A primate model of an intra-cortically controlled FES prosthesis for grasp

描述（由申请人提供）：本项目的目标是开发通过皮层内记录电极控制的上肢神经肌肉刺激系统的灵长类动物模型。脊髓损伤的人会瘫痪，因为他们失去了激活肌肉的能力。这些病人的肌肉仍然可以使收缩，如果他们被激活的方式直接施加到肌肉或神经的电刺激。同样，大脑中通常控制运动的区域仍然活跃，但由于受伤，它们与肌肉的联系已经失去。凯斯西储大学（CWRU）的研究人员已经证明，植入的功能性电刺激（FES）神经假体可用于恢复四肢瘫痪患者的抓握功能。虽然这些系统很了不起，但它们仅限于预先编程的抓握模式，需要相当多的有意识注意力。具有更多自由度的更自然的控制系统可以提供大大改进的功能。在西北大学，我们已经开发出了基于猴子大脑微电极记录的方法来预测手臂和手部肌肉在抓握运动中的活动。通过一个长期植入的电极阵列，可以预测肩部、手臂和手部肌肉的活动。这种类型的电极已经产生了超过3年的持续记录，并且最近已经被批准用于人类患者的实验性使用。我们相信，像这样的皮层内记录提供了通过自然思维过程同时控制多个自由度的潜力。通过结合西北大学和CWRU小组的优势，我们建议开发一种足以控制神经假体的脑机接口。这种神经假体系统的灵长类动物模型的开发将是其在人类患者中实施的重要一步。该应用包括以下具体目标：1）我们提出使用植入在猴子的初级运动皮层中的100个电极阵列来向一组解码器提供输入，所述解码器被设计用于产生特定手部肌肉的活动的实时预测。2)我们建议使用目标1中开发的控制算法和植入的FES假体来恢复药物神经阻滞引起的暂时性肌肉麻痹后的抓握。3)我们建议开发这些控制算法，而不使用初始的EMG测量，这将是必要的，以实现系统的病人。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this project is to develop a primate model of an upper extremity neuromuscular stimulation system controlled by means of intra-cortical recording electrodes. Individuals with spinal cord injury become paralyzed because they have lost the ability to activate their muscles. These patients' muscles can still be made to contract if they are activated by means of electrical stimuli applied directly to the muscle or nerves. Likewise, the areas of the brain that normally control movement are still active, but their connection to the muscles has been lost as a result of the injury. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) have demonstrated that implanted functional electrical stimulation (FES) neuroprostheses can be used to restore grasp functions to individuals with tetraplegia. Although remarkable, these systems are limited to pre-programmed grasp patterns, and require considerable conscious attention. A more natural control system, with more degrees of freedom could provide greatly improved function. At Northwestern, we have developed methods to predict the activity of arm and hand muscles during grasping movements based on micro-electrode recordings from the brain of a monkey. From a single, chronically implanted array of electrodes, predictions can be made of the activity of shoulder, arm and hand muscles. This type of electrode has yielded maintained recordings for periods in excess of 3 years, and it has recently been approved for experimental use in human patients. We believe that intra-cortical recordings like these provide the potential for simultaneous control of multiple degrees of freedom through natural thought processes. By combining the strengths of the Northwestern and CWRU groups, we propose to develop a brain-computer interface adequate for controlling a neuroprosthesis. The development of a primate model of this neuroprosthetic system would be a major step toward its implementation in human patients. This application includes the following specific aims: 1) We propose to use a 100-electrode array implanted in the primary motor cortex of a mnkey to provide the input to a set of decoders designed to produce real-time predictions of the activity of particular hand muscles. 2) We propose to use the control algorithms developed in aim 1 and an implanted FES prosthesis to restore grasp following temporary muscle paralysis induced by a pharmacological nerve block. 3) We propose to develop these control algorithms without the use of initial EMG measurements, as would be necessary in order to implement the system for a patient.