Blackrock Neurotech (Research)

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Leading neuroscience researchers characterize Blackrock products and setups as the most reliable and user-friendly in the industry while delivering high-quality data.

Human Brain-Computer Interface

Restoring Function

Only FDA Cleared System Only FDA Cleared System From electrode to headstage to data acquisition system to recorded data, the NeuroPort System is the safest end-to-end clinical and human research electrophysiology system available for recording brain activity. 1st Ever Implant Massachusetts General Hospital Brown University 1st Ever Implant The first person to use a brain-computer interface to restore functionality lost due to paralysis. Matthew Nagle was a C3 tetraplegic, paralyzed from the neck down after being stabbed. 2004 - Matthew Nagle "I said, 'Cursor go up to the top right.' And it did, and now I can control it all over the screen. It will give me a sense of independence." —  Matthew Nagle - BCI Pioneer Research Customers: BrainGate 1st Control of Robotic Arm 1st Control of Anthropomorphic Robotic Arm 2012 - Jan Scheuermann
First person to control an anthropomorphic robotic arm. 10 years earlier, she was diagnosed with spinocerebellar degeneration. "When they say, 'that wasn't the computer doing this, it was all you,' I just can't stop smiling, it's just so cool! I'm moving things again." — Jan Scheuerman - BCI Pioneer Research Customers: University of Pittsburgh Longest Chronic Implant Battelle Ohio State University - Wexner Medical Center Research Customers: Longest Chronic Implant 2014 - Ian Burkhart Sustained a spinal cord injury in 2010 and has the NeuroPort Array (Utah Array) still implanted since April 2014. “My experience with the NeuroPort Array has shown even after a traumatic injury, restoration of paralyzed muscles is possible and can provide Independence.” — Ian Burkhart - BCI Pioneer 1st Sensory Feedback 1st Sensory Feedback 2014 - Nathan Copeland Sustained a spinal cord injury in a 2004 automobile accident and was implanted November 2014. Researchers evoked sensory feedback through intracortical microstimulation through the electrode. “Blackrock’s ‘end-to-end expertise’ and FDA mindfulness gives us the comfort for doing the cutting edge experiments that we do.” — Nathan Copeland, BCI Pioneer Research Customers: University of Pittsburgh 1st Restoration Own Motor Control Case-Western University 1st Restoration of Own Motor Control 2016 - Bill Kochevar In 2009, experienced a spinal cord injury due to a cycling accident and was paralyzed from the shoulders down. “People have to do stuff for me, things I can’t do myself ... The research has enhanced my ability to be able to do things. I’m still wowed every time I do something amazing.” — Bill Kochevar - BCI Pioneer Research Customers: BrainGate Non-invasive EEG in Humans Massachusetts General Hospital Non-invasive EEG in Humans The NeuroPort System provides flexible visualization and processing beyond what is available from clinical EEG systems used to diagnose patients. The NeuroPort System also has a rich API that gives the researcher access to the data online for real-time experiment control and brain-machine-interface applications. “The NeuroPort gives me easier access to my data and allows me to visualize my EEG data better. I can run online closed loop.” — Sydney Cash, Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School Assistant in Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard University Research Customers:

Human Clinical Research

Epilepsy Monitoring

Integration with Clinical Systems Integration with Clinical Systems Deep Brain Stimulation Research Partners Brown University Deep Brain Stimulation The NeuroPort System is a powerful research platform that is sensitive enough to detect task engagement and decode motor intent from single units and local field potentials during stimulation with fine temporal resolution. “The NeuroPort is easy to use, customizable and perfect for delicate experiments.” — Dr. David Borton, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Brown University Microelectrodes KU Leuven Research Partners Microelectrodes The NeuroPort can record wide-band signals so researchers can see more signals temporally with higher density. Data obtained from a variety of electrode array platforms can be used to compare spatial and temporal data of local field potentials and action potentials. “Blackrock offers a lot of options to record and view the data. It provides the versatility and flexibility we need as our research evolves.” — Dr. Tom Theys, KU Leuven Macroelectrodes Wake Forest School of Medicine Research Partners Macroelectrodes While the NeuroPort was designed to deliver high-resolution data from microelectrodes, it equally provides high temporal resolution from macroelectrodes with excellent finite detail of local field potentials. “When we switched over to human research, I knew that there were a couple of needs that were not going to be fulfilled by pretty much anyone other than Blackrock.” — Dr. Robert Hampson, Wake Forest School of Medicine Intraoperative Recordings Research Partners Northwestern University Intraoperative Recordings The NeuroPort System offers flexible visualization and processing beyond that available from most clinical systems used to diagnose patients. The rich API gives researchers access to the data online for real-time experiment control that can be saved for offline analysis. “Blackrock’s system was exceptional in helping us normalize datasets of cortical and subcortical functional responses.” — Dr. Matthew Tate, Northwestern University

