R&D Projects / Neuro Device Tacti ™

Neuro Device Tacti ™

Neuro Device Tacti™ – tactile stimulator for localization of brain sensomotoric areas. It is used for preoperative fMRI diagnostics and functional examination of brain areas. It offers completely new possibilities for brain localization research and diagnostics in neurology and neurosurgery. The study performed thanks to Neuro Device Tacti™ significantly increases the chances of patients being able to maintain their full mobility and sensory capacity after brain surgeries. It also makes it possible to plan the course and type of rehabilitation, which speeds up and improves the surgical results.

Neuro Device Tacti™ is a medical device. 
 

Application

The Neuro Device Tacti™ Stimulator supports the mapping of the somatosensory cortex during sensory stimulation and thus serves to diagnose (locate) important functional areas of the brain.  This procedure is part of a pre-operative study of patients with cerebral lesions and can be used in the departments of neurosurgery, neurology and radiology.

Features & capabilities

  • Precision in diagnosis. The ability to precisely define the location of functionally important areas in the brain that are responsible for touch and deep sensation.
  • Compatible with MRI. Thanks to the special materials and components used in the manufacturing of the device, it can be used for functional magnetic resonance testing without causing artifacts in the MR image.
  • Variety of test methods. The triggering system ensures excellent resolution and time accuracy of the measurements. This makes it possible to use the Stimulator also for EEG or NIRS tests.
  • Full spectrum of diagnosticpossibilities. The stimulator is particularly suitable for preoperative diagnostics, allowing to locate finger sensing centres of the hand, but it can also be used for testing sensing centres of any part of the body.
  • Adapted to research needs. The stimulator is designed in two versions of the interface: dedicated touch stimulation (TactileInterface) or representing a string of four Braille characters (BrailleInterface). Compatibility with most known research design software (nordicAktiva, PsychoPy, Presentation, E-prime, etc.) makes it easy to use.

Operation description

The operation of the device is based on the operation of a system of pumps and chambers and an interface for the presentation of tactile stimuli, from which the moving needles slide out and hide. During the examination, the finger skin of the patient is irritated by dull needles, which activates the sensory area of the brain responsible for contact and deep sensation.

Thanks to the text communication protocol, the tester is able to automatically change the configuration of the retractable needles.

Technical parameters

  • Possibility of working in a magnetic field.
  • Tested on 1.5T and 3T scanners.
  • Presentation of any character set on a 4×6 matrix (the matrix can be individually configured on customer’s request) or 4 Braille characters.
  • Pneumatically controlled.
  • Full synchronization with stimulus presentation programs.

The device consists of:

  • Control device
  • Interface
  • Pneumatic connection
  • 230 V power supply

The device is certified for electrical safety and EMC.

Downloadable materials