P2794 - Reporting Standards for in vivo Neural Interface Research (RSNIR)

IEEE Standards Committee: EMB Standards Committee, Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society

Standards Committee Chair: Esteban Pino ([email protected])

Scope & Objectives

This broad-reaching set of Standards seeks to define the essential characteristics and parameters of in vivo neural interface systems and experimental protocols (including human clinical trials) to be reported in peer-reviewed scientific and clinical literature, including both minimum reporting standards and best-practice guidelines.

Specifically, our Working Group aims to fulfill the following objectives:

  1. Primary (direct): Improve the transparency, interpretability, reproducibility, and meta-analyzability of in vivo research studies (human and animal) involving neural interface technology
  2. Secondary (indirect): Facilitate convergence towards rigorous standard experimental methodologies, outcome measures, and easily aggregated neural data representation structures (file formats, etc.)
  3. Tertiary (downstream): Promote increased interoperability, optimization, clinical efficacy in the field of neurotechnology

Working Group Organization

Our Working Group is segmented into the following 6 sub-groups, representing different focus areas in the field of neurotechnology:

  • EEG-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs)
  • Invasive central nervous system interfaces (intracortical arrays, ECoG, deep brain stimulation/recording, and spinal cord stimulation)
  • Peripheral nerve interfaces
  • Neuromodulation
  • Neuroimaging
  • Horizontal (i.e. cross-modal) integration & harmonization

Who Should Participate?

We seek as diverse a membership as possible, including individuals with experience and affiliations with the following types of entities:

  • Academic and not-for-profit research organizations
  • Commercial developers and producers of neurotechnology
  • Scientific publications & editors
  • Public research funding agencies and private foundations
  • Medical device regulatory bodies
  • Healthcare providers, including neurology specialists and neuro-rehabilitation clinicians
  • Healthcare payers
  • Neurotechnology end users and patient organizations

Why Participate?

Progress in the field of neural rehabilitation is critically dependent on the continual integration of knowledge of different biological systems and mechanisms, as well as the development of multi-modal technologies to study, modulate, and enhance those biological systems. Neural interfacing and related technologies therefore demand an ecosystem of interoperability, and it is only through the development and implementation of standards that the requirements for compatibility and interoperability of various technologies can be assured.

How to Participate

If you would like to participate, provide input, or learn more about the IEEE P2794 Working Group, please email the WG Chair ([email protected]) and Secretary ([email protected]) with the following information:

  • Subject: IEEE WG P2794 Registration
  • Your name and affiliation(s) (current, and any relevant past affiliations)
  • A brief description of your specific areas of expertise, motivations for participating, and (if known) which sub-groups you would like to participate in
  • Desired WG participation level: member, non-voting member, or observer

You may also subscribe directly to the Listserv by sending an email to [email protected]. Please be sure to include the following text in your email:

  • Subject: stds-P2794
  • Body: subscribe stds-P2794 YourFirstName  YourLastName

Communications

In 2021 the WG published several scientific communications, including:

  • C. D. Eiber et al., “Preliminary Minimum Reporting Requirements for In-Vivo Neural Interface Research: I. Implantable Neural Interfaces,” in IEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology, vol. 2, pp. 74-83, 2021, doi: 10.1109/OJEMB.2021.3060919.
  • S Soman, M De Neeling, and Z McKinney, Toward Standard User-Centered EEG BMI Performance Evaluation, poster presentation at the 10th International IEEE EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering, doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.10474.03520

Currently the WG is conducting a survey evaluating stakeholder’s opinions and experiences regarding standards in neural interfaces. The WG welcomes participation in their survey through the following link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TTZQRRG 

For more information

Please consult the following resources: