BioBolt: A Distributed Minimally-Invasive Neural Interface for Wireless Epidural Recording

本研究的目的是开发一种新的平台概念，BioBolt，作为一种分布式无线神经接口，用于微创、完全可植入的硬膜外记录。该方法是实现一个独立的多个微电极的无线连接，通过在颅骨上的一个小孔，通过简单的操作程序，可以很容易地将这些微电极放置在硬脑膜上。技术挑战是在小尺寸中实现极低功耗的无线链路。建议的系统由多个BioBolts和MasterBolt组成。空间分布在感兴趣区域的BioBolts记录神经活动并向MasterBolt发送信号。我们探索了BioBolt节点和MasterBolt之间的皮肤内无线通信，允许在5？W的功率下传输极低功率的信号。MasterBolt使用单通道FM调制传输来自邻近BioBolts的所有神经信号，功率预算为1 mW。该系统为神经信号的长期慢性监测提供了灵活性和可扩展性，完全植入的分布式硬膜外神经记录无线显微系统将为研究和理解集体大脑活动提供新的工具，用于与计算机、假体设备和受损身体的实际接口。该项目开发完成的系统将把脑与计算机接口的潜在应用扩展到简单的光标控制之外，并为运动障碍者提供一个很好的替代自然交流和运动的选择。该项目将对不同学科的研究生和本科生进行培训，以实现大脑和电子之间的重要接口。

The object of this research is to develop a new platform concept, BioBolt, as a distributed wireless neural interface for minimally-invasive, fully-implantable epidural recording. The approach is to implement a stand-alone wireless link for a number of microelectrodes, which can be easily placed on the dura mater through a small hole in the skull by simple operation procedure. The technical challenge is to implement an extremely low-power wireless link in a small form factor. The proposed system consists of multiple BioBolts and MasterBolt. Spatially distributed BioBolts in the region of interest record the neural activities and send signals to MasterBolt. We explore the intra-skin wireless communication between BioBolt nodes and MasterBolt, which allows extremely low power signal transmission under 5?ÝW. MasterBolt transmits all the collected neural signals from the neighboring BioBolts using single-channel FM modulation with a power budget of 1mW. This system gives flexibility and expandability for long-term chronic monitoring of neural signals.Fully-implanted distributed wireless microsystems for epidural neural recording will provide a new tool to study and understand the collective brain activities for practical interface with computer, prosthetic devices and control of impaired body. The completed system developed in this project will expand the potential applications for brain-to-computer interfaces beyond simple cursor control and offer people with motor disabilities a good alternative to natural communication and movement. This project will train graduate and undergraduate students across the different disciplines to implement an important interface between brain and electronics.