Acta Neurochirurgica Supplement – serie

This book highlights the latest developments in acute and delayed neurovascular injury studies including delayed cerebral vasospasm, early brain injury, micro-circulation compromise, spreading cortical depolarization, neuroinflammation, and long-term cognitive dysfunctions after subarachnoid hemorrhage. About 32 chapters cover original presentations from the 14th international conference on neurovascular events after subarachnoid hemorrhage, held in Los Angeles in October 2017. Neurosurgeons, neurologists, and neuro-ICU practitioners discuss clinical observations, new pilot treatments, clinical trials, academic and industrial interactions, including surgical and endovascular approaches, brain injury monitoring, new developments in brain imaging, ICU management, early brain injury scales and management, counter cortical depolarization management and anti-inflammation management. In addition, animal models used to study acute and delayed neurovascular events, the basic mechanisms of vascular, neuronal, and CSF physiology, new experimental treatment strategies, new frontiers in the treatment of neurovascular injuries, and new research directions are discussed.

This is a proceeding book of 8th European-Japanese Cerebrovascular Congress (held in Zurich in 2016).Since many experts from Europe and Japan had very important and fruitful discussion on the management of cerebrovascular diseases, the proceeding book will be very attractive for the physicians and scientists of the area.

This book illustrates and discusses key points related to intra- and postoperative complications of brain, spine and peripheral nerve surgery, and covers the majority of neurosurgical subspecialties, including skull base surgery, brain tumor surgery, vascular and endovascular neurosurgery, neuroendoscopy, functional neurosurgery, spine surgery, peripheral nerve surgery, radiosurgery and radiotherapy. In addition, it considers related medicolegal, ethical and philosophical aspects.  Including material that represents the combined proceedings of the First International Conference on Complications in Neurosurgery (March 3-5, 2017; Mumbai, India) and the dedicated symposium “Complications in Neurosurgery” during the XVI Congress of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (August 20-25, 2017; Istanbul, Turkey), the articles in this volume were written by recognized experts in the field and based both on their personal experience and the latest scientific evidence. It offers a valuable reference guide, providing detailed recommendations on the prevention and management of complications in neurosurgery.

This book illustrates and discusses key points related to intra- and postoperative complications of brain, spine and peripheral nerve surgery, and covers the majority of neurosurgical subspecialties, including skull base surgery, brain tumor surgery, vascular and endovascular neurosurgery, neuroendoscopy, functional neurosurgery, spine surgery, peripheral nerve surgery, radiosurgery and radiotherapy. In addition, it considers related medicolegal, ethical and philosophical aspects.  Including material that represents the combined proceedings of the First International Conference on Complications in Neurosurgery (March 3-5, 2017; Mumbai, India) and the dedicated symposium “Complications in Neurosurgery” during the XVI Congress of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (August 20-25, 2017; Istanbul, Turkey), the articles in this volume were written by recognized experts in the field and based both on their personal experience and the latest scientific evidence. It offers a valuable reference guide, providing detailed recommendations on the prevention and management of complications in neurosurgery.

This book gathers the proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Intracranial Pressure and Neuromonitoring, held in Leuven, Belgium in September 2019. It provides an overview of the current understanding, underlying research and future perspectives concerning pathophysiology, biophysics, monitoring and management in traumatic and non-traumatic acute brain injury, hydrocephalus and spinal cord injury, including cerebrovascular autoregulation impairment in neurological as well as non-neurological diseases. The peer-reviewed contributions were prepared by specialists in neurosurgery, neurointensive care and neuroanesthesiology, as well as prominent experts from the fields of physiology, clinical and biomedical engineering, mathematics and informatics. The book continues the time-honored tradition of publishing key presentations from the ICP Conferences in order to facilitate their dissemination within the clinical and research community.

This book gathers the proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Intracranial Pressure and Neuromonitoring, held in Leuven, Belgium in September 2019. It provides an overview of the current understanding, underlying research and future perspectives concerning pathophysiology, biophysics, monitoring and management in traumatic and non-traumatic acute brain injury, hydrocephalus and spinal cord injury, including cerebrovascular autoregulation impairment in neurological as well as non-neurological diseases. The peer-reviewed contributions were prepared by specialists in neurosurgery, neurointensive care and neuroanesthesiology, as well as prominent experts from the fields of physiology, clinical and biomedical engineering, mathematics and informatics. The book continues the time-honored tradition of publishing key presentations from the ICP Conferences in order to facilitate their dissemination within the clinical and research community.