Freely Moving Non-Human Primate

Freely Moving Non-Human Primate

Easy Wireless Setup

NHP Wireless Setup Non-Human Primate Wireless Recording Courtine Wireless NHP Research Partners UNIL CHUV NeuroRestore EPFL Wireless Recording NHP Two of Blackrock's wireless headstage systems, the CerePlex Exilis and CerePlex W, were used in conjunction to wirelessly record from 192 electrodes in non-human primates during locomotion. The simultaneous wireless recording of motor control signals from the primary motor cortex and EMG activity was used to investigate the optimal pattern of stimulation to deliver to the spinal cord to enable the controlled movement of a paralyzed limb. "Blackrock's wireless systems allow me to conduct my locomotion experiments in a natural setting without wires to impede movement, which is critical for my research." — Grégoire Courtine, PhD, EPFL SV BMI UPCourtine

Head-fixed Non-Human Primate

Head-fixed Non-Human Primate

Acute Recording & Stimulation

Acute Recording Non-Human Primate Acute Recording Non-Human Primate Blackrock's Cerebus and CerePlex Direct data acquisition systems are quick and easy to setup making it ideal for acute head-fixed recordings in non-human primates. Using the MicroFlex Array in this setup allows researchers to stim and record on the same electrode. Cortical Visual Prosthetic Cortical Visual Prosthetic The unique design of the Utah Array allowed Dr. Roelfsema to stimulate and record across the same array as well as separate arrays over 1,024 channels in the visual cortex. Using the CerePort Connector, Y-Adaptor, and customized Utah Arrays, Dr. Roelfsema used microsimulation to record distinct feedforward and feedback effects revealing neural mechanisms of texture segregation. Research Partners “The Utah Array provided me the flexibility I needed to reach the goals of this research.” — Pieter R. Roelfsema MD PhD – Director Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience

Rodent Freely Moving

Rodent Freely Moving

Behavior with Multiple Animals

Behavioral Tracking Behavioral Tracking Researchers can perform behavioral tracking and neural recording with Blackrock's Cerebus or CerePlex Direct data-acquisition systems and NeuroMotive Tracking Software. Up to 16 cameras can be synchronized, each with a hardware trigger ensuring neural signals stay in time with camera images. Additionally, NeuroMotive tracks X, Y, and Z positions with color and contrast. Behavioral Chamber Behavioral Chamber With the CerePlex Direct or Cerebus systems, you can perform real-time behavioral recording with visual or physical stimuli fixed in front of them. Electrical Stim and Record Electrical Stim and Record With Blackrock's Y-Adaptor and CerePlex Mu or CerePlex M, rodent researchers are able to stimulate and record on the same electrode. Sync-Recording with Multiple Animals Sync-Recording with Multiple Animals All Blackrock research data-acquisition systems can synchronize recordings of multiple animals in freely behaving environments. The CerePlex Direct can connect up to six headstages, each with independent reference channels, scaling from 16 to 256 channels.

Rodent Head-fixed

Rodent Head-fixed

Acute Recording

MRI Recordings Setup MRI Recordings Setup Acute Recording Acute Recording

Virtual Reality

Jetball

VR Behavioral Testing Blackrock data acquisition systems can interface and synchronize recordings with many Virtual Reality systems, such as JetBall by Phenosys. A VR system that can be used with mice and rats to investigate a multitude of different paradigms. VR Behavioral Testing

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