Intuitive, complete neural control of tablet computers for communication

Brown University, Providence RI

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Intracortical brain-computer interfaces (iBCIs) have the potential to restore motor function and communication for individuals with severe speech and motor impairment (SSMI). While the potential applications of iBCIs are vast, the number of people who may benefit from an iBCI has not been quantified, nor has a methodology that quantifies an estimate of this population size been developed. To quantify the number of people within a major academic medical center who may benefit from an iBCI, a postdoctoral fellow will lead the team in use of the Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital (MGB) Research Patient Data Registry (RPDR). This database consists of all MGB clinical data from 7 million patients since 1975 (3 billion corresponding datapoints [e.g., diagnoses, procedures, etc.]). Detailed clinical records will be reviewed to determine the likelihood of an individual benefitting from an iBCI (e.g., symptom severity, prognosis). In our first step, we will first query the diagnosis codes for “locked-in state” (LIS) and develop a strategy to characterize iBCI benefit of these individuals. The team will include several clinician/neuroscientist reviewers and the study PI; inter-rater reliability will be assessed. After completing that initial study, the postdoctoral fellow will query additional ICD10/9 diagnosis codes relevant to communication and/or upper extremity deficits, sampling a statistically valid subset of cases to determine the likelihood of iBCI benefit for each cohort of patients. The postdoctoral fellow will learn from and work with a biostatistician with expertise in neurologic disease epidemiology. The percentages of people who received care for specific diagnoses at one academic medical center, and who would potentially benefit from an iBCI, will then be used to extrapolate incidence and prevalence in larger populations. Additionally, the postdoctoral fellow will evaluate the use of the investigational BrainGate neural interface system through the development and implementation of surveys that assess system efficacy, usability, and frequency of usage. These tools and analyses will be conducted with current and future BrainGate study participants, and will be valuable to demonstrate how iBCI technology may benefit future users, and to identify future desired features and applications. Importantly, the postdoctoral fellow supported by this supplement will also promote diversity in health-related research, bringing critical perspectives to both the performance and the content of research to restore communication.