Collaborative Approach in the Development of High‐Performance Brain–Computer Interfaces for a Neuroprosthetic Arm: Translation from Animal Models to Human Control

Abstract

Our research group recently demonstrated that a person with tetraplegia could use a brain-computer interface (BCI) to control a sophisticated anthropomorphic robotic arm with skill and speed approaching that of an able-bodied person. This multi-year study exemplifies important principles in translating research from foundational theory and animal experiments into a clinical study. We present a roadmap that may serve as an example for other areas of clinical device research as well as an update on study results. Prior to conducting a multi-year clinical trial, years of animal research preceded BCI testing in an epilepsy monitoring unit, and then in a short term (28 days) clinical investigation. Scientists and engineers developed the necessary robotic and surgical hardware, software environment, data analysis techniques, and training paradigms. Coordination among researchers, funding institutes and regulatory bodies ensured that the study would provide valuable scientific information in a safe environment for the study participant. Finally, clinicians from neurosurgery, anesthesiology, physiatry, psychology and occupational therapy all worked in a multidisciplinary team along with the other researchers to conduct a multi-year BCI clinical study. This teamwork and coordination can be used as a model for others attempting to translate basic science into real-world clinical situations.

Personalized Neuroprosthetics

“…Compared to medical treatments based on drug delivery or surgery, neuroprosthetics necessitate the orchestrated contribution from neurosurgeons, neurologists, physiotherapists, and neuroengineers to conceive complex treatments centered on the patient. This transdisciplinary framework is only beginning to be applied (105). Through well-organized consortia combining synergistic diagnosis and technological platforms, neuroprosthetics may soon become a treatment option to improve the quality of life for individuals with neuromotor disorders.…”

Ultrasoft microwire neural electrodes improve chronic tissue integration

“…Neural signals recorded by implantable MEAs provide valuable information for systems neuroscience research, enabling researchers to gain insight into functional neural networks used in sensory processing [2], motor control [3] and cognitive functions [4]. Neural signals recorded can also be utilized clinically to control brain-computer interfaces (BCI) for the restoration of lost neural functions [5–12] or to understand the basis of neurological dysfunction [13,14]. Alternatively, electrical signals can be delivered by MEAs to modulate neural network activity, in order to substitute lost sensory input [15] or to treat the symptoms of a neural disease.…”

Ethical Issues Surrounding a New Generation of Neuroprostheses for Patients With Spinal Cord Injuries

“…This novel role for the participant may provide a notable sense of self‐worth and meaning but also can blur ethical boundaries. For instance, in a recent article reporting on the use of a BCI to control a robotic arm, the research participants, Tim Hemmes and Jan Scheuermann, are included in the publication as co‐authors of the study, and the article includes descriptions by Hemmes and Scheuermann of their experiences participating in the research [10]. It is likely that there are other studies in which participants played similar roles as Hemmes and Scheuermann but were not credited.…”