The main activities from the beginning of the project (Month 1) to the end of the period covered by the report (Month 54), and main results achieved so far, for each work package were:
Work package 1 (WP1):
- Development of passive miniature circuits for intramuscular stimulation and electromyography (EMG) recording.
- Design and development of the Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) that enabled the development of ultra-thin and completely injectable versions of the aforementioned devices.
- Design and development of flexible electrodes for experiments that enabled the evaluation of the BHNS concept.
- Design of the external systems for powering the stimulators/sensors and for communicating with them.
- In vitro and in vivo tests to ensure safety and robustness of the flexible electrodes.
Work package 2 (WP2)
- Development, setup and testing of the distributed communication architecture for the BHNS.
- A study on healthy subjects demonstrated the ability of electrical stimulation below the motor threshold to inhibit the voluntary muscular activity of wrist flexors/extensors, which is fundamental for the type of stimulation that can be used with the electrodes produced in EXTEND.
- Development of neural-based models on healthy individuals, containing the development of a subject-specific modelling formulation capable of translating movement neural information into estimates of musculoskeletal kinetic and kinematic function.
- Development of neural-based models for ET, PD and iSCI patients.
- Tremor suppression achieved in ET and PD patients using afferent electrical stimulation (stimulation below the motor threshold) that allowed modulation of spinal reflexes.
- Real-time model-based control of electrical stimulators for tremor reduction.
- Real-time model-based control of lower limb exoskeletons.
Work package 3 (WP3)
- Hospitals involved in the Project analyzed the possible risks for the healthy participants, as well as ET/PD and iSCI patients that participated in the procedures.
- A Data Management Plan was prepared.
- Approvals from the Ethics Committees of the two Hospitals, as well as from the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) were obtained for each of the 3 cycles of experimentation.
- Experiments with healthy participants, as well as with ET/PD and iSCI patients were performed.
- Preliminary BHNS was performed in healthy subjects (cycle 2 of experiments).
- Final BHNS was performed in healthy subjects (cycle 3 of experiments).
Work package 4 (WP4)
- Identification of the non-technological barriers to the adoption of BHNS technology.
- Evaluation and risk management for BHNS technology.
- Policy discourse on human enhancement technologies.
- Preparation of a documentary aiming at connecting the EXTEND with the needs, concerns and informational interests of society. The documentary blended art and science to establish a narration and interpretation of the BHNS technology.
Work package 5 (WP5)
- Project website and social media accounts were set up and were regularly updated.
- A dedicated website for NeuroInterface Hub (open community hub to fully exploit the novel BHNS concept) was set up and information gathering is starting to build up. Promotion of the Hub is ongoing and will be continued.
- Activities for networking and scientific outreach have been done through organizing workshops and participation in conferences.
- Dissemination of project results was done through several papers published in high-impact scientific journals, as well as through talks / presentations in different conferences and summer schools. Active dissemination of the project results has also been done in social media.
- Intellectual property (IP) procedure has been already started: one patent application has been filed in the reporting period (May 2020).