This is an open access proceeding book of 9th European-Japanese Cerebrovascular Congress at Milan 2018. Since many experts from Europe and Japan had very important and fruitful discussion on the management of Cerebrovascular diseases, the proceeding book is very attractive for the physician and scientists of the area.

The articles in this volume cover the various radiosurgical techniques used to treat benign and malignant intracranial tumors, cavernous malformations, and functional disorders, as well as a wide array of specific details on medical physics, neuroimaging, and anesthetic support. Particular emphasis is put on the optimal combination of microneurosurgery and radiosurgery for attaining the best functional results in patients with vestibular schwannomas, craniopharyngiomas, and pituitary adenomas, and on the most effective methods of treatment planning and radiation dosimetry in cases of metastatic brain tumors. The highlighted clinical aspects include indications for radiosurgery and the prediction of patients’ prognosis, along with analysis of outcomes in comparison with results achieved by other modalities in the context of multifaceted therapeutic strategies. In addition, possible options for applying advanced treatment using such modern devices as Leksell Gamma Knife PerfexionTM and IconTM are presented in depth. This information will interest both radiosurgical practitioners and neurosurgeons, and help them to provide optimal care and to achieve the greatest benefit of their patients. This book will serve as an excellent companion for the previous publication “Gamma Knife Neurosurgery in the Management of Intracranial Disorders” (Acta Neurochirurgica Supplement, Volume 116, Springer, 2013).

The articles in this volume cover the various radiosurgical techniques used to treat benign and malignant intracranial tumors, cavernous malformations, and functional disorders, as well as a wide array of specific details on medical physics, neuroimaging, and anesthetic support. Particular emphasis is put on the optimal combination of microneurosurgery and radiosurgery for attaining the best functional results in patients with vestibular schwannomas, craniopharyngiomas, and pituitary adenomas, and on the most effective methods of treatment planning and radiation dosimetry in cases of metastatic brain tumors. The highlighted clinical aspects include indications for radiosurgery and the prediction of patients’ prognosis, along with analysis of outcomes in comparison with results achieved by other modalities in the context of multifaceted therapeutic strategies. In addition, possible options for applying advanced treatment using such modern devices as Leksell Gamma Knife PerfexionTM and IconTM are presented in depth. This information will interest both radiosurgical practitioners and neurosurgeons, and help them to provide optimal care and to achieve the greatest benefit of their patients. This book will serve as an excellent companion for the previous publication “Gamma Knife Neurosurgery in the Management of Intracranial Disorders” (Acta Neurochirurgica Supplement, Volume 116, Springer, 2013).

This book bridges the gap between data scientists and clinicians by introducing all relevant aspects of machine learning in an accessible way, and will certainly foster new and serendipitous applications of machine learning in the clinical neurosciences. Building from the ground up by communicating the foundational knowledge and intuitions first before progressing to more advanced and specific topics, the book is well-suited even for clinicians without prior machine learning experience.Authored by a wide array of experienced global machine learning groups, the book is aimed at clinicians who are interested in mastering the basics of machine learning and who wish to get started with their own machine learning research. The volume is structured in two major parts: The first uniquely introduces all major concepts in clinical machine learning from the ground up, and includes step-by-step instructions on how to correctly develop and validate clinical prediction models. It also includes methodological and conceptual foundations of other applications of machine learning in clinical neuroscience, such as applications of machine learning to neuroimaging, natural language processing, and time series analysis. The second part provides an overview of some state-of-the-art applications of these methodologies.The Machine Intelligence in Clinical Neuroscience (MICN) Laboratory at the Department of Neurosurgery of the University Hospital Zurich studies clinical applications of machine intelligence to improve patient care in clinical neuroscience. The group focuses on diagnostic, prognostic and predictive analytics that aid in decision-making by increasing objectivity and transparency to patients. Other major interests of our group members are in medical imaging, and intraoperative applications of machine vision.

