NeuroCognitive Communicator: Safety Study

About this trial

This trial is enrolling individuals with chronic cervical (neck area) spinal cord injuries to test the safety of an implanted device (NeuroPort) that uses thoughts and intentions to control external applications. The implant, called a brain-computer interface (BCI), connects a computer to two small electrode arrays placed on the brain, one in the region controlling motor (movement) function, and the other in the region involved in cognitive (thought) function. The recording of movement intention can be translated into commands for the computer to activate an external device, which might be used for steering assistive applications, robotic arms, or for guiding through a virtual reality environment. Participants will undergo surgery for implanting the electrodes. Various assessments will be done throughout the study, evaluating the safety, feasibility, and usability of the BCI. Final testing will be performed after 6 months.