Project

Discipline

Bio-electronic interfaces; Cortical microelectronic implants; Wireless cortical implants

Lead
Lay summary
Neuroscientists and researchers need increasingly sophisticated and advanced scientific solutions to monitor and study the activity of neural cells and brain tissue in-vivo, in order to assist patients suffering from degenerative brain diseases, to elucidate the effects of various drugs on neurons and brain tissue under a wide variety of conditions, as well as to devise novel interfaces and techniques to enable amputees control electromechanical prostheses. Neurosurgeons currently implant patients suffering from epilepsy to detect the area under seizure, and study the electrical activity of the brain during the epileptic episode. Commercial macro-electrodes are commercially available, which are connected to monitoring equipment by the means of bundles of wires running through the skull and scalp. The patient must remain in a confined clinical environment for several days. His/her comfort is degraded due to the necessary connectivity, which also causes a significant infection hazard. Within the context of handling and studying cortical epilepsy signals, this project proposes the exploration and the development of novel methods and tools under the stringent constraint of improving current state-of-the art, and developing new technology, supported by a strong theoretical background:· integrated implantable system enabling continuous monitoring over long periods of several weeks, typically;· wireless communication of data for increasing patients autonomy and comfort, while decreasing infectious hazard;· high-density active microelectrodes enabling accurate monitoring of the electrical activity of the brain with improved spatial and electrical resolution; several high-density electrode arrays must be placed in various locations, on the surface of the cortex;· two-dimensional, flat active electrodes which do not cause any damage or scare in the surface layers of the cortex.This research aims at gathering all aforementioned theoretical, technology developments into the development of a system enabling acquiring the electrical activity of selected cortical areas, wireless operation including bidirectional communication, and power transmission.

Direct link to Lay Summary

Last update: 21.02.2013

Active participation

Number	Title	Start	Funding scheme

Neuroscientists and researchers need increasingly sophisticated and advanced scientific solutions to monitor and study the activity of neural cells and brain tissue in-vivo, in order to assist patients suffering from degenerative brain diseases, to elucidate the effects of various drugs on neurons and brain tissue under a wide variety of conditions, as well as to devise novel interfaces and techniques to enable amputees control electromechanical prostheses. Neurosurgeons currently implant patients suffering from epilepsy to detect the area under seizure, and study the electrical activity of the brain during the epileptic episode. Commercial macro-electrodes are commercially available, which are connected to monitoring equipment by the means of bundles of wires running through the skull and scalp. The patient must remain in a confined clinical environment for several days. His/her comfort is degraded due to the necessary connectivity, which also causes a significant infection hazard. Within the context of handling and studying cortical epilepsy signals, this project proposes the exploration and the development of novel methods and tools under the stringent constraint of improving current state-of-the art, and developing new technology, supported by a strong theoretical background:·integrated implantable system enabling continuous monitoring over long periods of several weeks, typically;·wireless communication of data for increasing patients autonomy and comfort, while decreasing infectious hazard;·high-density active microelectrodes enabling accurate monitoring of the electrical activity of the brain with improved spatial and electrical resolution; several high-density electrode arrays must be placed in various locations, on the surface of the cortex;·two-dimensional, flat active electrodes which do not cause any damage or scare in the surface layers of the cortex.This research aims at gathering all aforementioned theoretical, technology developments into the development of a system enabling acquiring the electrical activity of selected cortical areas, wireless operation including bidirectional communication, and power transmission.The research has been partitioned in a number of systematic steps in order to mitigate the scientific risk related to the final steps of the project, where the actual system is operated. Several novel developments and technologies will result along the course of the project, in a predictable manner. This research is intended as part one of a longer-term research, where the scientific focus will shift from technological developments to clinical methodologies.