Fully implanted brain-computer interface in a locked-in patient with ALS
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Publication date
2016-11-24
Authors
Vansteensel, Mariska J
Pels, Elmar G M
Bleichner, Martin G.
Branco, Mariana P.
Denison, Timothy
Freudenburg, Z. V.
Gosselaar, Peter H.
Leinders, Sacha
Ottens, Thomas H.
van den Boom, Max A
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Document Type
Article
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Abstract
Options for people with severe paralysis who have lost the ability to communicate orally are limited. We describe a method for communication in a patient with late-stage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), involving a fully implanted brain-computer interface that consists of subdural electrodes placed over the motor cortex and a transmitter placed subcutaneously in the left side of the thorax. By attempting to move the hand on the side opposite the implanted electrodes, the patient accurately and independently controlled a computer typing program 28 weeks after electrode placement, at the equivalent of two letters per minute. The brain-computer interface offered autonomous communication that supplemented and at times supplanted the patient's eye-tracking device.
Keywords
General Medicine, Case Reports, Journal Article
Citation
Vansteensel, M J, Pels, E G M, Bleichner, M G, Branco, M P, Denison, T, Freudenburg, Z V, Gosselaar, P, Leinders, S, Ottens, T H, Van Den Boom, M A, Van Rijen, P C, Aarnoutse, E J & Ramsey, N F 2016, 'Fully implanted brain-computer interface in a locked-in patient with ALS', New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 375, no. 21, pp. 2060-2066. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1608085