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

描述（由申请人提供）：从大脑记录的细胞外电位可能是更好地理解大脑功能的关键。通过呈现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增强神经损伤个体沟通的第一步。通常，获取神经信号记录的系统涉及电极和电线之间的经皮（“穿过皮肤”）连接，电线通常连接到各种电子设备。这种获取神经信号的方法伴随着局限性和可能的复杂性，这些局限性和复杂性在研究环境中可能是不期望的，并且在人脑-机器接口（BMI）的背景下肯定是有问题的。皮肤的慢性破裂增加了感染的可能性，而电线的束缚效应对运动提供了不自然的约束。为了解决这些问题和局限性，一个完全植入式96通道神经数据采集系统正在开发中。然而，植入系统也有其自身的一系列困难。拟议的研究解决了从体外植入系统获取数据的问题。植入式系统消除了电极和外部设备之间由导线提供的物理链接。在所提出的系统中，该链路由无线射频（RF）链路代替。由于96个通道采集的数据量庞大，以及RF链路的限制，实际上只有一小部分采集的数据可以发送到体外。因此，需要一种数据缩减方案，该方案在保留感兴趣和重要信息的同时大幅削减要发送出身体的数据量。拟议的研究旨在设计、实施和测试：1）适用于研究环境和BMI应用的数据简化方案; 2）双向遥测链路，用于将数据发送到体外，并向系统的植入部分提供命令和配置信息; 3）进一步处理系统内的神经数据，目标是执行实时尖峰排序。与公共卫生的相关性：脑机接口（BMI）可以为由于脊髓损伤、中风或神经退行性疾病而具有严重神经损伤的个体提供通信手段或用于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明显限制的情况下获得神经信号。该项目解决了开发高通道数完全植入式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BMI的关键组成部分。

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.