A Direct Brain-to-Speech Generator for use in Humans

描述（由申请人提供）：长期目标：这项工作旨在提供锁定的主题与生产语音的直接手段。这将允许个人和护理人员之间的快速通信，以及控制具有语音识别软件的计算机和控制受试者的环境。这种新发现的沟通能力将为受试者的健康提供一个数量级的改善。 这项提议的短期目标：在目前的时间框架内，我们希望记录来自锁定受试者的语音区域的神经信号，并使用这些信号产生一些音素。首先，我们将使用功能性磁共振成像来识别受试者的语言区域。然后，我们将为受试者植入FDA批准的神经营养电极，以期为计算机控制提供基本开关，从而使用标准软件增强通信。如果受试者愿意，我们将训练他或她驱动语音发生器产生单个音素。通过训练，我们希望受试者能够控制音素或单词的组合。我们是如何产生这些音素的是专有信息。 在随后的工作中，我们希望扩大受试者可用的神经信号的数量，以便多达56个音素可用于控制。这应为英语患者的单词产生提供全方位的音素可能性。美国有30，000名ALS患者，全球至少有10倍。据估计，美国有50，000名脑干中风患者，以及许多其他使人们处于锁定状态的疾病。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Long term objectives: This work seeks to provide locked-in subjects with a direct means of producing speech. This will allow rapid communication between the individual and caregivers as well as control of computers with speech recognition software and control of the subject's environment. This newfound ability to communicate will provide an order of magnitude improvement in the subject's well being. Short term aims of this proposal: In the present time frame, we expect to record neural signals from a locked-in subject's speech area, and use these signals to produce a few phonemes. First, we will identify the subject's speech area using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. We will then implant the subject with FDA approved Neurotrophic Electrodes with a view to providing a basic switch for computer control and thus enhancing communication using standard software. If the subject wishes, we will then train him or her to drive a speech generator to produce individual phonemes. With training, we expect the subject to control combinations of phonemes or words. Exactly how we produce these phonemes is proprietary information. In subsequent work, we expect to extend the number of neural signals available to the subject so that up to 56 phonemes will be available for control. This should provide a full range of phonemic possibilities for word Production in English speakers patients. There 30,000 ALS patients in the USA and at least 10 times that number worldwide. There are an estimated 50,000-brainstem stroke patients in the USA and well as many other conditions that leave people in the locked-in state.