Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are important technologies that allow users to control external devices like computer cursors by using their brain signals rather than peripheral nerves and muscles. Current approaches to BCi control of a computer cursor interpret neural activity associated with imagined reaching and grasping movements for cursor translation and click. University of Pittsburgh researchers have invented a better approach for click control, using a different set of cortical responses to identify the onset and offset of a click action. This novel approach has enabled BCI users to complete a click-and-drag task with a success rate 10 times higher than with existing methods. This function is essential for high-performance computer use and clinical application of BCI technology. Intracortical brain-computer interfaces (iBCI) have the potential to restore independence for individuals with significant motor or communication impairments. Several companies are already actively developing clinical, implantable BCI technology for computer access and Pitt’s novel invention function is an important component of these future devices.
Description
Pitt researchers have demonstrated that cortical activity transients at the onset and offset of attempted grasp can be used to provide high-quality, generalizable click control for iBCI computer cursor applications. This transient-based click decoder achieved both point-and-click and click-and-drag functionality, which was not possible with previous click decoding approaches. Pitt’s novel invention relies on the observation that when a person attempts to make a grasping movement there are unique transient signals that appear in the neural activity at the beginning and end of the grasp. Rather than identifying the grasp state continuously from the neural activity, this invention detects these transient responses to control the transitions between un-clicked and clicked states. Future studies will focus on extending the dimensionality of click control and translating the decoding approach to the control of robotic limbs to improve real-world grasp functionality.
Applications
· Clinical use and private companies interested in BCI technology
· Help individuals with motor or communication impairments.
Advantages
· 10 times higher success rate than with existing methods
· Novel invention will play important role in future device development
Invention Readiness
Prototype
IP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230074730A1
