I would contact the Wadsworth Center in Albany, NY directly about the possibility of an opportunity to use their BCI 2000 system first.  Feel free to email me privately with specific questions about the status of BCI activitiy, especially about needs/services for training and caregiver support.

Best wishes in your efforts,

Katya

Associate Professor
AAC Performance and Testing, Teaching Lab
6017 Forbes Tower
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
T: 412-383-6659
F:  412-383-6555
E: xxxxxx@pitt.edu

Research Health Scientist
VA Pittsburgh Health Care System
7180 Highland Drive
Bldg 2 (132-A-H)
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
T: 412-954-4627
E: Katharine. xxxxxx@va.gov

________________________________________
From: xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com [xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com] On Behalf Of Edward Hitchcock [xxxxxx@ric.org]
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2012 12:01 PM
To: RESNA's Assistive Technology Forum; xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com
Subject: [no phi] BCI- Current status for end-stage ALS

Hi all, (sorry for crosspost). I am just trying to confirm that I am up
to date on current status of BCI for an end-stage ALS patient I am
working with. He is currently using eyeMax but his proficiency is
decreasing. His eye gaze is getting weaker and we are looking ahead to
alternative options. He is currently ventilator dependent.

I am encouraging use of low technology boards etc. We are going to try a
piezoelectric switch at his forehead. Beyond that, I wanted to make sure
I was up to date on what is currently out there for BCI. Are there other
things I should be considering?

I will probably reach out to Helen Hayes Hospital to see if there is any
way to trial a P 300.  To my knowledge this seemed to be the most
reliable noninvasive option and I know they had a trial version
available a few years back.

P300-per website, not currently available for trial outside of the area
of upstate New York. (We are in Chicago)

Emotiv- http://emotiv.com/index.php - I have not had great experience
with this.

EMG at larynx -using Audeo technology. I do not think this is really
available and doubt that it will work with this client due to lack of
activity at the larynx.

Cyberlink-may consider trial, but since it does not integrate
communication software to my knowledge and I have always had a hard time
eliciting the pure "brainwave" independent of eye movement or EMG at
forehead.

Neuro switch EMG- I am willing to consider EMG, but would prefer to move
past to brainwave stuff at this point.

Braingate- as far as I know, only trials available for ALS are in
Boston?

Are there other systems I should be considering? Thanks for any input,
Ed.

Ed Hitchcock OT/L
Technology Center
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
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