of neuronal network activity. MEAs have been applied to both human subjects and hPSC-derived brain models. Here, we review the literature on the functional characterization of hPSC-derived two- and three-dimensional brain models with MEAs and examine their network function in physiological and pathological contexts. We also summarize MEA results from the human brain and compare them to the literature on MEA recordings of hPSC-derived brain models. MEA recordings have shown network activity in two-dimensional hPSC-derived brain models that is comparable to the human brain and revealed pathology-associated changes in disease models. Three-dimensional hPSC-derived models such as brain organoids possess a more relevant microenvironment, tissue architecture and potential for modeling the network activity with more complexity than two-dimensional models. hPSC-derived brain models recapitulate many aspects of network function in the human brain and provide valid disease models, but certain advancements in differentiation methods, bioengineering and available MEA technology are needed for these approaches to reach their full potential.
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18
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Sponheim C, Papadourakis V, Collinger JL, Downey J, Weiss J, Pentousi L, Elliott K, Hatsopoulos N. Longevity and reliability of chronic unit recordings using the Utah, intracortical multi-electrode arrays. J Neural Eng 2021; 18:10.1088/1741-2552/ac3eaf. [PMID: 34847547 PMCID: PMC8981395 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac3eaf] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Objective.Microelectrode arrays are standard tools for conducting chronic electrophysiological experiments, allowing researchers to simultaneously record from large numbers of neurons. Specifically, Utah electrode arrays (UEAs) have been utilized by scientists in many species, including rodents, rhesus macaques, marmosets, and human participants. The field of clinical human brain-computer interfaces currently relies on the UEA as a number of research groups have clearance from the United States Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for this device through the investigational device exemption pathway. Despite its widespread usage in systems neuroscience, few studies have comprehensively evaluated the reliability and signal quality of the Utah array over long periods of time in a large dataset.Approach.We collected and analyzed over 6000 recorded datasets from various cortical areas spanning almost nine years of experiments, totaling 17 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and 2 human subjects, and 55 separate microelectrode Utah arrays. The scale of this dataset allowed us to evaluate the average life of these arrays, based primarily on the signal-to-noise ratio of each electrode over time.Main results.Using implants in primary motor, premotor, prefrontal, and somatosensory cortices, we found that the average lifespan of available recordings from UEAs was 622 days, although we provide several examples of these UEAs lasting over 1000 days and one up to 9 years; human implants were also shown to last longer than non-human primate implants. We also found that electrode length did not affect longevity and quality, but iridium oxide metallization on the electrode tip exhibited superior yield as compared to platinum metallization.Significance.Understanding longevity and reliability of microelectrode array recordings allows researchers to set expectations and plan experiments accordingly and maximize the amount of high-quality data gathered. Our results suggest that one can expect chronic unit recordings to last at least two years, with the possibility for arrays to last the better part of a decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb Sponheim
- Committee on Computational Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | | | - Jennifer L. Collinger
- Rehab Neural Engineering Labs, Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - John Downey
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Jeffrey Weiss
- Rehab Neural Engineering Labs, Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Lida Pentousi
- Department of Neuroscience Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, United Kingdom
| | - Kaisa Elliott
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth Campus
| | - Nicholas Hatsopoulos
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Committee on Computational Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
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19
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Lang Y, Tang R, Liu Y, Xi P, Liu H, Quan Z, Song D, Lv X, Huang Q, He J. Multisite Simultaneous Neural Recording of Motor Pathway in Free-Moving Rats. BIOSENSORS 2021; 11:bios11120503. [PMID: 34940260 PMCID: PMC8699182 DOI: 10.3390/bios11120503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Neural interfaces typically focus on one or two sites in the motoneuron system simultaneously due to the limitation of the recording technique, which restricts the scope of observation and discovery of this system. Herein, we built a system with various electrodes capable of recording a large spectrum of electrophysiological signals from the cortex, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and muscles of freely moving animals. The system integrates adjustable microarrays, floating microarrays, and microwires to a commercial connector and cuff electrode on a wireless transmitter. To illustrate the versatility of the system, we investigated its performance for the behavior of rodents during tethered treadmill walking, untethered wheel running, and open field exploration. The results indicate that the system is stable and applicable for multiple behavior conditions and can provide data to support previously inaccessible research of neural injury, rehabilitation, brain-inspired computing, and fundamental neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiran Lang
- Beijing Innovation Centre for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.L.); (R.T.); (X.L.); (Q.H.)
