Enhancing Neuroprosthesis Performance with Nerve Cuff Electrodes - Administrative Supplement for Exercise Equipment

描述（由申请人提供）：EB001889项目的延续将通过应用新的神经袖电极，选择性地激活人类股神经和坐骨神经中的神经束，以隔离站立时的膝关节伸展，以及有效行走时的髋关节屈曲和足底/踝关节背屈，来扩展植入神经假体的受者的功能，以恢复脊髓损伤（SCI）后的下肢功能。我们将开发和部署的新技术包括兼容FINE （C-FINE）和用于网络神经假体系统（NNPS）的8通道神经袖模块。与早期的神经袖设计相比，C-FINE具有明显的优势，包括与天然神经形态相匹配的形状，沿神经长度灵活的轮廓刚度轮廓，适合高密度接触阵列微制造的简单分层结构。这

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This continuation of project EB001889 will extend the functional capabilities of recipients of implanted neuroprostheses for restoring lower extremity function after spinal cord injury (SCI) by applying new nerve cuff electrodes that selectively activate fascicles within the human femoral and sciatic nerves to isolate knee extension for standing, and both hip flexion and ankle plantar/dorsiflexion for efficient stepping. The new enabling technologies we will develop and deploy include the Compliant FINE (C-FINE), and an 8-channel nerve cuff module for the Networked Neuroprosthesis System (NNPS). The C-FINE offers distinct advantages over earlier nerve cuff designs, including a shape that matches the native nerve morphology, a contoured stiffness profile for flexibility along the nerve's length, an simple layered construction suitable for micro- fabrication of higher density contact arrays. This new neural interface will significantly simplify implant surgery and improve the performance of lower extremity neuroprostheses, while the new stimulation module for the NNPS will enable the realization of sophisticated systems employing multiple C-FINEs for advanced lower extremity functions. We will implant C-FINEs on the femoral nerves proximal to branching of the innervation to the sartorius and individual heads of the quadriceps in three new recipients of standing systems based on our existing 16- channel implanted stimulators (IST-16). We expect the superior selectivity of the C-FINE to allow independent activation of functionally distinct groups of axons innervating knee extensors and hip flexors. This should maintain or improve the standing performance achieved with other electrodes by increasing the available stimulated knee extension strength, while simultaneously providing access to the nerves that control the hip flexion required for reciprocal stepping. Active plantar/dorsiflexion with balanced inversion/eversion should also greatly improve the quality and speed of walking by injecting propulsive energy for forward progression, and enhancing foot-floor clearance of the swinging limb. We will implant C-FINEs on the tibial and fibular nerves above the knee in three additional subjects, and exploit their selectivity to produce strong ankle plantar/dorsiflexion with balanced inversion/eversion with the new NNPS system. The complex structure of the proximal sciatic nerve has prevented application of existing low-density nerve- based electrodes to the hamstring muscles, which are important for safe and standing and stepping. We expect that a single nerve cuff electrode with high number of contacts located on the proximal sciatic nerve will be able to isolate and fully activate the individual hamstrings to provide strong hip extensio and knee flexion. We will establish the feasibility of high density interfaces to the sciatic nerv in acute intraoperative tests, which will improve the performance and simplify the surgical implantation of future lower extremity neuroprostheses.