Blackrock Innovation
Over the years, we have developed a close relationship with the research laboratories of several universities. Within an environment of scientific co-operation, new applications have been developed which not only support major projects at each academic establishment but have spun off new products and applications in our portfolio. Here are some of the recent innovations, some of the things we are still planning to do and case-studies of projects with Innovation Partners. If you would like to work on an innovation technology with Blackrock Microsystems or have technology that fits in our portfolio, please contact: info@blackrockmicro.com
- Development of IROX arrays for stimulation
- Symmetrical, concave slant 8x12 electrode arrays
- Electrode arrays with holes for delivery of light and chemicals
- Adaptation of ECoG grids with Cerebus or Neuroport
- 256 channel synching of Cerebus/Neuroport
- 128 Channel Stimulation multiplexor
- PCA for sorting of spikes
- N-Play an experimental replay tool
- Channel by channel sorting algorithm selection
- Adaptive LNC algorithm, a sophisticated line noise cancellation
- Multiple software reference electrodes
- Develop new array electrode profiles (slant, concave, convex)
- Longer (> 1.5 mm electrodes) and shorter (< 0.6 mm electrodes) arrays
- Develop photo-stimulation capability
- Flexible ribbon cable as replacement of implant wire bundle
- New electrode array design (laminar)
- Neuromotive – a digital video tracking system
- N-Trode: an improved system for acquisition and spike sorting
Wireless 96-Channel Microelectrode Array
Innovations Partner: Reid Harrison & Richard Normann & Florian Solzbacher, University of Utah
Two major limitations of modern neural recording systems are the transcutaneous connectors and wires linking the neural signals to signal processing electronics. The integrated wireless microelectrode array developed by the University of Utah overcomes these limitations. The fully-implantable wireless device will enable next-generation applications in clinical and research neuroscience markets. Potential applications are chronic brain-machine interfaces and freely-behaving primate experiments
3D EEG Simulation and Visualization
Innovations Partner: Christopher Johnson, Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute, University of Utah
The EEG inverse problem is to determine electrical activity within the cranial volume based on voltage measurement taken from the scalp. Christopher Johnson and his team at the University of Utah Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute have developed a flexible and scalable system to solve the inverse EEG problem.
Automatic Spike Sorting
Innovations Partner: Vikash Gilja & Krishna Shenoy, Neural Prosthetics Lab, Stanford University
The Neural Prosthetics Laboratory at Stanford University is developing novel automatic spike sorters. Example applications are chronic brain-machine interfaces, as well as single- and multi-unit tracking over days, weeks and months.
