Paradromics completes first human BCI implant, setting stage for clinical trials targeting severe motor impairment.
Elon Musk ’s Neuralink isn’t the only contender in the brain-tech race. Paradromics has entered the arena with its first human brain-computer interface implant.The neurotechnology startup on Monday announced that it successfully implanted and removed its BCI device during a scheduled epilepsy surgery at the University of Michigan on May 14.
The entire process took just 20 minutes and marks a major milestone for the Texas-based company, which was founded in 2015.Step closer to clinical trialsA brain-computer interface is a technology that interprets signals from the brain and converts them into commands for external devices.Paradromics’ system, known as the Connexus BCI, was able to record neural activity during the brief procedure. The move marks an encouraging first step as the 10-year-old company prepares for broader clinical trials.While the device is not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the successful demonstration in a human brain signals that the technology may be ready to move from the lab to the clinic.“This surgery is a key inflection point for Paradromics. We are now a clinical-stage company,” said founder and CEO Matt Angle.“We’ve known for some time, based on our preclinical studies, that we have developed a world-class BCI platform. Now with the jump to human surgeries and recordings, we are closer to translating this neurotechnology to patients.”Clinical stage, high stakesThe patient was already undergoing brain surgery to treat epilepsy, which allowed researchers to safely test the device under close supervision“This procedure is the first of many surgeries planned over the next several months,” the company said in a release.Paradromics is developing its BCI to help people with severe motor impairments, such as paralysis, to communicate through computers.Unlike some competing systems, the Connexus aims to read signals at the level of individual neurons, providing what the company describes as higher-resolution data.The May procedure was carried out by a medical team at the University of Michigan. Dr. Oren Sagher, professor of neurosurgery, oversaw the clinical aspects, while Dr. Matthew Willsey, assistant professor of neurosurgery and biomedical engineering, led the research and implantation of the device. The university was able to participate in the trial under research-use allowances for unapproved devices that pose minimal risk to patients.Paradromics now joins a crowded field of neurotech startups racing to bring BCI systems to market. Competitors include Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which is currently running its own clinical trials and recently received an FDA ‘breakthrough’ designation for its speech restoration device. Other players like Synchron, backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, and Precision Neuroscience are also advancing their technologies in parallel.Paradromics has raised nearly $100 million to date and recently announced a partnership with Saudi Arabia’s NEOM project, hinting at global ambitions.Pending regulatory approvals, Paradromics plans to launch a full-scale clinical trial later this year to study the safety and potential long-term benefits of its implant in people with disabilities.Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s brain-tech venture Neuralink announced it has raised $650 million in its latest funding round, coinciding with the launch of its clinical trials.According to the company, five patients with severe paralysis are already using the Neuralink device to operate digital and physical systems using only their thoughts.
Brain Tech Brain-Computer Interface Connexus BCI Elon Musk Neural Implant Neuralink Neurotechnology Paradromics Paralysis Treatment
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Neuralink competitor Paradromics completes first human implantThe procedure took place at the University of Michigan with a patient who was already undergoing neurosurgery to treat epilepsy.
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