MindEx: A Novel, Multifocal, Cognitive Brain-Machine Interface System
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 招募中
- 发起方
- 入组人数
- 2
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- Continuous trajectory decoding
研究概览
简要总结
This research study is being done to develop a novel brain-computer interface (BCI) technology that can enable severely paralyzed individuals to interact with the world through direct brain-control of a computer. This technology is named MindEx (for Mind Extender). It utilizes four implanted "chips" in the human brain from which investigators can record brain activity during subjects' thoughts and decode meaningful information from this activity to be used as control signals for a computer, a laptop, or a tablet. The use of four brain regions is a significant differentiating feature and scientific innovation of this study over much prior work in this space, that typically derived control signals from one, or sometimes two brain regions. The brain regions to be used here can allow the decode of multiple variables simultaneously, including not just moment-to-moment position, but also high-level goals, intentions, decisions, scene comprehension, and error-related signals involved in natural human behavior. The research is being done through a prospective, longitudinal, single-arm early feasibility study to examine the safety and effectiveness of using MindEx to provide the user an intuitive, efficient, and accurate ability to control multiple applications on a computer interface such as a word processor, a paint application, or to play simple video games. Such versatility could greatly improve the autonomy and quality of life of severely paralyzed individuals. Two subjects will be enrolled, each implanted with MindEx for a period of at least 53 weeks and up to 313 weeks. The study is expected to take at least one year and up to six years in total.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Na
- 干预模型
- Single Group
- 主要目的
- Device Feasibility
- 盲法
- None
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 65 Years（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 否
入选标准
- •Paralysis resulting from cervical spinal cord injury (SCI), brainstem stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic), or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- •Provide informed consent
- •Understand and comply with instructions, if necessary, with the aid of a translator
- •Communicate via speech or other means
- •Surgical clearance
- •Life expectancy greater than 12 months
- •Travel to study locations up to five days per week for the duration of the study
- •Caregiver monitor for surgical site complications and behavioral changes on a daily basis
- •Psychosocial support system
- •Stable ventilator status
排除标准
- •Presence of memory problems
- •Intellectual impairment
- •Psychotic illness or chronic psychiatric disorder, including major depression if untreated
- •Poor visual acuity
- •Pregnancy
- •Active infection or unexplained fever
- •Scalp lesions or skin breakdown
- •HIV or AIDS infection
- •Active cancer or chemotherapy
- •Autonomic dysreflexia
- •History of seizure
- •Implanted hydrocephalus shunt
- •Prior cranioplasty
- •Other implanted devices
- •Medical conditions contraindicating surgery and chronic implantation of a medical device
- •Unable to undergo MRI or anticipated need for MRI during the study
- •Breastfeeding an infant (direct nursing or via a bottle of expressed milk)
- •Chronic oral or intravenous use of steroids or immunosuppressive therapy
- •Suicidal ideation
- •Drug or alcohol dependence
- •Planning to become pregnant, or unwilling to use adequate birth control
研究组 & 干预措施
Mind Extender (MindEx)
MindEx consists of two Neuroport Multi-Port Arrays, described in detail in the intervention description. Each NeuroPort Multi-Port Array comprises two electrode arrays implanted into human brain tissue, for a total of four electrode arrays. These will be in 1) prefrontal cortex, a brain area involved in scene comprehension, action selection, and error signaling, 2) premotor cortex, a brain area involved in planning ongoing and upcoming actions, 3) posterior parietal cortex, a brain area involved in processing sensory-to-motor transformations during movements, and 4) primary motor cortex, responsible for controlling movement. The pair of electrode arrays in each NeuroPort Multi-Port Array connect to a single percutaneous pedestal attached to the skull during a surgical procedure. Following recovery from the surgical placement, subjects will participate in study sessions up to 5 times a week. They will learn to use thought to control applications on a computer, a laptop, or a tablet.
干预措施: Mind Extender (MindEx) (Device)
结局指标
主要结局
Continuous trajectory decoding
时间窗: Six years after array implantation
A primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the system in providing users the ability to continuously move a cursor on a tablet/computer. The hypothesis is that trajectory readability from neural signals will be significantly greater than the level of chance. Standardized tests will be used to test this objective, and performance will be compared to the level of chance. One example of a standardized test to be used is the accuracy of continuous trajectory decoding measured by the radial-8 assessment task.
Incidence of intervention-related adverse events
时间窗: Six years after array implantation
Serious adverse events (SAE) will be evaluated against a 1% threshold level. We will use regular inspection of the subjects' scalps to assess for breakdown, discharge, or infection, and use history and physical exam to evaluate for new symptoms, and compare to baseline assessments.
Competency in computer/tablet control
时间窗: Six years after array implantation
An underlying hypothesis in this study is that the system will enable users the ability to control a computer/tablet interface by selecting icons. An underlying hypothesis in the study is that neural signals will enable decoding the chosen target at higher accuracy than the level of chance. Standardized tests will be used to test this objective, and performance will be compared to the level of chance. An example of a standardized test to be used is the brain-control for tablet test (BCTT) which grades the accuracy of target selection by mental fixation to the level of chance.
Efficacy of multiple brain regions for neural control over subsets of brain regions
时间窗: Six years after array implantation
An objective of this study is to determine whether the combination of neural signals from multiple brain regions in brain-computer interface control is more advantageous than from a subset of the brain regions being tested. The hypothesis is that because the four brain regions being implanted each encode different cognitive functions, their integration will be more useful to brain-computer interface control, than any subset of these regions. This objective will be tested by standardized tests (such as those mentioned for "Competency in computer/tablet control" and "Continuous trajectory decoding") in different groups of brain regions and reported for each, such as: 1. All four brain regions: prefrontal cortex (PFC), posterior parietal cortex (PPC), dorsal premotor cortex (PMd), primary motor cortex (M1) 2. PMd,PPC, and M1 3. PPC and M1 alone
次要结局
- Change in quality of life(Time Frame: Annually, for six years)
研究者
Nader Pouratian
Professor & Chair
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center