This book bridges the gap between data scientists and clinicians by introducing all relevant aspects of machine learning in an accessible way, and will certainly foster new and serendipitous applications of machine learning in the clinical neurosciences. Building from the ground up by communicating the foundational knowledge and intuitions first before progressing to more advanced and specific topics, the book is well-suited even for clinicians without prior machine learning experience.Authored by a wide array of experienced global machine learning groups, the book is aimed at clinicians who are interested in mastering the basics of machine learning and who wish to get started with their own machine learning research. The volume is structured in two major parts: The first uniquely introduces all major concepts in clinical machine learning from the ground up, and includes step-by-step instructions on how to correctly develop and validate clinical prediction models. It also includes methodological and conceptual foundations of other applications of machine learning in clinical neuroscience, such as applications of machine learning to neuroimaging, natural language processing, and time series analysis. The second part provides an overview of some state-of-the-art applications of these methodologies.The Machine Intelligence in Clinical Neuroscience (MICN) Laboratory at the Department of Neurosurgery of the University Hospital Zurich studies clinical applications of machine intelligence to improve patient care in clinical neuroscience. The group focuses on diagnostic, prognostic and predictive analytics that aid in decision-making by increasing objectivity and transparency to patients. Other major interests of our group members are in medical imaging, and intraoperative applications of machine vision.

Skull-base surgery is a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure, which involves the surgeon inserting instruments through the natural openings in the skull—the nose or mouth—or by making a small hole just above the eyebrow. This type of surgery requires a team of specialists, which may include ENT (ear, nose, and throat), maxillofacial and neurosurgeons, as well as radiologists. The craniovertebral junction (CVJ) has a unique anatomical bone and neurovascular structure, which not only separates the subaxial cervical spine but also provides a special cranial flexion, extension and axial rotation pattern. As such, a sound knowledge of the basic principles of spine instrumentation and the region’s kinematics are essential when it comes to strategic preoperative planning. Skull-base, craniovertebral junction, spine demolitive and reconstructive surgery, neuromodulation, bioengineering and transplantation are recent tools used to improve reconstruction, restoration and rehabilitation – three key words central to the core aim of the Neurorehabilitation and Reconstruction Committee of the WFNS, which is to promte mechanical morphological and functional restoration.

Skull-base surgery is a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure, which involves the surgeon inserting instruments through the natural openings in the skull—the nose or mouth—or by making a small hole just above the eyebrow. This type of surgery requires a team of specialists, which may include ENT (ear, nose, and throat), maxillofacial and neurosurgeons, as well as radiologists. The craniovertebral junction (CVJ) has a unique anatomical bone and neurovascular structure, which not only separates the subaxial cervical spine but also provides a special cranial flexion, extension and axial rotation pattern. As such, a sound knowledge of the basic principles of spine instrumentation and the region’s kinematics are essential when it comes to strategic preoperative planning. Skull-base, craniovertebral junction, spine demolitive and reconstructive surgery, neuromodulation, bioengineering and transplantation are recent tools used to improve reconstruction, restoration and rehabilitation – three key words central to the core aim of the Neurorehabilitation and Reconstruction Committee of the WFNS, which is to promte mechanical morphological and functional restoration.

This Open Access book on Complications in Neurosurgery contains the proceedings of the 2nd ICCN conference held in Mumbai in 2019. The work illustrates and discusses key point of intra- and postoperative complications encountered in brain, spine and peripheral nerve surgery. In addition, this compilation addresses topics in ethics, with further contributions covering medico legal and didactic aspects.It draws from the experience of an international team of experts from all subspecialties in neurosurgery, including oncology, vascular, spine, pediatrics and others.The articles were written by renown specialists in the field who are stepping forward to share their valuable professional experience with colleagues following their joint mission to improve future patient care.

This Open Access book on Complications in Neurosurgery contains the proceedings of the 2nd ICCN conference held in Mumbai in 2019. The work illustrates and discusses key point of intra- and postoperative complications encountered in brain, spine and peripheral nerve surgery. In addition, this compilation addresses topics in ethics, with further contributions covering medico legal and didactic aspects.It draws from the experience of an international team of experts from all subspecialties in neurosurgery, including oncology, vascular, spine, pediatrics and others.The articles were written by renown specialists in the field who are stepping forward to share their valuable professional experience with colleagues following their joint mission to improve future patient care.

