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

本项目主要研究通过无线、全被动多通道记录仪采集的自由活动动物的慢性活体脑神经电位。目前的临床脑植入物具有局限性，因为它们的颅内电线、电池和密集电子设备产生的热量。提出者最近的工作介绍了一种新的无线和完全被动的神经植入物。这些植入物被证明可以获得500微伏的体内神经信号和小至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，阻碍了现实的深入大脑研究。在此，我们提出了一项大胆和创造性的研究：1)设计和实现多通道、无线和完全被动的脑植入；还提出了一种被动的植入方法，可扩展到甚至数千个通道。2)允许在自由活动的动物中进行慢性活体记录和行为研究。拟议中的传感器系统将首次为研究纵向大脑动力学提供一个独特的机会。这项研究的影响可能在许多层面上都是深远的。具体地说，这项研究的成功可能最终导致真正的和可获得的多通道脑植入记录器，以改善人类的福祉，特别是对患有慢性神经疾病的人。总体而言，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)进行无忧无虑的实时和闭环诊断/治疗。将开展一些教育活动，包括在新领域培训学生的实践经验、夏令营，以及吸引妇女和工程学少数群体的各种外联活动。本项目由理解神经和认知系统的综合策略(NSF-NCS)资助，NSF-NCS是一个多学科项目，由计算机和信息科学与工程(CEISE)、教育和人力资源(EHR)、工程(ENG)和社会、行为和经济科学(SBE)等部门联合支持。该项目提出了一项大胆和创造性的研究，旨在为一种新的无线全被动多通道神经记录仪提供安全可靠的神经传感。1)设计并实现了多通道、无线和全被动的脑植入物；提出了两种不同的脑植入物，其中一种可扩展到上千个通道。2)允许在自由活动的动物中进行慢性活体记录和行为研究。重要的是，拟议的无线和完全无源生物遥测传感器有望显着提高脑植入物的长期可靠性和安全性。这是由于1)没有通过植入物进行最小的散热，2)消除了颅内钢丝的感染，以及3)避免了颅骨内的电池。这项改变游戏规则的研究可能导致第一次使用自由活动的动物模型(大鼠)对大脑信号进行无线和完全被动的慢性记录。值得注意的是，建议的神经传感器采用了一种独特的微波后向散射方法，以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。多通道记录是通过多波段光源和用于通道选择的相应滤光器将光选择开关和光敏开关集成到激活的单个通道来实现的。总体而言，拟议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。拟议的传感系统还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.