Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) is a method for restoring sensation to people with paralysis as part of a bidirectional brain-computer interface to restore upper limb function. Evoking tactile sensations of the hand through ICMS requires precise targeting of implanted electrodes. Here we describe the presurgical imaging procedures used to generate functional maps of the hand area of the somatosensory cortex and subsequent planning that guided the implantation of intracortical microelectrode arrays. In five participants with cervical spinal cord injury, across two study locations, this procedure successfully enabled ICMS-evoked sensations localized to at least the first four digits of the hand. The imaging and planning procedures developed through this clinical trial provide a roadmap for other brain-computer interface studies to ensure successful placement of stimulation electrodes.

NH and RG served as consultants for Blackrock Neurotech, Inc, at the time of the study. RG is also on the scientific advisory board of Neurowired LLC. MB, JC, and RG received research funding from Blackrock Neurotech, Inc. though that funding did not support the work presented here. PW served as a consultant for Medtronic.

NCT01894802

This work was supported by the National Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under Award Numbers UH3 NS107714. Work at the University of Pittsburgh was developed with funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA, Arlington) Revolutionizing Prosthetics program (contract number N66001-10-C-4056).

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University of Chicago IRB, University of Pittsburgh IRB

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