This Open Access book serves as the official proceedings of the 10th European-Japanese Cerebrovascular Congress, held in Kyoto in 2022. During this landmark event, leading experts from both Europe and Japan engaged in in-depth, productive discussions on the latest advancements in the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. As a result, this volume offers invaluable insights into cutting-edge research, clinical practices, and innovative therapeutic strategies, making it an essential resource for physicians, researchers, and scientists working in the field of cerebrovascular diseases. The book is available as open access, ensuring that this important knowledge is freely accessible to a global audience of healthcare professionals and scholars.

This Open Access book serves as the official proceedings of the 10th European-Japanese Cerebrovascular Congress, held in Kyoto in 2022. During this landmark event, leading experts from both Europe and Japan engaged in in-depth, productive discussions on the latest advancements in the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. As a result, this volume offers invaluable insights into cutting-edge research, clinical practices, and innovative therapeutic strategies, making it an essential resource for physicians, researchers, and scientists working in the field of cerebrovascular diseases. The book is available as open access, ensuring that this important knowledge is freely accessible to a global audience of healthcare professionals and scholars.

Brain edema is a simple phenomenon – an abnormal increase of brain tissue volume by the increase of brain tissue water content. However the etiology is not simple and relating to a wide variety of neurological disorders including ischemia, trauma, tumor, hemorrhage and hydrocephalus. It is still a major cause of death in the neurological/neurosurgical ward.This volume is an up-to-date report on progress in brain edema research, diagnosis and treatment, including papers presented at the 12th International Symposium on Brain Edema and Brain Tissue Injury in 2002. Major topics include molecular biology and blood-brain barrier disorders, ischemic and traumatic brain edema, imaging and diagnosis of brain edema, treatment and radiation effect. Various papers in the rapidly growing fields of neuroimaging and molecular medicine are also included.

This volume highlights the important role played by neurosurgeons and their techniques in neurorehabilitation. The authors review the recent advances made in neurosurgical techniques which can contribute to the patient's functional recovery from neurological deficits, such as movement disorders, bladder dysfunction, pain and other sensory disturbances, and cognitive dysfunction after CNS damage. They also demonstrate that when neurosurgeons are actively involved in applying a multidisciplinary approach during early neurorehabilitation, the patient's functional recovery is greatly facilitated through the timely use of various different neurosurgical techniques, including nerve grafting, cell transplantation, cortical stimulation, deep brain and spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, and intrathecal drug therapy. The importance of such a multidisciplinary approach is discussed in terms of a new concept, the neurosurgical re-engineering of the damaged CNS.

Cerebral hemorrhage is a common and often fatal subtype of stroke. while in the past it has received relatively little attention compared to ischemic stroke, there have been major advances in our understanding of this devastating form of stroke. The papers by world experts cover the field from molecular biology to clinical trials.

The international interdisciplinary gathering of top of secondary brain damage in brain trauma, as ac- level clinical and laboratory scientists in Mauls, Italy knowledged from the beginning of these workshops in has developed from its beginning in 1984into a fruitful Mauls, the significance of inflammation is all but clear. tradition where worldwide experts active and knowl- Although inflammatory phenomena are seen in trauma edgeable in cerebral ischemia and trauma convene for and ischemia ofthe brain, as activation ofwhite blood update and exchanges of their most recent clinical and cells with emigration into the tissue presumably en- experimental findings and concepts. These meetings hancing damage, inflammatory cells may have benefi- have, of course, experienced shifts in emphasis from cial properties as well. Thechapter on the Janus-faceof the past until now, corresponding to the most actual inflammation isanalyzing this ambiguity. developments, which were fascinating clinicians and The exploration of novel cell-biological mechanisms laboratory scientists alike.The current Supplement of on a molecular or more systemic basis causing apop- Acta Neurochirurgica is an example in case. Its virtue totic cell death, inflammation, or regeneration, provide as before is that authors contribute articles in a review- useful objectives for therapeutical interventions ex- like manner on their own field of research, according pected to be more specific than the present treatment to the platform presentations at the meeting as indis- modalities.

