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。通过提供有关神经活动的高分辨率信息，它们也可能被证明是神经损伤患者恢复运动功能和增强交流途径的第一步。通常，获取神经信号记录的系统涉及电极和导线之间的经皮（“穿过皮肤”）连接，导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并发症，这在研究环境中是不可取的，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，而电线的束缚作用对运动产生了不自然的限制。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，植入的系统有其自身的困难。拟议的研究解决了从植入系统中获取数据的问题。植入系统消除了电极和外部设备之间由导线提供的物理连接。在提出的系统中，该链路被无线射频（RF）链路所取代。由于96通道采集的数据数量庞大，加上射频链路的限制，只有一小部分采集到的数据可以真正发送出去。因此，需要一种数据约简方案，在保留感兴趣和重要信息的同时，大幅减少要发送出身体的数据量。本研究旨在设计、实施和测试1)适合研究环境和BMI应用的数据约简方案；2)双向遥测链路，用于将数据发送出所述身体并向所述系统的植入部分提供命令和配置信息；3)在系统内部对神经数据进行进一步处理，以实现实时峰值排序。与公共卫生相关：脑机接口（BMI）可以为脊髓损伤、中风或神经退行性疾病引起的严重神经损伤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，神经信号必须在不需要皮肤长期破裂或重大约束的情况下获得。该项目解决了开发高通道计数全植入式神经数据采集系统所面临的主要挑战之一，这是一个成功的、临床可行的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.