Precision Neuroscience's Layer 7 Cortical Interface
Courtesy of precision neuroscience
Neurotech Startup Precision Neuroscience announced Thursday that the United States Drug and Food Administration has approved a central component of its brain implant system, a great victory for the four -year company.
Precision is building a cerebral computer interface, or a BCI, which is a system that decodes neuronal signals and translates them into commands for external technologies. The company's BCI will initially be used to help patients with severe paralysis restoration functions, such as speech and movement, according to their website.
The FDA approved the only part of the precision system on Thursday, but marks the first complete regulatory authorization granted to a company that develops a wireless BCI, Precision said in a statement. Other new prominent companies in space include Neuralink by Elon Musk and Synchron, which is backed by Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos and Microsoft Bill Gates co -founder.
“This is a fundamental moment for precision,” said Dr. Benjamin Raport, co -founder and scientific director of Precision in a statement. Raport also helped co -confound Musk Neuralink in 2017 before leaving the following year.
Stephanie Rider of Precision Neuroscience inspects the company's microelectrodes matrix.
Source: precision neuroscience
The precision system approved by the FDA is called Cortical Interface of Layer 7. The microelectrodes matrix is thinner than a human hair and resembles a piece of yellow adhesive tape. Each matrix is composed of 1,024 electrodes that can register, monitor and stimulate electrical activity on the surface of the brain.
When placed in the brain, precision says that it can adjust to the surface without damaging any tissue.
The authorized layer of the FDA will be implemented in patients up to 30 days, and the precision may market the technology for use in clinical environments. This means that surgeons can use the matrix during procedures to map brain signals, for example. It is not the final objective for technology, but it will help the company generate income in the short term.
The precision has temporarily implemented layer 7 in 37 patients so far, and CNBC observed a case at the Mount Sinai hospital in New York last April. Up to this point, the implementations have taken place for short periods, often a matter of minutes or hours, in patients who already underwent brain surgery for a medical reason.
Now, due to the authorization of the FDA, the company may collect data for much longer periods of time.
“This regulatory authorization will exponentially increase our access to diverse and high quality data, which will help us build BCI systems that work more effectively,” Rapoport said.