Agreed standards and guidelines are the heart and soul of improving the differing training systems and to harmonize neurosurgical training in the European countries. Such standards and guidelines have been laid down in the European Training Charter of the European Union of Medical Specialists and recently novellated.This book, written by experienced neurosurgeons, offers all those concerned with neurosurgical training - trainers and trainees - practical advice to implement the above mentioned standards and recommendations. It has been written as a manual: How to do it. It describes the tasks of a chairman (programme director), the tasks of the teaching staff, the organisation of a training curriculum, a rotation plan or a morbidity and mortality conference, the periodic progress evaluation, the course of an external audit and many more important topics. It contains a lot of practical tips, check lists and useful examples. Well educated young colleagues offer safe neurosurgery to our patients.

Gamma knife radiosurgery has grown continually in importance in recent years. However, there was a lack of established clinical and physical quality standards and a good knowledge of the possibilities of radiosurgical treatment for brain lesions. This book fills the gap by giving an overview of the current status of European gamma knife radiosurgery. Leading european experts report on their specialities in this field which is a state-of-the-art summary of the possibilities and results of their current work. The book encompasses all important as well as the more rare indications. All relevant technical and clinical quality standards are addressed. Tailored planning strategies are described for different indications. All professionals who care for patients with neurosurgical disease, such as neurosurgeons, radiosurgeons, radiologists, radiation oncologists and neurologists will find the book highly useful for the management of patients with benign and malignant brain lesions in a multidisciplinary setting.

This is a summary of the most recent and effective techniques for treating difficult functional problems and painful situations using minimally invasive spinal surgery techniques. It includes an up-to-date review of the physiopathology of the diseases.

Re-EngineeringoftheDamagedBrainandSpinalCord isdedicatedtoTetsuoKanno,M. D. ProfessorofNeurosurgery Bypresenting theoriginal papers thatmakeupthis thefeaturesofthelocalmedicallandscapeinthe- third supplement we wish to make a further contri- gionswheretheyareenacted. Whatismore,progr- bution to the issue of functional rehabilitation, this sivenew?ndingsmustbealsosubjectedtoafrequent soimportantandfascinatingmodernareaofresearch revision. Ontopofthis,itshouldnotbeforgottenthat inthe?eldofneurosciences. Thecongresspaperswe even when committal therapy guidelines are c- haveselectedconstituteagoodre?ectionofthetrans- sistentlyapplied,thereareconsiderablevariationsin disciplinary objectives. The literature references are therangeofpotentialcomplicationsandintheo- designedasaguidetoleadtheinterestedreadertoa comeofprospectivecontrolledmulti-centreandmul- deeperandmoredetailedunderstandingoftheindi- nationalstudiesontheissueofqualitymanagement. vidualissues. Functionalrehabilitationhasbeenanoriginaltask The demand for "evidence-based medicine" is well ofneurosurgeryfromtheveryoutset. The1990shave justi?ed; however, it rapidly comes up against the enteredtheannalsofbrainresearchasthe"Decadeof limitsoffeasibility,especiallywherecontrolledthe- theBrain".Sincethentherehasbeenaneverstronger peuticstudiesareconcerned. TheCochrancollection growthofneuroscienti?cinterestworldwide,accom- of high-quality evidence-based healthcare databases paniedbysubstantial?nancialengagement. Thishas hasthusfarbeenofnohelptousindrawingupthe- primarily resulted in advances in basic neuro- peutic recommendations for the re-engineering of biologicalandneurophysiologicalresearchandalsoin brain and spinal-cord lesions. Today as ever, the thegrowthofneuroscienti?cknowledgeaboutbasic opinion of experts and empirically based medical mechanismsformotor control,paincontrol,aware- treatment and posttraumatic neurorehabilitation ness, cognition, learning and memory. The conse- continuetooccupyanindispensablepositionforthe quencemustbetoensurethattheadvancesmadeinthe everydayclinicalpracticeofneurosurgicalandneu- neuroscienti?cresearchareaareadequatelyexpanded traumatological therapies. Promising adjunct - intopracticalneurosurgicalcareandre-engineeringof proachesincludeneuropharmacology,forcascadesof brainandspinalcordlesionsandtoensureuponnew molecular interactions are known to be underlying approaches.Following this a fundamental path will activity-dependent plasticity and skills learning, as resultinanimprovedandmoree%ocientpreventionin many of these processes involve the major tra- thefuture,themeasuresthatstandrightatthefore- mitters. Furthermore,biologicalinterventionsby- front of all rehabilitation principles, meaning that ingendogenousneuronsandgliaaswellasexogenous conventionalconceptsmustbemodi?edtokeeppace stemcells,bone-marrowcells,macrophages,andother withthemoretask-speci?c,intensive,andprogressive types may promote the regeneration of nerve cells, demands. In this connection a series of guidelines, tissue, and neural circuitry. Class one studies have recommendations, and expert opinions and also beenmade,andnowclasstwostudieshavebeeni- algorithms have been elaborated by national and tiated, for example in connection with acute spinal international expert panels and multidisciplinary as- cord injury (SCI). The clinical application of fu- sociationsfortheacutemedicalcareofpatients.

