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Center for Neural Communication Technology

Contents

• Contact Information
• Grant Number
• Research Emphasis
• CNCT Events
• Current Research
• References

Research Emphasis

The effort of the Center for Neural Communication Technology (CNCT) is aimed at pushing the leading edge of neuroscience by developing increasingly sophisticated devices to implant in the brain. A critical enabling technology will be the next generation of microfabricated neural probes that can interface with the central nervous system at both cellular and network levels. As the premier resource for neural communication technology, CNCT offers a systematic, sequenced research and development program that integrates cutting-edge neurotechnologies with pioneering neuroscience applications. The primary objectives of the CNCT are to:

• Develop microscale neural probes, treatments, and methodologies for long-term electrical and chemical interfaces with targeted areas of the brain.
• Integrate these components into devices that can be implanted in the brain, assess their long-term biocompatibility, and explore their performance in a variety of applications.
• Provide service and training to Center participants so they can fully understand and use our devices and methodologies in their research.
• Disseminate research and technology outcomes to collaborators and invited users, the national and international research community, scientific media and educators, NIH/government staff, medical device industry participants, and clinicians.

The Center works closely with its collaborators to definne, refine, and test new techniques and devices that are directed at providing more powerful neural interfaces. Beyond its core research program, CNCT disseminates the latest information available to its diverse communities; offers training and develops protocols; and provides key services to facilitate device delivery and set benchmarks for performance.

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CNCT Events

• The CNCT Summit Meeting on Chronic Microscale Neural Interfaces will be held Sunday, June 15, 2008, in conjunction with the Neural Interfaces Conference in Cleveland, Ohio.
• CNCT Directors, Daryl R. Kipke and William Shain, will be chairing a Symposium titled Advanced Neurotechnologies for Chronic Neural Interfaces: New Horizons and Clinical Opportunities at the 38th Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., in November 2008.

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Current Research

Three core research projects will advance neural probe technologies for long-term chronic multifunctional neural interfaces in response to requirements of collaborators, users, and the national research community:

• Core 1: Develop microscale neural probes, treatments, and methodologies for long-term, muti-channel electrical and chemical neural interfaces with targeted areas of the brain
• Core 2: Develop probe systems for chemical sampling and analysis of brain extracellular fluid
• Core 3: Understand and control tissue responses around inserted microfabricated neural prosthetic devices.

In addition to the Core Research Programs, the CNCT has several active collaborative projects currently underway in association with leading research laboratories across the country.

Methodologies

1. Strategies for Assessing the Chronic Neural Interface, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2. Automated Image Analysis, Renssalaer Polytechnical Institute
3. Probe-tissue Impedances and Chronic Microstimulation, Purdue University

Applications

1. Altered Corticostriatal Information Processing in Huntington's Disease, University of Indiana
2. Consequences of Cardiac Arrest: Brain Injury, Johns Hopkins University

New Technologies

1. Bioresorbable Neural Probes, New Jersey Center for Biomaterials
2. Fabrication and Characterization of Implantable Microfluidic Systems, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
3. Improved Device Integration through Biomaterials, University of Pittsburgh

Service Program: The Service Program is designed to support participants in obtaining maximum benefit from the Center's combined expertise, devices, and training. A histology service is available to collaborators for tissue analysis. Work groups are drawn from the international community to bring expertise in developing standards and standard operating procedures for neural interfaces.

Training Program: The Center provides training to collaborators and the research community at large aimed at maximizing proficiency in the use of our devices, monitoring device performance, and assessing tissue reaction. In addition to offering personalized training throughout the year, the CNCT offers an annual training course, Implantable Neuroprosthetics: Technologies and Techniques, which covers the design; use; and analysis of microscale neural probes for neural recording and stimulation and associated applications. The course provides hands-on, laboratory-based training in best practices for impedance measurements, neural recording and stimulation, tissue preparation, confocal microscopy imaging, and image analysis.

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References

Bjornsson CS, Lin G, Al-Kofahi Y, Narayanaswamy A, Smith KL, Shain W, Roysam B. Associative image analysis: A method for automated quantification of 3-D multiparameter images of brain tissue. J Neuro Methods, 2007; 170(1): 165-178.

Roman GT, Kennedy RT. Fully integrated microfluidic separations systems for biochemical analysis. J Chromatogr A, 2007; 1158, 170-88.

Seymour JP, Kipke DR. Neural probe design for reduced tissue encapsulation in CNS. Biomaterials, 2007; 28(25): 3594-607.

Wang M, Roman GT, Schultz K, Jennings C, Kennedy RT. Improved temporal resolutions for in vivo microdialysis by using segmented flow. submitted to Analytical Chemistry.

Williams JC, Hippensteel JA, Dilgen J, Shain W, Kipke DR. Complex impedance spectroscopy for monitoring tissue responses to inserted neural implants. J Neural Eng, 2007, Dec; 4(4): 410-23. Epub, 2007, Nov 27; PMID: 18057508.

Witte RS, Rousche PJ, Kipke DR. Fast wave propagation in auditory cortex of an awake cat using a chronic microelectrode array. J Neural Eng, 2007; 4(2): 68-78.

2007 IEEE TNSRE Outstanding Paper Award: Kipke DR, Vetter RJ, Williams JC, Hetke JF. Silicon-substrate intracortical microelectrode arrays for long-term recording of neuronal spike activity in cerebral cortex. Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, IEEE Transactions, vol 11, no. 2, pp. 151-155, June 2003.