New York University (New York, NY) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA) earned United States Patent 7,818,065 for conducting polymer nanowire brain-machine interface systems and their manufacturing methods.
Rodolfo R. Llinas; (New York, NY), Ian W. Hunter (Cambridge, MA) and Bryan P. Ruddy (Somerville, MA) the conducting polymer nanowires can be used in a brain-machine interface which is secure, robust and minimally invasive. The invention is a vascular-based brain-machine interface comprising conducting polymer nanowires.
A brain-machine interface based on the nanotechnology/vascular approach has the advantage of being retrievable in that the nano-scale conducting polymer electrodes are small enough so that even with a large number of electrodes, the interface can be removed without violating the integrity of the brain.
The nanowire brain interface can be used in connection with natural limb control or artificial/prosthetic limbs. In the case of natural limb control, particularly where nerves pathways between the natural limb and the brain have been severed or are no longer functional, the conducting polymer nanowires of the present invention, along with appropriate control/interface electronics may be used as a sort of alternate electrical pathway to convey signals between the brain and the natural limb, for example the muscles associated with the natural limb.
In the case of artificial/prosthetic limbs, the conducing polymer nanowires may be used as an electrical pathway between the brain and the control/interface of the prosthetic limb in order to convey signals between the brain and the artificial/prosthetic limb in order to properly operate and control the artificial/prosthetic limb.
In the case of artificial/prosthetic limbs, the conducing polymer nanowires may be used as an electrical pathway between the brain and the control/interface of the prosthetic limb in order to convey signals between the brain and the artificial/prosthetic limb in order to properly operate and control the artificial/prosthetic limb.
The nanowire brain interface may also be used in connection with cochlear implants to restore hearing. In pathological conditions when hair cells are damaged and do not generate electrical pulses to be sent to the brain, no sound is perceived. Under this condition there always exist some residual nerve fibers in the inner ear that can be addressed with local electrical stimulation. Cochlear implants attempt to utilize these residual fibers by replacing the function of the hair cells with direct electrical stimulation. An implant system includes an external speech processor and headset and an internal, surgically implanted electrode array. These elements are connected to a set of cochlear implantable metal electrodes, usually platinum iridium alloy insulated with silicon rubber.
When considering the role of neuroscience in modern society, the issue of a brain-machine interface (e.g., between a human brain and a computer) is one of the central problems to be addressed. Indeed, the ability to design and build new information analysis and storage systems that are light enough to be easily carried, has advanced exponentially in the last few years. Ultimately, the brain-machine interface will likely become the major stumbling block to robust and rapid communication with such systems.
To date, developments towards a brain-machine interface have not been as impressive as the progress in miniaturization or computational power expansion. Indeed, the limiting factor with most modern devices relates to the human interface. For instance, buttons must be large enough to manipulate and displays large enough to allow symbol recognition. Clearly, establishing a more direct relationship between the brain and such devices is desirable and will likely become increasingly important.
With conventional means, brain activity can be recorded from the surface of the skull. In the case of electro-encephalography (EEG), electrodes are placed on the skull and record activity occurring on the surface of the brain. In the case of magneto-encephalography (MEG), recording probes are also placed on the surface, but through triangulation brain activity can be mapped in three dimensions.
Such methods as EEG and MEG, while minimally invasive, suffer from poor resolution and distortion due to the deformation of electromagnetic fields caused by the scalp and skull. To overcome these limitations with known technology requires the much more invasive option of opening the skull and inserting electrodes into the brain mass. Similarly, to stimulate the brain as is done therapeutically for some patients with Parkinson's disease or the like, the skull must be opened and electrodes inserted.
As the need for a more direct relationship between the brain and machines becomes increasingly important, a revolution is taking place in the field of nanotechnology (n-technology). Nanotechnology deals with manufactured objects with characteristic dimensions of less than one micrometer. It is the inventors' belief that the brain-machine bottleneck will ultimately be resolved through the application of nanotechnology. The use of nanoscale electrode probes coupled with nanoscale electronics seems promising in this regard.
To date, developments towards a brain-machine interface have not been as impressive as the progress in miniaturization or computational power expansion. Indeed, the limiting factor with most modern devices relates to the human interface. For instance, buttons must be large enough to manipulate and displays large enough to allow symbol recognition. Clearly, establishing a more direct relationship between the brain and such devices is desirable and will likely become increasingly important.
