CAREER: Next-generation of Wirelessly Powered Implantable Neuromodulation and Electrophysiological Recording System for Long-term Behavior Study of Freely-Moving Animals

大规模的大脑活动记录能力可以提高对大脑的理解，并使尖端的脑机接口（BMI）设备的开发成为可能。然而，为了记录神经活动，迄今为止大多数研究仍然依赖于笨重的机架安装设备，该设备连接到动物的头部阶段。该研究项目的目标是开发一种小型化的可植入无线神经信号记录和无线供电的神经刺激系统，用于下一代神经科学研究。将开发一种小型化集成电路（IC）芯片，该芯片将具有无线供电和数据传输功能的多通道记录能力。该系统将集成在柔性生物相容性基底上，以降低感染风险并增加神经接口的寿命。这项拟议中的研究将导致一种神经植入物，它可以刺激神经元，并同时记录神经活动，无线，并在很长一段时间内。这些进展将影响神经科学研究和神经病学，揭示关于慢性疼痛缓解的基本见解，而无需任何疼痛缓解药物和治疗，以更快地恢复中风后。作为这个项目的一部分，将为初中和高中学生开发一个交互式设计模块，教授他们电气工程和神经科学的基础知识，并指导代表性不足的高中学生，该项目的目标是开发一种高度小型化的完全植入式无线神经信号记录和功率传输系统，用于下一个神经调节的产生。 该项目的具体目标是：1）研究通过低功率、高占空比和可重构脉冲无线电超宽带（IR-UWB）无线电链路无线连接的片上神经信号记录和刺激系统，2）集成电感耦合无线功率传输（WPT）系统，为自由移动动物的大脑植入物供电（例如小鼠或大鼠）在笼子里，以及3）在动物模型中对所提出的系统进行长期行为研究和临床验证，以寻找慢性神经性疼痛和中风后瘫痪等残疾的治疗方法。除了培训代表性不足和少数民族学生外，该项目的教育目标是促进跨学科STEM教育和研究举措。该项目的教育部分包括为6- 12年级的学生开发一个互动设计模块，教授电气工程和神经科学的基础知识，指导西北高中STEM学院的高级设计顶点项目，接待国际学生以增强他们的研究经验，招募代表性不足的高中生，激发他们在STEM领域攻读高级学位的兴趣。拟议的研究工作有几个令人兴奋的元素：首先，前端读出电路的设计，是免疫高直流偏移，刺激伪影，外部干扰和噪声。第二，集成了一种新型的多线圈WPT系统，以有效地将功率输送到mm尺寸的植入物。第三，双向数据通信（100 Mbps的数据速率上行链路和100 kbps的下行链路）使用IR-UWB无线电从多个自由移动的动物的调查。最后，将所提出的系统组装在柔性的、生物相容性的聚合物上，以容易地符合大脑表面，从而降低感染的风险。与Plexon Inc.等工业合作伙伴合作。和产量工程不仅将对脑机接口（BMI）和神经修复学的研究领域产生转化影响，而且还有助于培养学生发展跨学科技能，为下一代就业市场做好准备。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Large-scale brain activity recording capability can improve understanding of the brain and enable the development of cutting-edge brain-machine interface (BMI) devices. However, for recording neural activities most research to-date still relies on the bulky, rack-mount equipment that is wired to the animal’s head stage. The goal of this research project is to develop a miniaturized implantable wireless neural signal recording and wirelessly powered neural stimulation systems for the next generation of neuroscience research. A miniaturized integrated circuit (IC) chip will be developed that will have the multi-channel recording capability with wireless power and data transmission features. The system will be integrated on a flexible biocompatible substrate to reduce the risk of infection and increase the longevity of the neural interface. The proposed research will lead to a neural implant that can stimulate the neuron and record the neural activities simultaneously, wirelessly, and over a long period of time. These advancements will impact both neuroscience research and neurology, revealing fundamental insights about chronic pain mitigation without requiring any pain relief drugs and therapies for faster post-stroke recovery. As a part of this project, an interactive design module will be developed for the middle and high-school students to teach them the basics of electrical engineering and neuroscience and mentor underrepresented high-school students to spark their interest in pursuing advanced degrees in STEM fields.The goal of the project is to develop a highly miniaturized fully implantable tetherless wireless neural signal recording and power delivery system for the next generation of neuromodulation. The specific objectives of the project are: 1) investigation of on-chip neural signal recording and stimulation systems that are wirelessly connected via low-power, highly duty-cycled, and reconfigurable Impulse-Radio Ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) radio links, 2) integration of inductively-coupled wireless power transfer (WPT) system to power the brain implants in freely-moving animals (e.g. mice or rats) inside a cage, and 3) long-term behavior study and clinical validation of the proposed system in animal models to find cures for disabilities such as chronic neuropathic pain and post-stroke paralysis. Besides training underrepresented and minority students, the project’s educational goal is to promote interdisciplinary STEM education and research initiatives. The education components of the project include the development of an interactive design module for the 6-12th grade students to teach the basics of electrical engineering and neuroscience, mentoring senior design capstone projects at the Northwest high school’s STEM Academy, hosting international students to enhance their research experience, and recruiting underrepresented high-school students to spark their interest in pursuing advanced degrees in STEM fields. The proposed research work has several exciting elements: First, the design of the front-end read-out circuit that is immune to high DC offset, stimulation artifacts, external interferences, and noise. Second, the integration of a novel multiple-coil WPT system to deliver power efficiently to the mm-sized implants. Third, the investigation of bi-directional data communication (100 Mbps data rate uplink and 100 kbps downlink) using IR-UWB radios from multiple freely-moving animals. Finally, the assembly of the proposed system on a flexible, biocompatible polymer to easily conform to the brain surface reducing the risk of infection. Collaboration with the industrial partners such as Plexon Inc. and Yield Engineering will not only have translational impacts on the research areas of brain-machine interfaces (BMI), and neuroprosthetics but also help train the students to develop interdisciplinary skill-sets and prepare them for next generation of the job market.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.