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

该项目的目标是开发一种上肢神经肌肉刺激的灵长类动物模型。 通过皮质内记录电极控制的系统。有脊髓损伤的人会变成 瘫痪是因为他们已经失去了激活肌肉的能力。这些患者的肌肉仍然可以 如果通过直接施加到肌肉或神经的电刺激来激活它们，它们就会收缩。 同样，大脑中正常控制运动的区域仍然活跃，但它们与 由于受伤，肌肉已经失去了。 凯斯西储大学(CWRU)的研究人员已经证明，植入的 电刺激(FES)神经假体可用于恢复患者的抓握功能 四肢瘫痪。尽管不同凡响，但这些系统仅限于预先编程的抓取模式，并且需要 相当有意识的注意。一个更自然的控制系统，有更多的自由度可以 提供了极大改进的功能。在西北大学，我们已经开发出方法来预测 基于大脑微电极记录的抓握运动中的手臂和手部肌肉 猴子。从一个单独的、长期植入的电极阵列，可以预测出 肩部、手臂和手部肌肉。这种类型的电极已在#年期间产生了保持记录 超过3年，最近已被批准在人类患者身上进行实验使用。我们相信 像这样的皮质内记录提供了同时控制多个程度的 通过自然的思维过程获得自由。通过结合西北大学和CWRU的优势 我们建议开发一种足以控制神经假体的脑机接口。这个 这种神经假体系统的灵长类动物模型的开发将是朝着其 在人类患者身上实施。本申请包括以下具体目标： 1)我们建议使用100个电极阵列植入Mnkey的初级运动皮质，以提供 输入到一组解码器，旨在产生对特定手部肌肉活动的实时预测。 2)我们建议使用目标1中开发的控制算法和植入的FES假体来修复 抓紧药理神经阻滞引起的暂时性肌肉麻痹。3)我们建议 在不使用初始肌电测量的情况下开发这些控制算法，这在 以便为患者实施该系统。

The goal of this project is to develop a primate model of an upper extremity neuromuscularstimulation 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, chronicallyimplanted array of electrodes, predictionscan 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 simultaneouscontrol of multipledegrees 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 followingtemporary 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.