With conventional means, brain activity can be recorded from the surface of the skull. In the case of electro-encephalography (EEG), electrodes are placed on the skull and record activity occurring on the surface of the brain. In the case of magneto-encephalography (MEG), recording probes are also placed on the surface, but through triangulation brain activity can be mapped in three dimensions.
Such methods as EEG and MEG, while minimally invasive, suffer from poor resolution and distortion due to the deformation of electromagnetic fields caused by the scalp and skull. To overcome these limitations with known technology requires the much more invasive option of opening the skull and inserting electrodes into the brain mass. Similarly, to stimulate the brain as is done therapeutically for some patients with Parkinson's disease or the like, the skull must be opened and electrodes inserted.
As the need for a more direct relationship between the brain and machines becomes increasingly important, a revolution is taking place in the field of nanotechnology (n-technology). Nanotechnology deals with manufactured objects with characteristic dimensions of less than one micrometer. It is the inventors' belief that the brain-machine bottleneck will ultimately be resolved through the application of nanotechnology. The use of nanoscale electrode probes coupled with nanoscale electronics seems promising in this regard.
According to the inventors, the nanowire brain interface employs conducting polymers which may be synthesized through electrochemical deposition onto a conductive electrode and manufactured into conducting polymer nanowires and microwires. The conducting polymer nanowire technology coupled with nanotechnology electronics record activity and/or stimulate the nervous system, e.g., brain or spinal cord through the vascular system. The present invention allows the nervous system to be addressed by a large number of isolated conducting polymer nano-probes that are delivered to the brain via the vascular bed through catheter technology used extensively in medicine and particularly in interventional neuroradiology.
An exemplary embodiment of a recording device comprises a set of conducting polymer nanowires (n-wires) tethered to electronics in a catheter such that they may spread in a "bouquet" arrangement into a particular portion of the brain's vascular system. Such an arrangement can support a very large number of probes (e.g., several million). Each conducting polymer nanowire is used to record the electrical activity of a single neuron, or small group of neurons, without invading the brain parenchyma. An advantage of such a conducting polymer conducting polymer nanowire array is that its small size does not interfere with blood flow, gas or nutrient exchange and it does not disrupt brain activity.
The techniques of the of the nanowire brain interface are also applicable to the diagnosis and treatment of abnormal brain function. Such technology allows constant monitoring and functional imaging as well as direct modulation of brain activity. For instance, an advanced variation of conventional deep brain stimulation can be implemented in accordance with the present invention by introducing a conducting polymer nanowire or bouquet of nanowires to the area of the brain to be stimulated and selectively directing a current to the area by selectively deflecting the wires and creating longitudinal conductivity.
An exemplary embodiment of a recording device comprises a set of conducting polymer nanowires (n-wires) tethered to electronics in a catheter such that they may spread in a "bouquet" arrangement into a particular portion of the brain's vascular system. Such an arrangement can support a very large number of probes (e.g., several million). Each conducting polymer nanowire is used to record the electrical activity of a single neuron, or small group of neurons, without invading the brain parenchyma. An advantage of such a conducting polymer conducting polymer nanowire array is that its small size does not interfere with blood flow, gas or nutrient exchange and it does not disrupt brain activity.
The techniques of the of the nanowire brain interface are also applicable to the diagnosis and treatment of abnormal brain function. Such technology allows constant monitoring and functional imaging as well as direct modulation of brain activity. For instance, an advanced variation of conventional deep brain stimulation can be implemented in accordance with the present invention by introducing a conducting polymer nanowire or bouquet of nanowires to the area of the brain to be stimulated and selectively directing a current to the area by selectively deflecting the wires and creating longitudinal conductivity.
In addition to the hardware-related aspects of the nanowire brain interface, the invention also provides the software methods for reading, storing and contextualizing the enormous amount of neuronal information that is provided by the above-described vascular apparatus. Such processing helps provide an understanding of neuronal activity, thereby providing a significant window into brain function, further defining the relations between electrophysiology and the cognitive/motor properties of the brain.
The methods include signal processing capable of classifying brain states based on neuronal unit activity and field potential analysis. The invention also provides a package of algorithms and a computational toolkit that is appropriate and effective for data analysis and decision making.
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