NCS-FO: Collaborative Research: Fully-passive and wireless multi-channel neural recording for chronic in-vivo studies in animals

这个项目的重点是研究自由运动动物体内的慢性脑神经电位，这些脑神经电位是通过无线、全被动多通道记录仪获得的。目前的临床大脑植入物由于其颅内电线、电池和密集电子产生的热量而受到限制。提议者最近的工作介绍了一种新型的无线和全被动神经植入物。这些植入物被证明可以获得500微伏的体内神经信号和20微伏的体外模拟神经电位。但这些植入物仅限于单通道记录，禁止对大脑进行实际的深入研究。在此，我们提出了一个大胆而创造性的研究：1)设计和实现多通道、无线和全被动的大脑植入物；还提出了一种用于植入物的被动方法，可扩展到甚至1000个通道。2)实现自由运动动物的慢性体内记录和行为研究。提出的传感器系统将首次提供一个独特的机会来研究纵向脑动力学。这项研究的影响在很多层面上都是深远的。具体来说，这项研究的成功可能最终导致真正的和可访问的多通道大脑植入记录器，以改善人类的福祉，特别是患有慢性神经系统疾病的人。总的来说，记录的数据可以揭示人类福祉的一个非常广泛的领域。最大的长期目标是对几种神经系统疾病（震颤、帕金森氏症、成瘾、阿尔茨海默氏症、创伤性脑损伤、癫痫等）进行无障碍、实时和闭环诊断/治疗。为培养新领域学生的实践经验、夏令营、为吸引工科女性和少数民族的各种拓展活动等，将推进一系列教育活动。该项目由理解神经和认知系统的综合策略（NSF-NCS）资助，这是一个由计算机与信息科学与工程（CISE）、教育与人力资源（EHR）、工程（ENG）和社会、行为和经济科学（SBE）联合支持的多学科项目。本项目提出了一项大胆而富有创造性的研究，为一种新型的无线全被动多通道神经记录器提供安全可靠的自由运动动物神经传感。提出的研究重点包括：1)设计和实现多通道、无线和全被动脑植入物；提出了两种不同的植入物，其中一种可扩展到1000个通道。2)实现自由运动动物的慢性体内记录和行为研究。重要的是，所提出的无线和全被动生物遥测传感器有望显著提高大脑植入物的长期可靠性和安全性。这是由于1)植入物的散热最小，2)消除了颅内导线的感染，3)避免了颅骨内的电池。这项改变游戏规则的研究可能会导致首次使用自由运动的动物模型（大鼠）进行无线和完全被动的大脑信号慢性记录。值得注意的是，所提出的神经传感器采用独特的微波后向散射方法来实现无线无电池操作。因此，避免了电线、电缆和有源电子元件。多通道记录是通过将光选择和光敏感开关集成到通过多波段光源和用于通道选择的相应滤波器激活的单个通道来实现的。总的来说，所提出的传感器系统将为研究动物在自然环境中的大脑活动提供一个独特的机会来研究纵向脑动力学。拟议的传感系统也将对长期运行的安全性和可靠性产生重大影响。

This project focuses on the study of chronic in-vivo brain neuropotentials in free-moving animals acquired by wireless, fully-passive multi-channel recorders. Current clinical brain implants have limitations due to their intracranial wires, batteries, and heat caused by dense electronics. Recent work by the proposers introduced a new class of wireless and fully-passive neural implants. These implants were demonstrated to acquire in-vivo neural signal of 500 microVolts and in-vitro emulated neuropotentials as small as 20 microVolts. But these implants were limited to single-channel recording, prohibiting realistic in-depth brain studies. Herewith, we propose a bold and creative study to 1) Design and implement multi-channel, wireless and fully-passive brain implants; a passive approach is also proposed for implants, scalable to even 1000s of channels. 2) Enable chronic in-vivo recording and behavioral studies in free-moving animals. The proposed sensor system will provide, for the first time, a unique opportunity to study longitudinal brain dynamics. The impact of this research can be profound at many levels. Specifically, the success of this research may ultimately result in real and accessible multi-channel brain implant recorders to improve human well-being, especially for people suffering from chronic neurological disorders. Collectively, the recorded data can expose a very broad realm of the human's well-being. The utmost long-term aim is carefree, real-time and closed-loop diagnosis/treatment for several neurological disorders (tremors, Parkinson's, addictions, Alzheimer's, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, etc.). A number of educational activities will be brought forward, including hands-on experiences to train students in a new area, summer camps, and a variety of outreach activities to attract women and minorities in engineering. This project is funded by Integrative Strategies for Understanding Neural and Cognitive Systems (NSF-NCS), a multidisciplinary program jointly supported by the Directorates for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Education and Human Resources (EHR), Engineering (ENG), and Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE).This project proposes a bold and creative study for a new class of wireless fully-passive multi-channel neural recorders for safe and reliable neurosensing in free-moving animals. The key aspects of the proposed research are: 1) Design and implement multi-channel, wireless and fully-passive brain implants; Two different implants are proposed, with one scalable to 1000s of channels. 2) Enable chronic in-vivo recording and behavioral studies in free-moving animals. Of importance is that the proposed wireless and fully-passive biotelemetry sensor is expected to significantly enhance long-term reliability and safety of brain implants. This is due to 1) None to minimal heat dissipation by the implant, 2) Elimination of infections from intra-cranial wires, and 3) Avoidance of batteries within the skull. This game-changing research can lead to the first wireless and fully-passive chronic recording of brain signals using free-moving animal models (rats). Notably, the proposed neurosensors employ a unique microwave backscattering method to enable wireless battery-less operation. As a result, wires, cables and active electronic components are avoided. Multi-channel recording is implemented by integrating photo-selective and photo-sensitive switches to activated individual channels via a multi-band light source and corresponding filters for channel selection. Overall, the proposed sensor system will provide, a unique opportunity to study longitudinal brain dynamics for studying brain activity in the natural environment of animals. The proposed sensing system will also have significant impact on safety and reliability for long-term operation.