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Visuomotor Prosthetic for Paralysis

To find out more,

Contact:

Kelsie Pejsa

626-395-8336

email: pejsa@vis.caltech.edu

recruitgraphic
tablet

Subjects will learn to control the Android tablet operating system using brain control.

brochure2

This study is intended for people who are paralyzed and are interested in advancing science and technology

What are the requirements for participating in this study?

This study is intended for people who are paralyzed and are interested in advancing science and technology.

In order to participate in this study, you must meet a few minimum requirements:

  • High level spinal cord injury (SCI)
  • Able to breathe on your own
  • Over 21 years old
  • Able to travel to one of the study sites (You will be paid for your time and reimbursed for your travel costs).

These are the basic criteria, and the study team will review these items and other eligibility requirements with you in person. Because the BMI device will be implanted temporarily, this study is not intended to provide direct benefit to you. However, information learned during this study could help us understand how to better develop a BMI system for future use by spinal cord injury patients.

Study sessions occur at either California Institute of Technology or Casa Colina Rehabilitation Center

This research study involves risks typically associated with brain surgery. The research team will help you understand these risks, as well as any other risks involved with this study.

You may withdraw from this study at any time and for any reason.

You will be compensated for taking part in this study.

If this study interests you, we encourage you to contact us for more information. We will review all of this information with you in person, and give you an opportunity to ask questions.

Brain-Machine Interfaces

Physicians and researchers at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation, and the California Institute of Technology are conducting a research study to develop a brain-machine interface, or BMI, for persons with spinal cord injuries. A BMI interprets brain activity in order to control an external device such as a computer cursor or robotic limb. Participants in this study will receive a BMI and practice using it for about a year.

The BMI device in this study involves placing very small sensors, about the size of a pencil eraser, into areas of the brain that are known to plan arm movements. These plans would normally be sent to other regions of the brain to perform the actual movements. By tying into this planning activity, and sending the signals to a computer instead, the BMI system can translate these plans into actual movement of a computer cursor.

Neuroport Array
Small electrode arrays placed on the brain surface

What will happen in this Study?

This study has received an Investigative Device Exemption (IDE) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to implant the BMI device for approximately one year. If you participate in this study, you will undergo two surgeries: one to place the device at the beginning of the study, and one to remove the device at the end of the study.

To place the device, two small arrays of sensors, each about the size of a pencil eraser, will be placed through an opening in your skull. The wires from the arrays will be attached to two connectors that are fixed to the skull. These connectors will be used to send signals from the sensors to our computer system. After the surgery, you will spend up to two weeks in post-operative monitoring and healing.

After you have recovered from the placement surgery, you will train with study personnel to learn how to use the BMI. Training sessions may occur up to five days per week, and we will work with you to determine the best schedule. During these training sessions, you will learn how to use your brain activity to control a computer. Learning to use the BMI will require consistent practice and effort. You will start with simple tasks and gradually move to more complicated activities. Our goal is to allow you to control a tablet computer.

After about 1 year, the arrays and connectors will be removed. As with the first surgery, you will spend up to two weeks in post-operative monitoring and healing. Additionally, you will be asked to come back to the hospital for follow-up care during your recovery.