Biological Brain-Computer Interface Using Transplanted Cortical Grafts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) face challenges in achieving stable, high-bandwidth bidirectional communication with the brain, particularly in scaling to record from millions of neurons due to tissue displacement, biofouling, and sensitivity to stimulation parameters, limiting their effectiveness in neurological therapies.

Innovation Solution

A biological brain-computer interface (BCI) is developed by transplanting a cortical graft layer of neuronal cells onto the brain's cerebral cortex, which integrates with the brain and responds to external stimuli, enabling bidirectional communication through detectable neural signals without traumatic penetration or genetic modification of the host.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If penetrating intracortical electrodes are used to record from specific neurons, then measurement precision is improved, but object-affected harmful factors worsen due to tissue displacement, biofouling, and glial scar formation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneural signal recording precisionVSAvoidtissue damage and biofouling

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical penetrating electrodes with a biological neural interface layer formed by transplanted neural progenitor cells. These cells integrate with the host brain tissue and enable optical recording of neural activity without physical penetration, thereby maintaining measurement precision while eliminating tissue damage, biofouling, and glial scar formation associated with traditional mechanical electrodes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary biological layer of transplanted neural progenitor cells that serves as a mediator between the host brain and the recording system. This cellular interface layer integrates with host tissue and enables signal transduction without direct mechanical contact, resolving the contradiction between precise neural signal detection and minimization of tissue harm

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If flexible electrode arrays are used to reduce cortical damage, then object-affected harmful factors are improved, but measurement precision worsens due to limited channel count and signal quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecortical damageVSAvoidneural signal recording quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces flexible mechanical electrode arrays with a biological neural interface formed by transplanted cells that are optically imaged. This substitution maintains the advantage of reduced cortical damage while achieving superior measurement precision through optical detection of calcium signals from individual neurons, eliminating the channel count and signal quality limitations of flexible electrode arrays

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses optical imaging to create a functional copy of neural activity patterns without physical contact with neurons. By imaging calcium indicators in transplanted neural cells, the system captures neural signals with high precision while the biological interface continues to integrate harmlessly with host tissue, resolving the trade-off between reduced damage and maintained signal quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If viral infection is used to enable calcium imaging, then measurement precision is improved, but object-generated harmful factors worsen due to invasive genetic modification

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneural activity detection precisionVSAvoidviral infection and genetic modification

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary genetic modification of neural progenitor cells in vitro before transplantation, where they are cultured and loaded with calcium indicators through non-viral methods. This preliminary preparation allows the cells to be genetically equipped for precise calcium imaging while avoiding the need for viral infection of the host brain, thereby maintaining measurement precision while eliminating viral harm

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20230077899A1Cell-based brain-machine interface

Publication Date: 2023.03.16 NEURALINK CORP

AI summary

The disclosure provides a biological brain-computer interface comprising genetically modified cells engrafted onto an adult mammal (e.g., mouse) above cortical layer 1, forming an artificial cortical layer termed layer zero (L0). Following engraftment, L0 goes through a developmental process characterized by synchronous waves of activity that gradually recede to resemble spontaneous cortical activity. Axons and dendrites from L0 nondestructively infiltrated the host cortex and formed synaptic connections necessary for bidirectional communication with the brain.