HSE Neural Interface Technology to Be Introduced in Hospitals
The Federal Brain and Neural Technology Centre at the Federal Medical and Biological Agency is launching the Laboratory of Medical Neural Interfaces and Artificial Intelligence for Clinical Applications, which has been created by employees of HSE University. Read below to find out about the Laboratory and its objectives.
The laboratory has been created as part of the Neurocampus 2030 project, which is being implemented by a consortium of the Federal Brain and Neural Technology Centre (a flagship clinical research organisation that conducts research into pathologies of the nervous system and provides high-tech medical care), the Pirogov Russian Research Medical University and the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Alexey Ossadtchi, Director of the HSE Centre for Bioelectric Interfaces, is the Head of the Laboratory. Apart from professional development and extra income for his staff (which are important for maintaining and developing a unique research team), his interest in a long-term partnership with the Federal Brain and Neural Technology Centre and in working at Neurocampus in south-west Moscow lies in the opportunity to access clinical facilities, ie to work with patients.
‘Over a number of years, our Centre for Bioelectric Interfaces has developed a number of technologies that meet medical professionals’ needs and are based on methods of brain mapping. Such methods allow us to identify the location of individual cortical functions. These technologies require translational research and implementation into clinical practice,’ says Alexey Ossadtchi.
Treating patients with epilepsy that is not amenable to medication may require surgery to remove the area of the cerebral cortex where seizures begin. Before the surgery, such areas must be located as accurately as possible, ideally without further surgery. The laboratory is going to combine different methods of functional brain mapping (magnetoencephalography, electroencephalography, positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, etc), which will enable surgeons to remove these areas noninvasively.
Researchers face a number of technical issues related to assessing the effectiveness of the various techniques and synthesising the information obtained. They will be interacting with doctors to explain their findings, and the doctors will be able to articulate their needs as to what they expect to receive from the researchers. Consultative meetings and in-depth discussions are also scheduled. The final objective is to establish a diagnostic service for patients with epilepsy.
Another focus of the laboratory is the testing of passive speech-mapping methods and the development of minimally invasive systems for prosthetics of speech function—the creation of a ‘speech prosthesis’.
Having learned how to record the brain activity of people saying words to themselves in their heads, the researchers decided to take the next step and try to decode these words. The HSE Centre for Bioelectric Interfaces began developing the corresponding technology with support from Huawei. These R&D efforts will continue at the Laboratory of Medical Neural Interfaces and Artificial Intelligence for Clinical Applications. The ‘speech prosthesis’ is to be tested in clinical practice.
Brain activity will be read using electrodes—thin needles less than a millimetre in diameter, which are inserted into a certain area of the skull to read signals of brain activity. Such implantation of electrodes can be done under local anaesthesia.
In addition to clinical validation, the new laboratory will certify, patent, and commercialise their developments. With clinical cases available, researchers will not have to undergo lengthy testing or convince doctors of its necessity. The Priority 2030 programme will finance the laboratory for eight years. According to the creators of the technology, this period is sufficient to ensure commercialisation of the technology.
‘By opening a laboratory at the Federal Brain and Neural Technology Centre, we are rounding out the development cycle. On the one hand, we develop algorithms, techniques, and mathematical methods, and test them in the clinic. On the other hand, we communicate closely with doctors, understanding their objectives and aspirations, and we consider this in our development work. As a result, researchers and doctors can learn from each other, while patients receive more high-tech and, in some cases, less invasive and more effective medical care,’ says Alexey Ossadtchi.
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