Use of Invasive Brain-Computer Interfaces in Pediatric Neurosurgery: Technical and Ethical Considera

Invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) hold promise for treating neurological disabilities, with fully implantable systems expected in clinics within a decade.

Overview

Authors: David Bergeron, Christian Iorio-Morin, Marco Bonizzato, Guillaume Lajoie, Nathalie Orr Gaucher, Éric Racine, Alexander G Weil

Publication Date: 28 April 2023

Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10226009/

Keywords: Brain-computer interfaces (BCI), Neurotechnology, Intracortical BCI, pediatric neurosurgery, neurological disabilities, quadriplegic cerebral palsy, certical spine trauma, neuroengineering, AI in healthcare, pediatric ethics, clinical trials in children, medical device regulation, pragmatic ethics

Type: Peer-Reviewed Journals/White Papers

Summary

Invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) hold promise for treating neurological disabilities, with fully implantable systems expected in clinics within a decade. Children with severe conditions like quadriplegic cerebral palsy could benefit but have been excluded from trials. This manuscript examines the technical and ethical considerations of intracortical BCIs in pediatric neurosurgery, drawing on insights from experts across neurology, AI, neuroengineering, and ethics to propose initial clinical recommendations.