First Communication with Complete Locked-In Patients

An international team of researchers around CorTec’s long-standing cooperation partner Niels Bierbaumer, University of Tübingen and Wyss Center Geneva, reported to be able to communicate with completely paralyzed persons in the so-called Complete Locked-In State who are suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Through a combined method using near-infrared spectroscopy together with electroencephalography (EEG) the researchers could overcome the limitations of the approaches tested so far. The patients were asked to answer general and also personal questions with either “yes” or “no”. The researchers determine the correct response rate with over 70%. A particularly surprising outcome of the study: The patients answered the question, if they were happy, repeatedly with “yes”.

The researchers regard their results as “a first step towards abolition of complete locked-in states, at least for ALS”.

Read the article

Get a Quote

We’re happy to help you realize your next project. Whether it is a complete implantable system design, an electrode or another component.

Please fill out the form below and our sales team will be in contact with you shortly.

SPECIFICATIONS

FEATURE 

Recording channels 

Sampling rate 

Sampling dynamic range 

High pass filter cut-off 

Low pass filter cut-off 

Amplifier band pass gain 

Band pass roll-off 

Reference


Stimulation 

Stimulation channels 

Current 

Current source 

Pulse width 

Power supply 

Wireless data transmission 

Closed Loop latency

VALUE

32 

1 kHz 

16 bit (74 nV smallest increment) 

ca. 2 Hz 

325 Hz 

Adjustable: 100-750 

20 dB/dec 

Any (subset) of the recording channels selectable by software or one dedicated hard-wired additional contact 

Current-controlled, biphasic, rectangular, asymmetric stimulus pulses (cathodic amplitude with pulse width followed by an anodic counter pulse of 1/4x amplitude and 4x pulse width) 

 32 

Max. -6 mA / +1.5 mA (24 µA increments) within

 compliance voltage range of -11 V to +5 V 

Can be directed to any of the 32 electrode contacts 

Negative phase: 10 µs – 2,500 µs

Wireless inductive, 120-140 kHz

Bi-directional, radio frequency in 2400-2483.5 MHz band ≤ 40 ms