Modulation of the Vestibular System Using Prosthetic Direct Current Stimulation

项目摘要 该项目的中心目标是推进治疗应用和开发一种 令人兴奋的新型神经假体技术，安全直流电刺激（SDCS）。直流电（DC） 与神经假体通常使用的双相电荷平衡脉冲相比 系统，可以更自然地控制神经活动。与用于激发神经元的双相电流脉冲不同，DC可以 兴奋、抑制和调节神经元的敏感性。然而，将DC用于植入式假体应用 由于DC固有地违反了金属处的电荷注入安全约束， 电极接口安全直流克服了这些限制，并开辟了一个新的途径，研究 令人兴奋的可能性，使用直流电接口的神经系统。 我们将优化SDCS的使用，以提高前庭假体的平衡性能 紊乱这种类型的神经植入物旨在将头部运动的感觉直接传递到前庭 对于那些患有双侧前庭功能障碍的人来说。我们在一只栗鼠身上获得了初步数据 模型显示，与更传统的脉动刺激相比，使用DC可以显着增加 可以由设备编码的磁头速度的范围。这里我们建议考虑生物安全性 长时间的SDCS假体刺激，并推进技术SDCS向灵长类动物植入。 目的1）在非人灵长类动物中进行急性行为研究。 目的2）确定从SDCS延长DC递送是否引起生理或组织学体征 龙猫的伤害。 目的3）研制一种用于灵长类慢性前庭功能的三通道SDCS、电极和DC管 植入物研究。

Project Summary The central goal of this project is to advance the therapeutic application and the development of an exciting novel neuroprosthetic technology, Safe Direct Current Stimulation (SDCS). Direct current (DC) compared to biphasic charge balanced pulses normally used by neural prostheses to interface to the nervous system, can more naturally control neural activity. Unlike biphasic current pulses used to excite neurons, DC can excite, inhibit, and modulate sensitivity of neurons. However using DC for implantable prosthetic applications has not been possible due to the DC’s inherent violation of the charge injection safety constraints at the metal electrode interfaces. Safe DC overcomes these constraints and opens a new avenue for research into exciting possibilities of using DC to interface to the nervous system. We will optimize the use of SDCS to improve the performance of the vestibular prosthetic for balance disorders. This type of neural implant is designed to deliver the sensation of head motion directly to the vestibular nerve for those suffering from bilateral vestibular dysfunction. We obtained preliminary data in a chinchilla animal model showing that using DC in contrast to the more conventional pulsatile stimulation can dramatically increase the range of head velocities that can be encoded by the device. Here we propose to consider biological safety of long-duration SDCS prosthetic stimulation, and advance the technology SDCS toward primate implantation. Aim 1) Conduct acute behavioral studies in nonhuman primates. Aim 2) Determine whether prolonged DC delivery from the SDCS causes physiologic or histologic signs of damage in chinchillas. Aim 3) Develop a three channel SDCS, lead, and DCtubes designed for future primate chronic vestibular implant studies.