
InBrain Neuroelectronics is leading the GphT-BCI project that it believes could revolutionize the landscape of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).
The company partnered with the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) for the project. It addresses the limitations currently faced by BCIs as researchers look to bring the technology from the lab to commercial settings.
According to the project’s website, the absence of a technology platform combining all necessary properties for building accurate and scalable BCIs has been a “significant hurdle.” That’s where InBrain and ICN2 come in.
InBrain plans for the project to mature a novel type of graphene-based transistors. Already validated in preclinical settings, the graphene-based transistors offer multiplexing capabilities and sensitivity across frequencies. It requires fewer wires, minimizing invasiveness, and allows integration into ultra-soft flexible substrates.
The project aims to pave the way for clinical translation, involving scaling up micro-fabrication and developing human-compliant read-out electronics. It also could lead to safety assessment and a comprehensive plan for clinical trials.
Gpht-BCI not only addresses current BCI limitations but could provide a strategic business model for entering the BCI market. It features a two-stage product rollout, beginning with neural presurgical and intraoperative acute brain mapping. The second stage aims to advance toward chronic BCIs with ultra-high-resolution decoding capabilities. This targets areas in neurology like Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and stroke.
The project has the support of the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) and the European Commission.
Carolina Aguilar, InBrain Neuroelectronics CEO and co-founder, said in a post on LinkedIn:
“We are progressing our journey towards the use of BCI technology in traditional neuromod applications such as Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy but also in typical BCI applications such as the translation of thought to speech. Non-dilutive sources of funding are key to keep pushing the maturing of relevant technology to achieve this ambitious purpose part of our platform applications development.”
More about InBrain and BCIs
In September, InBrain received FDA breakthrough device designation for its graphene-neural platform as an adjunctive therapy for treating Parkinson’s disease. The intelligent network modulation system harnesses the power of graphene, a two-dimensional material made of a lattice of carbon atoms. The thin material — stronger than steel, the company says — utilizes a combination of electrical and mechanical properties.
InBrain’s semiconductor-derived brain-computer interface (BCI) technology could decode and modulate brain activity. It uses AI to trigger adaptive responses for personalized neurological treatment. In addition to Parkinson’s, the company notes epilepsy and speech impairment as potential target areas for treatment.
The company featured on last year’s MassDevice list of five BCI companies you should know. In 2022, we published a list of seven BCI companies you should know as well.
BCIs as a whole continue to bring intrigue to the medtech space. Elon Musk’s Neuralink, from which one of Precision’s founders came, is one of many big names pushing forward in the BCI space. The company last year announced the opening of enrollment for its first-in-human trials.
Synchron develops the catheter-delivered Stentrode BCI implant, believing itself to be the only BCI company tapping into blood vessels to capture signals from the brain. The company has financial support from Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos. Only last month, it completed enrollment in its own FDA IDE trial, potentially getting a leg up on Neuralink.
Blackrock Neurotech, another competitor, develops the Utah Array, which has been implanted in patients since 2004 through research studies, with zero FDA-reported serious adverse events. It also unveiled a next-gen BCI — like a thin piece of lace — that’s thinner than an eyelash.