Spike Detection Technique Based on Spike Augmentation with Low Computational and Hardware Complexity.

In this paper, a method for the detection and subsequently extraction of neural spikes in an intra-cortically recorded neural signal is proposed. This method distinguishes spikes from the background noise based on the natural difference between their time-domain amplitude variation patterns. According to this difference, a spike mask is generated, which takes on large values over the course of spikes, and much smaller values for the background noise. The "high" part of this mask is designed to be wide enough to contain a complete spike. By multiplying the input neural signal with the spike mask, spikes are amplified with a large factor while the background noise is not. The result is a spike-augmented signal with significantly larger signal-to-noise ratio, on which spike detection is performed much more easily and accurately. According to this detection mechanism, spikes of the original neural signal are extracted.Clinical Relevance-This paper presents an automatic spike detection technique, dedicated to brain-implantable neural recording devices. Such devices are developed for clinical applications such as the treatment of epilepsy, neuro-prostheses, and brain-machine interfacing for therapeutic purposes.