← TR5.....MIND SWITCH - THINK APPLIANCES ON, OFF, OR ADJUST | Report index | APPENDIX IMP2 - ITALIAN DOCTOR REPORTS HUMAN IMPLANTATION →

APPENDIX IMP1 - PROMOTION OF HUMAN IMPLANTATION BY NIH

THIS TEXT WAS COPIED FROM THE ORIGINAL NIH/CNCT WEB SITE AT THIS
ADDRESS:

http://www.engin.umich.edu/center/cnct/orgind.html

Center for Neural Communication Technology Organization

The NIH NCRR requires that its Centers have several basic components:
internal research projects, collaborative research projects, and
service to external investigators in the form of distribution and
training.  The organization of the Center for Neural Communication
Technology (CNCT) will be described here with links to more details
on individual projects.
 
The underlying goal for all of the work conducted by the CNCT is to
make multichannel recording and stimulation devices available to
researchers which will enable them to more efficiently communicate
with the brain.  Micromachined electrodes offer the potential to
extend small ensemble studies to tissue volume studies consisting of
dozens if not hundreds of cells.

Internal Research Projects

There are three internal research projects under the Center which are
designed to enhance the capability of the base technology:

Project 1, Extensions of Micromachined Microelectrode Technology:

    Extend the basic structure of the device to include fluid
    carrying channels for delivery of fluids to tissue volume,
    and/or to lesion at recording/stimulation site locations.

Project 2, Biological Neural Networks:

    Develop techniques for data acquisition from and analysis of
    neural circuits in the volume surrounding arrays of recording
    devices.  The direction which has been proposed for this project
    over the next grant period will be to study the relationships
    between the physical characteristics of the devices and the
    architecture of the neural tissue to rationalize the process of
    design and experimentally explore and model the deterioration of
    chronic implants over time to improve their behavior.  A recent
    poster presentation on data collected from the cochlear nucleus
    can be seen [on the original site.]

Project 3, Morphological Visualization and Assessment:

    Explore the envelope of tissue surrounding stimulation,
    recording and/or chemical delivery probes for histological
    evidence of deterioration of probe performance which has been
    observed electrophysiologically in vivo.

Collaborative Research Projects

In addition to internal projects, there are multiple collaborative
research projects with investigators outside the Center.
Collaborators contribute significantly toward improving and expanding
the use of the technology in areas including optimization of device
designs, evaluation of chronic connectors, interconnects and cranial
chambers, improvement of implantation methods, development of
protocols for chronic electrode site maintenance, testing of advanced
devices, and exploration of new application areas.

Here are links to webpages of some of our collaborators (more to come.....):

http://osiris.rutgers.edu/Buzsaki.html

    Gyorgy Buzsaki, M.D., Ph.D., Rutgers University, Neural network
    activity in the hippocampal formation

http://www.dbbs.wustl.edu/RIB/Highstein.html

    Steven Highstein, M.D. Ph.D., Washington University, Effects of
    microgravity upon the labyrinth

http://msewww.engin.umich.edu/people/milty/protein_polymers.html

    David Martin, Ph.D., University of Michigan, Microstructure and
    processing of bioactive protein polymers

http://www.med.umich.edu/khri/censys/jmiddleb.htm

    John Middlebrooks, Ph.D., University of Michigan, Cortical
    representation of auditory space

Service to investigators outside of the CNCT is provided in the forms
of distribution of probes, and training in their use.

Distribution has been a key component of the CNCT since its
inception.  In fact, it provided the main motivation for applying for
the first NIH NCRR grant in 1994. To receive probes, we require that
investigators fill out an application.  Details of the variety of
devices which we offer to the research public are outlined in a
catalog. Standard devices are provided packaged appropriate for acute
use.  Prior to receiving additional batches of probes, we require the
submission of a feedback form so that we may track progress and use
the data to better understand and improve the technology.
 
The CNCT offers several training opportunities to provide education
and experience in the design, handling and application of
multichannel probes.