# NeuroMAP System for Clinical Research

> **NIH NIH R44** · ALTEC, INC. · 2020 · $535,902

## Abstract

Motoneurons are the final neural circuits that link the brain with skeletal muscles to enable the body to move.
Impairments in the ability to regulate movement currently affect over 50 million Americans suffering from
various neurological or musculoskeletal conditions. Yet the deficits in motoneuron control that underlie many
of these conditions are difficult to discern because current research tools used to measure motoneuron activity
from skeletal muscles are limited to needle electromyography (EMG) recordings, which are invasive, yield the
firings of just a few motoneurons, and are only applicable to highly constrained muscle contractions. Although
recently developed surface EMG techniques present a noninvasive alternative, current systems provide only
gross measures of muscle activation with little to no information about the underlying motoneuron firings that
comprise the signal. Advanced assessment tools are therefore needed to provide clinical researchers with
measurements of underlying deficits in motoneuron control to better understand, evaluate, and treat
disabilities that limit motor function. Our recent Phase II SBIR prototype is poised to meet this need. We have
developed a unique, non-invasive, post-processing system that accurately measures the firing behavior of
individual motoneurons from body-worn sensors during gait, exercise and activities of daily living. Through
this Phase IIB SBIR, we now propose to advance our complex laboratory-based prototype into a turn-key, real-
time NeuroMAP™ system that meets versatility, usability and feasibility requirements for commercialization
in the clinical research marketplace. We will integrate the existing multi-component system into a usable,
wearable and mobile compatible system of wireless sensors with conformable skin-sensor interfaces to support
use-cases across multiple muscles, movements, and clinical test procedures. The present post-processing
software architecture will be redesigned with real-time algorithms, advanced user-interfaces and automated
reporting of motoneuron measurements for intuitive, user-friendly operation. The usability and feasibility of
our device will be tested among five leading clinical research partners across the fields of adult and pediatric
neurology, physical therapy, sports rehabilitation and biomedical engineering. Through these efforts, and
through strategic investments to support the regulatory strategy, manufacturing process and marketing plan
from our industry partner, Delsys, Inc, we will deliver an impactful, usable and validated NeuroMAP™
system ready for production, marketing and sales within 1 year of completing this award.
1

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9924671
- **Project number:** 5R44NS077526-08
- **Recipient organization:** ALTEC, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Gianluca De Luca
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $535,902
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2011-12-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9924671

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9924671, NeuroMAP System for Clinical Research (5R44NS077526-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9924671. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*