Four-year-old Precision Neuroscience announced yesterday that it has received approval for longer-term clinical trials of its key component in a so-called neural interface that can interpret signals generated by the human brain to combat the effects of various types of paralysis.
Image source: Precision Neuroscience
As CNBC explains, until now Precision Neuroscience had to content itself with practical tests of its neural interface for a few dozen minutes to several hours, during accompanying surgical manipulations on the patients’ brains. The lack of approval from American regulators prevented leaving the element in contact with the cerebral cortex for a longer period, but this week the startup received the corresponding permission from the FDA to conduct clinical trials lasting up to 30 days. So far, 37 patients have participated in shorter experiments.
The neurointerface in question will not be able to fully operate in such conditions yet, but the developers will at least be able to engage in more detailed decoding of the signals received through the element for the purpose of their further interpretation into useful commands. The neurointerface element directly approved for clinical trials is a set of 1024 electrodes on a very thin film substrate, which is attached to the cerebral cortex. There is the possibility of bidirectional signal transmission, since the electrodes are able to stimulate the areas of the cerebral cortex that contact them. According to the developers, applying the film element to the brain tissue does not harm them in any way. Ultimately, Precision Neuroscience hopes to use this neurointerface to overcome such ailments as limb paralysis and speech loss. Data exchange with the computer in the finished version will occur via a wireless interface.