| | - Rongyu Tang
- Beijing Innovation Centre for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.L.); (R.T.); (X.L.); (Q.H.)
| | - Yafei Liu
- School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.L.); (P.X.); (H.L.)
| | - Pengcheng Xi
- School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.L.); (P.X.); (H.L.)
| | - Honghao Liu
- School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.L.); (P.X.); (H.L.)
| | - Zhenzhen Quan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (Z.Q.); (D.S.)
| | - Da Song
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (Z.Q.); (D.S.)
| | - Xiaodong Lv
- Beijing Innovation Centre for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.L.); (R.T.); (X.L.); (Q.H.)
| | - Qiang Huang
- Beijing Innovation Centre for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.L.); (R.T.); (X.L.); (Q.H.)
| | - Jiping He
- Beijing Innovation Centre for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.L.); (R.T.); (X.L.); (Q.H.)
- Correspondence:
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20
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Jang JW, Kang YN, Seo HW, Kim B, Choe HK, Park SH, Lee MG, Kim S. Long-term in-vivorecording performance of flexible penetrating microelectrode arrays. J Neural Eng 2021; 18. [PMID: 34795067 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac3656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective. Neural interfaces are an essential tool to enable the human body to directly communicate with machines such as computers or prosthetic robotic arms. Since invasive electrodes can be located closer to target neurons, they have advantages such as precision in stimulation and high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in recording, while they often exhibit unstable performance in long-termin-vivoimplantation because of the tissue damage caused by the electrodes insertion. In the present study, we investigated the electrical functionality of flexible penetrating microelectrode arrays (FPMAs) up to 3 months inin-vivoconditions.Approach. Thein-vivoexperiment was performed by implanting FPMAs in five rats. Thein-vivoimpedance as well as the action potential (AP) amplitude and SNR were analyzed over weeks. Additionally, APs were tracked over time to investigate the possibility of single neuron recording.Main results. It was observed that the FPMAs exhibited dramatic increases in impedance for the first 4 weeks after implantation, accompanied by decreases in AP amplitude. However, the increase/decrease in AP amplitude was always accompanied by the increase/decrease in background noise, resulting in quite consistently maintained SNRs. After 4 weeks of implantation, we observed two distinctive issues regarding long-term implantation, each caused by chronic tissue responses or by the delamination of insulation layer. The results demonstrate that the FPMAs successfully recorded neuronal signals up to 12 weeks, with very stably maintained SNRs, reduced by only 16.1% on average compared to the first recordings, although biological tissue reactions or physical degradation of the FPMA were present.Significance. The fabricated FPMAs successfully recorded intracortical signals for 3 months. The SNR was maintained up to 3 months and the chronic function of FPMA was comparable with other silicon based implantable electrodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Won Jang
- Department of Robotics Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoo Na Kang
- Department of Medical Assistant Robot, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Won Seo
- Department of Robotics Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Boil Kim
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Han Kyoung Choe
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Hyun Park
- Department of Robotics Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Maan-Gee Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of MedicineKyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.,Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Sohee Kim
- Department of Robotics Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, Republic of Korea
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Rapeaux AB, Constandinou TG. Implantable brain machine interfaces: first-in-human studies, technology challenges and trends. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2021; 72:102-111. [PMID: 34749248 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Implantable brain machine interfaces (BMIs) are now on a trajectory to go mainstream, wherein what was once considered last resort will progressively become elective at earlier stages in disease treatment. First-in-human successes have demonstrated the ability to decode highly dexterous motor skills such as handwriting, and speech from human cortical activity. These have been used for cursor and prosthesis control, direct-to-text communication and speech synthesis. Along with these breakthrough studies, technology advancements have enabled the observation of more channels of neural activity through new concepts for centralised/distributed implant architectures. This is complemented by research in flexible substrates, packaging, surgical workflows and data processing. New regulatory guidance and funding has galvanised the field. This culmination of resource, efforts and capability is now attracting significant investment for BMI commercialisation. This paper reviews recent developments and describes the paradigm shift in BMI development that is leading to new innovations, insights and BMI translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien B Rapeaux
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London, UK; Centre for Bio-Inspired Technology, Imperial College London, UK; Care Research and Technology (CR&T) based at Imperial College London and the University of Surrey, UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI), UK
| | - Timothy G Constandinou
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London, UK; Centre for Bio-Inspired Technology, Imperial College London, UK; Care Research and Technology (CR&T) based at Imperial College London and the University of Surrey, UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI), UK.
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