Using brain-machine interface technology to help individuals with severe paralysis control devices

A Sensorimotor Microelectrode Brain-Machine Interface for Individuals With Significant Upper Limb Impairment

This study tests if people with severe paralysis can use a brain-machine interface to control devices just by thinking, helping them interact with the world despite their inability to move.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Ages: 22 Years to 70 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh (other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy
• Locations: 2 sites (Chicago, Illinois and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT01894802 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This research focuses on the safety and efficacy of implanting microelectrode arrays on the brain's surface to record motor cortex activity and stimulate sensory cortex. The study aims to enable individuals with severe paralysis to control devices through their brain signals, despite their inability to move due to spinal cord injuries or other conditions. Participants will be trained to send neural signals that are interpreted by a computer, allowing them to interact with various devices. Additionally, the study explores the use of microstimulation to mimic sensory feedback from limbs that are no longer functional.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals with limited or no ability to use one or both hands due to specific injuries or conditions affecting the spinal cord or brain.

Not a fit: Patients with functional use of their hands or those who are not over one year post-injury may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly enhance the quality of life for individuals with severe paralysis by restoring some level of control over their environment.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies utilizing brain-machine interface technology have shown promise, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects must have limited or no ability to use one or both hands due to cervical spinal cord injury, brainstem stroke, brachial plexus injury, above-elbow amputation, or spinal stroke. Individuals with intact limbs must have less than grade 2 strength in finger flexor and abduction on the contralateral side to the implant and a t-score \<35 on the PROMIS Upper Extremity Short Form. The non-functional hand(s) may be involved passively in functional tasks; for example, pushing an object or passively grasping an object placed into the hand. However, the participant must report that they have no functional use of their hand(s).
2. Subjects must report that they are unable to perform functional activities with the hand contralateral to implantation.
3. Subjects must be over 1 year post-injury at time of implantation. In addition, subject must report no worsening in neurologic status (strength, sensation) for the previous 6 months.
4. Subjects must be between the ages of 22-70 years old at the time of enrollment and completion of the study. Participants outside this age range may be at an increased surgical risk and increased risk of fatigue during BMI training.
5. Subjects must live within 2 hours of the research site during the study or be willing to travel to the research site at least once per week for BMI training.
6. If subjects do not live in the area, they are expected to stay somewhere within 2 hours of the research site for at least 18 months after enrollment.
7. Subjects must be able to communicate with the investigators in English because of the need to follow the instructions of the study team.
8. Subjects must show an understanding of the study goals and have the ability to follow simple directions as judged by the investigators
9. Subjects must have results that are within normal limits on neuropsychological and psychosocial assessment; psychosocial health and support will be assessed by interview with the psychologist.
10. Subjects must be able to activate distinct cortical areas during imagined or attempted movement tasks (i.e. hand movement and speaking or moving the mouth); this will be evaluated with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as part of screening.
11. Subjects must have a stable psychosocial support and caregivers who are able to perform the necessary daily care of the participant's skin and pedestal site. This requires that the subject identify a caregiver and a backup who have been in place for greater than 6 months and are able to provide needed physical and psychosocial support. This will be assessed by the sponsor-investigator and study neurosurgeon.
12. Subjects must have a life expectancy greater than 18 months as assessed by the study investigator and neurosurgeon sub-investigator
13. Documentation of informed consent must be obtained from the participant or their legal representative.
14. Participants with transhumeral amputation must have been evaluated for a prosthesis, and if deemed appropriate, were fit with an optimized prosthesis. The prosthesis should be used/considered for the PROMIS evaluation.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Visual impairment such that extended viewing of a computer monitor would be difficult even with ordinary corrective lenses
2. Another serious disease(s) or disorder(s) that could affect ability to participate in this study (verified during pre-op anesthesia evaluation to determine surgical risk status)
3. Recent history of pressure sores that could be exacerbated by 1-2 days of bed rest
4. Metallic implant(s) that would prohibit the subject from having an fMRI scan; spinal fixators are generally non-ferrous and would not exclude someone from participating in the study
5. Any type of implantable generator such as a pacemaker, spinal cord stimulator, cochlear implant, deep brain stimulator (DBS), DBS leads, vagus nerve stimulator, or defibrillator
6. Women of childbearing age who are pregnant, lactating, or plan to become pregnant during the next 25 months
7. Allergy to contrast medium or kidney failure that could be exacerbated by contrast agent (for MRI)
8. Subjects receiving medications (such as sedatives) chronically that may retard motor coordination and cognitive ability
9. Individuals who require routine MRI, therapeutic ultrasound, or diathermy
10. Individuals with osteomyelitis
11. Severe skin disorder that causes excessive skin sloughing, lesions or breakdown of the scalp
12. History of myocardial infarction or cardiac arrest or with intractable cardiac arrhythmias
13. Individuals with an implanted hydrocephalus shunt
14. Individuals who have had a stroke caused by a surgical procedure
15. Active infection(s) or unexplained fever (verified during pre-op anesthesia evaluation to determine surgical risk status)
16. Consumption of more than 1 alcoholic beverage per day on average
17. Receiving chronic oral or intravenous steroids or immunosuppressive therapy
18. Active cancer within the past year (other than adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer) or require chemotherapy
19. Uncontrolled insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
20. Uncontrolled autonomic dysreflexia within the past 3 months (for those with spinal cord injury)
21. Individuals with seizure disorders currently being treated with anti-epileptic medications and individuals with a familial history of seizure disorders
22. Individuals who have attempted suicide in the past 12 months
23. Individuals who are immunosuppressed or who have conditions that typically result in immunocompromise (including, but not limited to: ataxia-telangiectasia, cancer, Chediak-Higashi syndrome, combined immunodeficiency disease, complement deficiencies, DiGeorge syndrome, HIV/AIDS, hypogammaglobulinemia, Job syndrome, leukocyte adhesion defects, malnutrition, panhypogammaglobulinemia, Bruton disease, congenital agammaglobulinemia, selective deficiency of IgA and Wiscott-Aldrich syndrome)
24. Individuals who have had previous neurosurgical intervention involving the frontal lobes (especially the motor cortex) and/or parietal lobe (especially the somatosensory cortex) that is likely to impact the viability of an intracortical electrode
25. Individuals with active psychiatric concerns, including but not limited to major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder
26. Individuals with substance abuse within 6 months of study participation
27. Individuals who are judged by a clinician as being an unsafe ambulator - This would be decided based on a history of frequent uncontrolled falls more than 3 or 4 in a year, or falls that resulted in injury
28. Individuals who plan to participate in contact sports or sports that require a helmet

Where this trial is running

Chicago, Illinois and 1 other locations

• University of Chicago — Chicago, Illinois, United States (RECRUITING)
• University of Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Michael L Boninger, MD — University of Pittsburgh
• Study coordinator: Olivia L Campbell

Conditions: Tetraplegia, Spinal Cord Injury, Brainstem Stroke, Brachial Plexus Injury, Above Elbow Amputation, Quadriplegia, Spinal cord injury, Brainstem or spinal stroke