An Integrated Brain-Machine Interface Platform With Thousands of Channels

Brain-machine interfaces hold promise for the restoration of sensory and motor function and the treatment of neurological disorders, but clinical brain-machine interfaces have not yet been widely adopted, in part, because modest channel counts have limited their potential. In this white paper, we describe Neuralink’s first steps toward a scalable high-bandwidth brain-machine interface system. We have built arrays of small and flexible electrode “threads,” with as many as 3072 electrodes per array distributed across 96 threads. We have also built a neurosurgical robot capable of inserting six threads (192 electrodes) per minute. Each thread can be individually inserted into the brain with micron precision for avoidance of surface vasculature and targeting specific brain regions. The electrode array is packaged into a small implantable device that contains custom chips for low-power on-board amplification and digitization: The package for 3072 channels occupies less than 23×18.5×2 mm3. A single USB-C cable provides full-bandwidth data streaming from the device, recording from all channels simultaneously. This system has achieved a spiking yield of up to 70% in chronically implanted electrodes. Neuralink’s approach to brain-machine interface has unprecedented packaging density and scalability in a clinically relevant package.

An Integrated Brain-Machine Interface Platform With Thousands of Channels (Preprint)

UNSTRUCTURED Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) hold promise for the restoration of sensory and motor function and the treatment of neurological disorders, but clinical BMIs have not yet been widely adopted, in part, because modest channel counts have limited their potential. In this white paper, we describe Neuralink’s first steps toward a scalable high-bandwidth BMI system. We have built arrays of small and flexible electrode “threads,” with as many as 3072 electrodes per array distributed across 96 threads. We have also built a neurosurgical robot capable of inserting six threads (192 electrodes) per minute. Each thread can be individually inserted into the brain with micron precision for avoidance of surface vasculature and targeting specific brain regions. The electrode array is packaged into a small implantable device that contains custom chips for low-power on-board amplification and digitization: The package for 3072 channels occupies less than 23×18.5×2 mm3. A single USB-C cable provides full-bandwidth data streaming from the device, recording from all channels simultaneously. This system has achieved a spiking yield of up to 70% in chronically implanted electrodes. Neuralink’s approach to BMI has unprecedented packaging density and scalability in a clinically relevant package.

Rigid Cranial Fixation for Robot-Assisted Stereoelectroencephalography in Toddlers: Technical Considerations

BACKGROUND Stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG) using depth electrodes has become a mainstay of pediatric epilepsy surgery. This technique relies on rigid cranial fixation using skull pins, which forms the basis for accurate stereotactic navigation. The use of cranial fixation pins poses the threat of traumatic skull injuries in young children because of inadequate cranial bone thickness. OBJECTIVE To describe a rigid cranial fixation technique involving the integrated Gel Head Ring from the DORO QR3 multipurpose skull clamp set (Pro Med Instruments) with superimposed pin fixation in children below the age of 36 mo undergoing sEEG. METHODS Patients were placed in the supine position and the head was fixed using a DORO skull clamp with 3 pediatric cranial pins. The head was supported on the integrated Gel Head Ring, and a pin pressure of 20 pounds was applied. The DORO skull clamp set was then attached to the ROSA neurosurgical robot support telescopic arm for stereotactic navigation. RESULTS We present an illustrative series of 2 patients below the age of 3 yr with medically refractory epilepsy who underwent sEEG using our modified cranial fixation technique. Head position and reference registration were stable throughout the surgeries. Postoperative volumetric computed tomography scans of the head showed accurate placement of sEEG depth electrodes and did not reveal any fractures or epidural hematoma. No other complications related to cranial fixation were noted. CONCLUSION Concurrent use of rigid and nonrigid cranial fixation using the DORO skull clamp set provides safe and effective cranial fixation in infants and toddlers undergoing sEEG.

An integrated brain-machine interface platform with thousands of channels

Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) hold promise for the restoration of sensory and motor function and the treatment of neurological disorders, but clinical BMIs have not yet been widely adopted, in part because modest channel counts have limited their potential. In this white paper, we describe Neuralink’s first steps toward a scalable high-bandwidth BMI system. We have built arrays of small and flexible electrode “threads”, with as many as 3,072 electrodes per array distributed across 96 threads. We have also built a neurosurgical robot capable of inserting six threads (192 electrodes) per minute. Each thread can be individually inserted into the brain with micron precision for avoidance of surface vasculature and targeting specific brain regions. The electrode array is packaged into a small implantable device that contains custom chips for low-power on-board amplification and digitization: the package for 3,072 channels occupies less than (23 × 18.5 × 2) mm3. A single USB-C cable provides full-bandwidth data streaming from the device, recording from all channels simultaneously. This system has achieved a spiking yield of up to 70% in chronically implanted electrodes. Neuralink’s approach to BMI has unprecedented packaging density and scalability in a clinically relevant package.