A Sensorimotor Microelectrode Brain-Machine Interface for Individuals With Significant Upper Limb Impairment
Michael Boninger
Summary
The purpose of this research study is to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of using two CRS Arrays (microelectrodes) for long-term recording of brain motor cortex activity and microstimulation of brain sensory cortex.
Description
Individuals with severe paralysis have intact brain function but are unable to move due to injury or disease affecting the spinal cord, nerves or muscles. Brain-machine interface (BMI) technology is based on the finding that with intact brain function, neural (nerve) signals are generated even though they do not reach the arms, hands and legs. By placing (implanting) sensors on the surface of the brain, individuals can be trained to send neural signals which are interpreted by a computer and translated to movement which can then be used to control a variety of devices or computer displays. Usi…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 22–70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Subjects must have limited or no ability to use one or both hands due to cervical spinal cord injury, brainstem stroke, brachial plexus injury, above-elbow amputation, or spinal stroke. Individuals with intact limbs must have less than grade 2 strength in finger flexor and abduction on the contralateral side to the implant and a t-score \<35 on the PROMIS Upper Extremity Short Form. The non-functional hand(s) may be involved passively in functional tasks; for example, pushing an object or passively grasping an object placed into the hand. However, the participant must r…
Interventions
- DeviceImplantation of CRS Arrays
Two Blackrock Microsystems CRS Arrays will be implanted in the motor cortex and sensory cortex of study participants.
Locations (2)
- University of ChicagoChicago, Illinois
- University of PittsburghPittsburgh, Pennsylvania