Neural Interfaces Resources & Contracts

Research Project Portfolio

A complete list of active NINDS-supported projects that are within the Neural Interfaces Program is available. Included within the portfolio are projects supported through specific program announcements, the small business grant program, and contract mechanisms.

Effective June 2, 2008: Contract progress reports are no longer directly available on the Neural Interfaces Program page. Lists of current contracts and past contracts are still accessible and include the statements of work.

Materials and Fabrication

• The Integrated Neural Interfaces Program materials database containing materials that have been investigated and tested for their use as encapsulation for implantable neural interface devices. The materials investigated include amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiCx:H), Parylene, silicone, and epoxy based resins. Data sets include insulation long-term stability and reliability data in wet ionic environments using accelerated ageing impedance spectroscopy and leakage current tests as well as various adhesion tests. The database not only contains the results from research conducted by the University of Utah, but also lists selected relevant data obtained from literature. For more information, please contact Dr. S. Kim or Dr. F. Solzbacher.
• Advanced Platform Technology (APT) Center is able to provide the following resources for developing, testing and implementing neural interfaces: 1) manufacture and supply of nerve- and muscle-based stimulating and recording electrodes 2) neural modeling and analysis of interface designs 3) polymer and bioactive material development 4) microelectromechanical (MEMS) systems design and fabrication 5) rapid prototyping 6) pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo verification of electrode and neural interface performances 8) circuit and software design and 9) system validation and design control documentation. For more information, contact .

Data Collection, Modeling, and Processing

• Physionet is an online resource including open source data analysis software and a biomedical signal bank.
• BSMART: A Matlab/C Toolbox for Analyzing Brain Circuits. BSMART, an acronym of Brain-System for Multivariate AutoRegressive Timeseries, is an open-source software package for analyzing brain circuits. The package provides users with analytic tools to characterize, with high spatial, temporal, and frequency resolution, functional relations within large multi-channel neural data sets. A unique feature of the BSMART package is Granger causality that can be used to assess causal influences and directions of driving among multiple neural signals.
• Cicerone: Patient-Specific Deep Brain Stimulation Modeling Software. Written for a Windows PC environment, Cicerone allows co-registration of magnetic resonance imaging data, computed tomography images, 3D brain atlases, microelectrode recording data, and DBS electrode(s) to the neurosurgical stereotactic coordinate system. The system also enables visualization of theoretical volumes of tissue activated as a function of the DBS parameter settings. Scientific investigators interested in using Cicerone should contact Dr. Cameron McIntyre.
• Dynamic Arm Simulator project provides musculoskeletal models for the real-time, dynamic simulation of arm movement by direct muscle activation. These models can be used to provide realistic visual feedback of simulated arm movement during 'patient-in-the-loop' testing of neural prosthesis controllers and command interfaces, and as training and assessment tools for new and potential NP users. Various models are available, from simple, two joint, planar arm movement (available now) to full 3D models of the entire shoulder girdle and upper limb (coming soon). Further details can be found at https://simtk.org/home/das/. Other models are also available for offline analyses of movement, including inverse dynamics, and these will be added to the SimTK repository shortly.
• Neuroshare offers open data specifications and software for neurophysiology
• Neuromax offers a software toolbox for analysis of multichannel microelectrode array data
• MEA-Tools offers MATLAB Tools for the analysis of multi-neuronal data recorded with multi-electrode arrays.
• EMG-Lab is a forum for sharing software, data, and information related to EMG decomposition. The goals of this resource are to promote decomposition as a research tool and to promote exchange of EMG data, attention to accuracy, and algorithm innovation.

Neurotechnology Links

• Other Government Sites:
  • Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) works in the area of neuroprosthetics toward solutions for the soldier and society
  • Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) currently has a Revolutionizing Prosthetics Program to create a fully functional upper limb controlled by neural signals.
  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has several specific web pages of interest:
    • Device Advice offers information for medical devices
    • Pre-IDE Program: Issues and Answers helps to explain the Pre-IDE purpose and process
• Business Links: The following sites offer a business perspective of the neurotechnology industry
  • Neurotech Reports
  • Neurotechnology Industry Organization is a trade association respresenting companies involved in neuroscience - drugs, devices and diagnostics.
• Organizations:
  • Neurotech Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to neurotechnology and its users
  • Neural Prosthesis Program Contract Reports - This site contains publicly disclosed quarterly progress reports from the Neural Prosthesis Program since 1993. This wikispace website is privately operated and is not affiliated with NINDS.

NINDS health-related material is provided for information purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or any other Federal agency. All NINDS-prepared information is in the public domain and may be freely copied. Credit to the NINDS or the NIH is appreciated.