Latest news with #PrecisionNeuroscience
Business Insider
7 hours ago
- Health
- Business Insider
Cofounder of Neuralink rival Precision Neuroscience reveals what people often get wrong about brain implants
At least that's the line from Dr. Ben Rapoport, the cofounder and chief science officer of Precision Neuroscience, a brain-computer interface, or BCI, company. "Many people have the impression that the data that we care about is sort of everywhere inside this dimensional structure," Rapoport, a neurosurgeon and engineer, told Business Insider. That's a big misconception, he said. People often incorrectly assume that "you need electrodes that penetrate deep inside the brain to get that information out," he added. But brain implants don't need to be as invasive as they might sound, he said. Precision is developing a thin film that sits on the brain and records brain activity in patients with paralysis. "We implant modules of 1,024 electrodes on the brain surface in the area that controls movement, especially the hand," Rapoport said. That allows them to have cursor control, typing ability, access the internet, use PowerPoint, play games, and word process, he added. These are actions that require vision, movement, sensation, and executive function — core parts of consciousness that are concentrated in the brain's outermost layer, the cortex, Rapoport said. Deeper inside are "connections, you know, between those activities and also sort of subconscious processes, because the brain coordinates a lot of activities in the body that don't take place consciously," he added. The New York-based startup, which received FDA clearance for part of its wireless brain-computer interface in April, has raised $155 million in funding since it launched in 2021. It is one of a few companies advancing this technology as part of the Implantable BCI Collaborative Community. BCIs are largely classified into two categories: invasive and non-invasive. Non-invasive BCIs, which don't require surgery, often rely on external sensors to detect the electrical signals in the brain. BCS that are implanted record neural activity directly from the brain and are being developed to restore speech, movement, and other complex functions in people with neurological conditions. The buzziest BCI these days is Elon Musk's Neuralink, which has ambitions to create a "symbiosis" between the human brain and AI. But there are a host of other companies working on BCIs as a way to treat neurological diseases, like Precision Neuroscience. The company has tested its temporary device in over forty patients in early clinical studies. Over the next year, it will prepare for the first human studies of its permanently implanted devices. "There are certain internal validation checks and internal milestones that we need to meet for ourselves and for the FDA before we want to start implanting the permanently implanted wireless device in humans," Rapoport said. The company's ultimate goal is to help paralyzed people get "back to a level of functional capacity where they can be significantly independent, economically self-sufficient, and hold a job in the workplace," Rapoport said. Correction: June 27, 2025 — An earlier version of this story said that Dr. Ben Rapoport was the founder and CEO of Precision Neuroscience; Dr. Rapoport is the cofounder and chief science officer. An earlier version also mischaracterized the film that goes on the brain. It is not studded with electrodes; the electrodes are embedded.
Business Insider
17 hours ago
- Health
- Business Insider
Founder of Neuralink rival Precision Neuroscience reveals what people often get wrong about brain-implant surgery
The most important matter, gray matter that is, sits right at the surface. At least that's the line from Dr. Ben Rapoport, the founder and CEO of Precision Neuroscience, a brain-computer interface, or BCI, company. "Many people have the impression that the data that we care about is sort of everywhere inside this dimensional structure," Rapoport, a neurosurgeon and engineer, told Business Insider. That's a big misconception, he said. People often incorrectly assume that "you need electrodes that penetrate deep inside the brain to get that information out," he added. But brain implants don't need to be as invasive as they might sound, he said. Precision is developing a thin, electrode-studded film that sits on the brain and records brain activity in patients with paralysis. Vision, movement, sensation, and executive function — all core parts of consciousness — are concentrated in the brain's outermost layer, the cortex, Rapoport said. Deeper inside are "connections, you know, between those activities and also sort of subconscious processes, because the brain coordinates a lot of activities in the body that don't take place consciously," he added. The New York-based startup, which received FDA clearance for part of its wireless brain-computer interface in April, has raised $155 million in funding since it launched in 2021. It is one of a few companies advancing this technology as part of the Implantable BCI Collaborative Community — an initiative launched by the FDA in 2024 that also includes Elon Musk's Neuralink, Synchron, and BlackRock Neurotech. BCIs are largely classified into two categories: invasive and non-invasive. Non-invasive BCIs, which don't require surgery and often rely on external sensors to detect the electrical signals in the brain, have been in development for decades. Invasive BCIs, which aim to record and stimulate brain function, represent a new frontier for technology. The buzziest BCI these days is Elon Musk's Neuralink, which is developing a device that will be embedded in a person's brain to record and stimulate activity. Musk's ambitions are to create a "symbiosis" between the human brain and AI. But there are a host of other companies working on BCIs as a way to mitigate symptoms or cure terminal diseases, like Precision Neuroscience. Over the next year, the company will prepare for the first human studies of its permanently implanted devices. Its goal is to help paralyzed people get "back to a level of functional capacity where they can be significantly independent, economically self-sufficient, and hold a job in the workplace," Rapoport said. And getting the data for that doesn't have to be as complicated as, well, brain surgery.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Precision Neuroscience Named to Fast Company's World Changing Ideas and Inc.'s Best Workplaces Lists
