Reduction and Telemetry of Neural Data for an Implantable Data Acquisition System

描述(申请人提供)：从大脑记录的细胞外电位可能是更好地了解大脑功能的关键。通过提供有关神经活动的高分辨率信息，它们也可能被证明是恢复运动功能和加强神经损伤患者交流的第一步。通常，获得神经信号记录的系统涉及电极和电线之间的经皮(通过皮肤)连接，电线通常连接到不同的电子设备。这种获取神经信号的方法伴随着局限性和可能的并发症，这些在研究环境中可能是不受欢迎的，在人脑-机器接口(BMI)的背景下肯定是有问题的。皮肤的慢性断裂增加了感染的可能性，而电线的拴系效应对运动提供了一种不自然的约束。为了解决这些问题和局限性，一种完全可植入的96通道神经数据采集系统正在开发中。然而，植入的系统本身也存在一系列困难。这项拟议的研究解决了从体内植入的系统中获取数据的问题。植入的系统移除了电极和外部设备之间的导线提供的物理链接。在提议的系统中，该链路被无线射频(RF)链路取代。由于96个通道采集的数据量很大，加上射频链路的限制，实际上只有一小部分采集的数据可以从体内发送出去。因此，需要一种数据缩减方案，该方案在保留感兴趣和重要的信息的同时，大幅减少要向外发送的数据量。拟议的研究旨在设计、实现和测试1)适合于研究环境和BMI应用的数据简化方案；2)双向遥测链路，用于将数据发送出身体并向系统的植入部分提供命令和配置信息；以及3)进一步处理系统内的神经数据，以执行实时尖峰分类的目标。与公共健康相关：脑机接口(BMI)可以为因脊髓损伤、中风或神经退行性疾病而严重神经损伤的患者提供一种交流手段或恢复运动功能的手段。为了使BMI在临床上可行，必须在不需要皮肤慢性破裂或重大约束的情况下获得神经信号。该项目解决了开发高通道数完全可植入的神经数据采集系统所面临的主要挑战之一，该系统是成功的、临床可行的BMI的关键组件。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Extracellular potentials recorded from the brain may hold the key to a greater understanding of how the brain functions. By presenting high-resolution information concerning neural activity, they may also prove to be the first step in a pathway to restoration of motor function and enhanced communication for individuals with nerve damage. Typically, systems that obtain recordings of neural signals involve a percutaneous ("through the skin") connection between electrodes and wires, with the wires generally traveling to various pieces of electronic equipment. This method of acquiring neural signals is accompanied by limitations and possible complications that can be undesirable within a research setting and are definitely problematic within the context of a human brain-machine interface (BMI). The chronic break in the skin increases the likelihood of infection while the tethering effect of the wires provides an unnatural restraint on motion. In order to address these concerns and limitations, a completely implantable 96-channel neural data acquisition system is being developed. An implanted system, however, presents its own set of difficulties. The proposed research addresses the problem of getting data from the implanted system out of the body. An implanted system removes the physical link provided by wires between the electrodes and external equipment. In the proposed system, this link is replaced by a wireless, radio frequency (RF) link. Due to the sheer quantity of data acquired by 96 channels and the limitations of the RF link, only a small fraction of the acquired data can actually be sent out of the body. Thus, a data reduction scheme that drastically cuts down the amount of data to be sent out of the body while preserving the information of interest and importance is needed. The proposed research aims to design, implement, and test 1) a data reduction scheme suitable for both the research environment and a BMI application; 2) a bidirectional telemetry link for sending data out of the body and providing commands and configuration information to the implanted portion of the system; and 3) further processing of neural data within the system with the goal of performing real-time spike sorting. Relevance to public health: A brain-machine interface (BMI) can provide a means of communication or a means for restoration of motor function for individuals with severe nerve damage due to spinal cord injury, stroke, or neurodegenerative diseases. In order for a BMI to be clinically viable, neural signals must be obtained without requiring a chronic break in the skin or significant restraints. This project addresses one of the major challenges facing the development of a high-channel count fully implantable neural data acquisition system, which is a critical component for a successful, clinically viable BMI.