Question

5) Describe the principle or application of Brain Computer Interface.

a) What is the value proposition

b) What is the technology and what are the key components of this device? please explain technical details of this technology

c) How is the medical device different or the competitive advantage of this medical device.

Answer 1

Brain-Computer Interface, as the name suggests, is a direct communication pathway between a 'wired' brain and an external device. Th principal behind this technology is that neuroprosthetic devices can be implanted in the brain and the brain can then handle it as a natural sensor or effector channels. The cortical plasticity of the brain enables it to receive signals from the neural prostheses and use it. So, basically, the implanted device sends signals to the nerves and can help to restore, to a certain degree, the activities of the damaged brain part.

Research on BCI began in the 1970s at the University of California, under a grant from the National Science Foundation. The term 'Brain Computer Interface' was first used in the papers produced after this research.

a] This technology aims at neuroprosthetic applications that aim at restoring damaged hearing, sight and movement. People who have damaged certain parts of the brain and have lost the activity controlled by that part, can be benefitted by this technology and can lead a somewhat self-dependent life.

b] Since BCI is a collaboration between the brain and a device that enables signals from the brain to direct some external activity such as moving a prosthetic limb, sight and motor movements like moving a computer cursor etc. so it enables a direct communication pathway between the brain and the object to be controlled.

The main components of this device are a neuroprosthetic implant in the concerned area of the brain, wires, a video camera and a computer. The computer converts a signal from the video camera into the voltages necessary to trigger a neuron. The voltage signal is sent to the implant in the brain which in turn makes the neurons fire and the subject receives a visual image to corresponding to what the camera sees.

c] The difference between BCI and other medical devices is that in BCI the brain is connected directly to a computer system. While neuroprosthetics can be linked to any part of the nervous system, BCI usually applies to a narrower class of systems which interface with the central nervous system. BCI is more efficient and easier to manage with fewer chances of failure or malfunctioning.