Demonstration: Enabling closed-loop neurostimulation with downloadable firmware upgrades

The first demo provides a detailed overview of the key building blocks required for implementing an investigational closed-loop neurostimulator. Fig 1 illustrates the demo set-up for prototyping and testing closed-loop DBS paradigms, which was designed to simulate the conditions of a neural environment. DBS leads are immersed in a saline tank, into which a DAQ device outputs appropriately scaled voltages from previously recorded neural signals. Leads sense the representative signals and adapt their stimulation settings in response to the sensed signals. The parameter updates are controlled in real-time by the embedded closed-loop algorithm, while the algorithm parameters can be configured with external telemetry commands. Finally, using the API released with the investigational Nexus-E system, data can be streamed to MATLAB to monitor operation. Neural signals, algorithm states, and stim settings are visualized with the GUI.