Spinal Cord-to-Computer Interface

描述（由申请人提供）：创伤或疾病导致脊髓损伤后，损伤点远端的骨骼肌由于神经传导中断而瘫痪。 在高水平脊髓损伤/损伤中，非常需要一种可以替代自主控制的方法，以重新获得自我移动，环境控制和计算机访问。 美国每年约有15，000例脊髓损伤。 这些病例中的大多数幸存下来，并依赖他人满足其基本需求。 这一人口的平均预期寿命为40岁。 目前的解决方案：“脑机接口”已经开发出来，从各种大脑皮层提取意志控制信息。 单个神经元的活动用植入的微电极/线阵列记录，并用先进的信号处理算法解释。 不足之处：经过多年的研究，大脑皮层单棘波记录方法仍然存在两个主要问题。 首先，记录的神经元数量每天都在变化，因此在每次使用之前都需要对信号处理算法进行训练。 在阵列中记录神经活动的良好电极的数量（产量）很低，并且由于电极周围的神经胶质细胞生长，一段时间后单个尖峰信号完全丢失。 其次，每个神经元提供的信息都是非常嘈杂的。 需要对大量的神经元进行采样，以获得稳定且可微调的命令信号。 这需要在多个大脑区域植入许多电极阵列。 我们的建议：这里提出的替代方法是从损伤部位上方仍然完整的近端脊髓中提取意志运动信号，并使用运动束中轴突的群体活动而不是单个尖峰。 切断的运动轴突的远端部分经历沃勒变性。 然而，轴突的近端部分在损伤后数年继续发挥作用，因为它与大脑中的细胞体的连接保持完整。 脊髓入路至少有两个重要的优点。 首先，由于脊髓与运动器官在信号通路中的紧密性，所记录的神经信号将与运动功能强烈耦合;其次，由于该方法依赖于群体活动而不是单个尖峰，因此神经记录将更加稳定。 公共卫生相关性：美国每年约有15，000例脊髓损伤。 这些病例中的大多数幸存下来，需要帮助满足基本需求。 这一人口的平均预期寿命为40岁。 该项目旨在开发受试者的大脑（通过脊髓）和计算机之间的接口，以便瘫痪的个人可以控制他/她自己的轮椅和家中的其他设备，而无需护理人员的帮助。 一个像这里提出的设备，可以为他们提供环境控制（如灯光，室温，电视等）。或电脑访问对个人来说是无价的。 此外，该项目对经济的潜在贡献在数十亿美元的范围内，因为通过为这些瘫痪的人提供更独立生活的手段，可以节省医疗保健费用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Following spinal cord damage from trauma or disease, skeletal muscles distal to the point of damage become paralyzed due to disrupted neural conduction. In high-level spinal cord injury/damage, there is a great need for a method that can substitute for the voluntary control in order to regain self-mobility, environmental control, and computer access. Each year about 15,000 spinal cord injuries occur in the US. Majority of these cases survive and depend on others for their basic needs. The average life expectancy of this population is 40 years. Current Solution: 'Brain-Computer Interfaces' have been developed to extract the volitional control information from various brain cortices. Activity of single neurons is recorded with micro electrode/wire arrays implanted and interpreted with advanced signal processing algorithms. Shortcomings: There remain two major problems after many years of research that are inherent to single spike recording method from the cerebral cortex. First, the population of neurons recorded from changes day to day, thus requiring a training session for the signal processing algorithm before each use. The number of good electrodes that record neural activity in an array (yield) is low and the single spike signals are lost completely after sometime due to glial cell growth around the electrode. Second, the information provided by each neuron is very noisy. A very large number of neurons need to be sampled to achieve stable and finely tunable command signals. This requires many electrode arrays implanted in multiple brain areas. Our Proposal: The alternative method proposed here is to extract the volitional motor signals from the proximal spinal cord that is still intact above the site of injury and use the population activity of the axons in the motor tracts rather than single spikes. The distal portions of the severed motor axons go through Wallerian degeneration. However, the proximal part of the axon continues to function years after injury since its connection to the cell body in the brain remains intact. Spinal cord approach has at least two important advantages. First, the recorded neural signals will be strongly coupled to the motor function due to closeness of the spinal cord to the motor apparatus in the signal path. Second, the neural recordings will be much more stable because the method relies on the population activity rather than single spikes. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Each year about 15,000 spinal cord injuries occur in the US. Majority of these cases survive and need help for their basic needs. The average life expectancy of this population is 40 years. This project aims to develop an interface between the subject's brain (via the spinal cord) and a computer so that the paralyzed individual can control his/her own wheelchair and other equipment in the house without needing help from a caregiver. A device like the one proposed here that can provide them with environmental control (such as lights, room temp, TV, etc.) or computer access is priceless to the individual. Also, the potential contribution of this project to the economy is in the range of billions of dollars due to savings of health care cost by providing these paralyzed individuals with means to live more independent lives.