NICOP - Multi-Optrode Array for Neural Interfacing
Abstract
Brain/machine interfaces (BMIs) with sensory feedback have the potential to restorelost functions in disabled people and enhance the capabilities of able-bodied people,however, designing a practical in-vivo device is extremely challenging. This project isthe first step into the development of a Multi-Optrode Array (MOA) capable ofsimultaneous long-term recording and stimulation of neuronal activity in the brain andperipheral nervous system, with high channel count, high spatial resolution, and largearea coverage, in-vitro and in-vivo.We propose optical biopotential transducers based on liquid crystals (LCs) as analternative approach to existing multi electrode arrays (MEAs). The technology wepropose records neuronal signals optically, through LC ???pixels???, and it is based onoptical transducers originally developed by the investigators for industrial sensing.This innovative approach offers all the benefits of existing MEAs, but with severalimportant advantages: (i) it decouples the reading electronics from the biologicaltissue; (ii) it does not require any wiring, as the multiplexing is performed optically;(iii) it is entirely passive. The goal of this project is to demonstrate the feasibility ofthis novel, scalable, optical technology, by building and testing a prototype recordingsystem with 64 channels, consisting of a MOA and a read-out unit.The technology developed during this project will provide researchers with a toolhaving unprecedented resolution, coverage and flexibility, and will ultimately lead tothe fabrication of embeddable, conformal optrode-arrays of sufficient resolution andbandwidth to enable the control of machines through the brain. The outcomes of thisproject fall into the program Code 34 ???Warfighter performance???, division ???B.Warfighter Protection and Applications???, with particular reference to the goal of???enhancing cognitive and physiological performance of Navy and Marine Corpspersonnel in military environments???. By providing an interface between brain andcomputer, the success of this proposal will also provide an amazing tool for thecognitive science of learning, computational neuroscience and the study of humanrobot interactions, topics covered by division ???A. Human and bioengineeredsystems???.The desired outcomes of this research effort are:1. Publication of one or more scientific papers in high quality journals, reporting thesuccessful recording of sciatic nerve signals in vitro and in vivo.2. Additional research. The successful completion of this project should stimulateadditional research into the optrode technology and should help raising more fundsto do it. We envision a clear path at the end of this project: (i) building a prototypeMOA capable of stimulating neural or muscular activity through light delivered byoptical fibres; (ii) integrating the recording and stimulation features into a singledevice with customisable geometry.3. Commercialisation. Ideally, the success of this project will lead to thecommercialisation of the optrode technology.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 04, 2018
- Source ID
- N629091812147
Entities
People
- Leonardo Silvestri
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of New South Wales