Brain-Computer Interface Clinical Trials | Johns Hopkins Neurology and Neurosurgery

The Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology is recruiting participants for a clinical trial investigating an implantable brain-computed interface (BCI) to help improve communication for patients with muscular weakness from ALS, brainstem stroke and other causes.

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What is a brain-computer interface?

A BCI allows an individual to operate a computer with electrical signals generated by their brain. For people living with significant motor impairments, a BCI can potentially restore communication or control of a computer or smart devices.

Image Source: Luo, S., Angrick, M., Coogan, C., Candrea, D. N., Wyse-Sookoo, K., Shah, S., et al. (2023). Stable decoding from a speech BCI enables control for an individual with als without recalibration for 3 months. Adv. Sci. 10:e2304853. doi: 10.1002/advs.202304853

An illustration of a brain-computer interface

Currently Enrolling Interfacing With NeuroTechnology to Expand Neural Throughput (INTENT)

Early feasibility research study to test the safety and preliminary efficacy of the INTENT system as an implanted brain-computer interface (BCI) to assist in communication for patients with severe motor impairments. To learn more about the study, email [email protected] or call 410-955-6772.

Details

The INTENT study duration is 12 months. Participation will include:

Surgery to implant electrodes on the brain surface to control computers and devices.
Training and testing 3-5 days per week

The INTENT system's electrodes connect to a computer and various peripheral devices through a connector on the scalp.

Illustration of the corticom BCI system

Eligibility

18-80 years of age
Severe bilateral motor impairments due to:
- Spinal cord injury
- Brainstem stroke
- ALS
Medical/surgical clearance for participation
Residence within driving distance to The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Previous Studies

Investigation on the Cortical Communication (CortiCom) System

Our previous study evaluated the safety and preliminary effectiveness of the Cortical Communication (CortiCom) system, a BCI consisting of thin sheets of up to 128 electrodes surgically implanted on the surface of the brain. The news segments below show the experience of our first study participant, who has significant speech difficulties due to ALS. Hear from our research team and see the progress our participant was able to make after the implantation of the BCI device.

Johns Hopkins researchers use brain-computer interface to improve lives of ALS patients (WJZ)

Creating more independence for those living with ALS (InvestigateTV)

News and Publications

Research Publications

A click-based electrocorticographic brain-computer interface enables long-term high-performance switch scan spelling | Nature Communications Medicine
Online speech synthesis using a chronically implanted brain–computer interface in an individual with ALS | Nature Scientific Reports
Stable Decoding from a Speech BCI Enables Control for an Individual with ALS without Recalibration for 3 Months | Advanced Science
Iterative alignment discovery of speech-associated neural activity | Journal of Neural Engineering
Longevity of a Brain–Computer Interface for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis | New England Journal of Medicine

Study in the News

Johns Hopkins Researchers Use Brain-Computer Interface to improve lives of ALS patients | WJZ (Video)
Brain-Computer Interface Restores Control of Home Devices for Johns Hopkins Patient with ALS | Johns Hopkins Medicine
Man with ALS controls devices using brain-computer interface | ALS News Today
Restoring Lost Speech | New England Journal of Medicine (Intention to Treat Podcast)

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