Recent developments in the brain-computer interface have made it possible for people to “type” their ideas and thoughts into a computer without actually moving their hands. It paves the way for users to control robotic limbs, and wheelchairs, navigate computers and get tactile feedback. The emergence of neurotechnology companies has allowed this aid to reach those who require it the most. Companies specializing in brain-computer interfaces are proliferating to ensure that those with neurological diseases can fully benefit from this field of study.
Given below are just a few of the market leaders in this sector:
Synchron
Synchron was established in 2016 with the goal of developing an implantable brain-computer interface capable of transmitting data in bulk from anywhere in the brain. Minimally invasive implants that can replace traditional brain implants requiring open-brain surgeries have been a focus for the company ever since it was founded.
They have recently received acclaim and recognition for being the first company to start trials for an FDA-approved, permanently implantable BCI called the ‘Stentrode’. Stentrode is an endovascular electrode array placed in a vein alongside the brain and designed to record or stimulate the nerves from within the blood vessels. The risks associated with surgery are avoided in this implantation since it does not necessitate an incision in the skull. Synchron is led by Thomas Oxley, a vascular and interventional neurologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and CEO of Synchron, along with his amazing team.
Neuralink
Neuralink is Elon Musk’s brain-computer interface technology company working on building mind-controlled devices for paralyzed people. It was co-founded in 2016 by Elon Musk, Max Hodak, and Paul Merolla. Neuralink is developing a revolutionary brain implant similar to Synchron’s that inserts micron-scale threads embedded with electrodes into the brain’s motor control centers. These threads are implanted by a robot reminiscent of a sewing machine.This implant will then used to control mobile and computer devices by paralyzed people. Neuralink also has human enhancement as their long-term goal.
Paradromics
Paradromics, another frontrunner in the neurotech field, has developed a direct data interface between the brain and an external electronic device. Paradromics was founded in 2015 by Matt Angle. Their first clinical application is an assistive communication device for patients who’ve lost the physical ability to speak or type by transforming their neural data into text or speech. Future plans include restoring movement, and sensations, and detecting and treating intractable mental disorders.
Blackrock Neurotech
Blackrock Neurotech pioneered the use of microelectrode arrays to operate brain-computer interfaces. New surgical processes, improved electrodes made from flexible materials, additional channels, and deeper probes are all in development at the moment. Their state-of-the-art research is supervised by faculty and supported by state-of-the-art equipment thanks to their partnership with prestigious academic institutions and medical facilities.
Blackrock Neurotech was founded in 2008 by Florian Solzbacher, and Marcus Gerhardt with the goal of restoring motor, sensory, and cognitive functions to people with neurological impairments.
Kernel
Kernel was started in 2016 by Bryan Johnson as another brain-computer interface business exploring unique methods of recording brain activity for usage in a variety of contexts. They have released two of their monitoring devices: Flux which tracks the electromagnetic activity of the brain, and Flow, which measures changes in the oxygenation of the blood. Kernel Flow is based on TD-fNIRS (Time-Domain functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy), which offers low-cost monitoring and all-encompassing head-scanning monitoring of high signal quality.
MindMaze
MindMaze is a brain technology company with a mission to accelerate humanity’s ability to recover, learn, and adapt. It was founded in 2012 by Tej Tadi. Healthcare and Labs are the two main departments that are working together to achieve this goal. The Healthcare division provides digital therapeutics products for stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, and dementia while the Labs division focuses on more advanced technologies in neuroscience and deep tech for developing the next-generation human-machine interface.
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