88 short papers originating from the 12th International Symposium on Intracranial Pressure and Brain Monitoring held in August 2004 in Hong Kong present experimental as well as clinical research data on invasive and non-invasive intracranial pressure and brain biochemistry monitoring. The papers have undergone a peer-reviewing and are organized in nine sections: ICP management in head injury, neurochemical monitoring, intracranial hypertension, neuroimaging, hydrocephalus, clinical trails, experimental studies, brain compliance and biophysics.

In July 2004 specialists in neurosurgery, neuroradiology, neurology and neurointensive care discussed recent trends at the 2nd Swiss Japanese Joint Conference on Cerebral Stroke Surgery, held in Zurich, Switzerland. New concepts were worked out during the conference and are published in this volume. The book starts with the topic intracranial aneurysms, discussing microsurgical and endovascular treatment modalities, as well as new surgical approaches. Further chapters deal with the management of unruptured aneurysms and with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Practical guidelines for vasospasm treatment are given. Together with contributions about arteriovenous malformations and fistulas, cerebral revascularization techniques and surgery related to the intracranial venous system a comprehensive overview about stroke surgery is given with an interdisciplinary approach. The book will be of interest for all specialists involved in therapy of cerebrovascular disease.

The XIII International Symposium on Brain Edema intracerebral hemorrhage, including the primary event and Tissue Injury was held June 1–3, 2005, in Ann Ar- and the secondary injury that follows, prompted a o- bor, Michigan, USA. This volume includes papers pre- day satellite conference on the subject. The conference sented at the symposium as well as papers that were was held immediately after the Brain Edema Sym- presented at a satellite Intracerebral Hemorrhage Con- sium. Most participants in the Brain Edema Sym- ference on June 4, 2005. In keeping with the outstand- sium stayed an extra day to learn about the latest - ing XII Symposium held in Hakone, Japan in 2002, we velopments in intracerebral hemorrhage research, chose to include brain tissue injury as well as brain including ongoing clinical trials and basic research - edema as the subject matter for this meeting. Brain vestigation focusing primarily on the secondary events edema, in many respects, is a marker of underlying which develop after the hemorrhage. pathological processes which include tissue injury There was considerable enthusiasm to continue the from many diseases. Brain Edema Symposium series at the conclusion of The scienti?c sessions included invited speakers, the thirteenth meeting. The Advisory Board chose oral presentations, poster sessions, and panel discus- Warsaw, Poland as the next site for the meeting under sions.

Neuromodulation is a rapidly evolving multidisciplinary biomedical and biotechnological field. The two volumes present the state-of-the-art in established and emerging applications for pain, spasticity, movement disorders, bladder and bowel dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, epilepsy, psychiatric illness, impairment of hearing and vision, and computational neuromodulation. Experts describe the neural networks involved and the appropriate surgical approaches, provide clinical guidelines, technical descriptions of implanted devices, proposals for refinements and personal views on future prospects of the field. The immense therapeutic potential is highlighted which arises from the close collaboration of biomedical scientists and biotechnological engineers in this area and signifies the transition from the conventional "resective" surgery to functional neuroprosthetic surgery (Vol. I) and neural networks surgery (Vol. II) which uses neuro-engineering to improve impaired neural function.Volume I describes techniques and procedures applied in internal contact with non-neural tissues surrounding the nervous system (dura or cerebrospinal fluid), as in the case of epidural stimulation for pain, etc. or intrathecal drug application for the treatment of spasticity and pain. There is also a special section on non-invasive functional neuroprosthetic systems, which are usually applied by transcutaneous contact with the nervous system.