Awards recognize innovation in healthcare technology and excellence in workplace culture NEW YORK, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Precision Neuroscience Corporation (Precision), a leader in brain–computer interface (BCI) technology, has been named to two prestigious lists: Fast Company's World Changing Ideas and Inc.'s 2025 Best Workplaces. Fast Company recognized Precision for its Layer 7 Cortical Interface, a high-resolution electrode array that forms the core of its BCI system. The device is designed to help people with paralysis caused by conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, and ALS. Recently cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Layer 7 Cortical Interface can record, monitor, and stimulate electrical activity on the brain's surface. It is designed to be implanted using a minimally invasive technique and to avoid damage to brain tissue, instead conforming gently to the surface of the brain. When used as part of Precision's full BCI system, it will enable users to control digital devices—such as computers and smartphones—using only their thoughts. The Fast Company list honors companies developing bold, scalable solutions to major global challenges. A panel of editors and reporters evaluated more than 1,500 entries based on impact and potential to improve society. 'The World Changing Ideas Awards have always been about showcasing the art of the possible,' Fast Company's editor-in-chief, Brendan Vaughan, said. 'We're proud to recognize the organizations and leaders that are making meaningful progress on the biggest issues of our time.' Inc.'s 2025 Best Workplaces list highlights companies with outstanding workplace culture. The selection process included an audit of benefits and an employee survey by Quantum Workplace, evaluating management, perks, professional growth, and overall satisfaction. Michael Mager, Precision's co-founder and CEO, said, "We're proud to be recognized both for the impact of our technology and the culture we're building. In the past year, we've advanced our clinical work—testing our device in more than 40 patients to date—received our first FDA clearance, and grown our team, adding extraordinary talent across science, engineering, and operations. Our mission is ambitious—and it's made possible by the people here who are determined to bring this life-changing technology to those who need it." ABOUT PRECISIONPrecision Neuroscience is working to provide breakthrough treatments for the millions of people worldwide suffering from neurological illnesses. The company is building the only brain–computer interface designed to be minimally invasive, safely removable, and capable of processing large amounts of data. To learn more about how Precision is connecting human intelligence and artificial intelligence, visit Contact:media@ ABOUT FAST COMPANYFast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at ABOUT is the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit
Wall Street Journal
17-05-2025
- Health
- Wall Street Journal
Coming to a Brain Near You: A Tiny Computer
A high-stakes technology race is playing out in the human brain. Brain-computer interfaces are already letting people with paralysis control computers and communicate their needs, and will soon enable them to manipulate prosthetic limbs without moving a muscle. The year ahead is pivotal for the companies behind this technology. Fewer than 100 people to date have had brain-computer interfaces permanently installed. In the next 12 months, that number will more than double, provided the companies with new FDA experimental-use approval meet their goals in clinical trials. Apple this week announced its intention to allow these implants to control iPhones and other products. There are dozens of so-called 'neurotech' startups. Four lead the field of implants: Paradromics, Synchron, Precision Neuroscience and Elon Musk's Neuralink, which in some ways is the most ambitious of the four. All but Paradromics have reached the point at which they are putting tech inside people's heads. Each has its own approach, and all offer reasons they believe their product will come out ahead. All four are betting they'll eventually become a standard part of care for tens of thousands, perhaps even millions, of us. The prize they're after: Morgan Stanley projects a $1 billion-a-year brain-computer implant market by 2041. Other than perhaps the quest for human-level artificial intelligence, or colonization of other planets—not coincidentally two other areas where Musk is a big proponent—few fields exhibit such a wide gulf between a technology's potential and its near-term prospects. 'There is a vision that this is going to be a mass-consumer thing, which is a vision that you can sell,' says Dr. Iahn Cajigas, a neurosurgeon at the University of Pennsylvania who has done pioneering research on brain implants, and has installed them in a handful of patients. 'As a clinician, I find that kind of a dangerous way to talk.' These are medical products, he emphasizes, with all the risks that attend brain surgery, including infection. 'To take the risk of a brain implant, if you're a young person with no medical problems, because you're at the mall and you want a better interface with your phone, I don't know how reasonable that is in the current world we live in,' Cajigas added. For the leading companies in the brain-computer interface market, it's generally accepted that the more bandwidth required, the more invasive the implant must be. Future breakthroughs in signal processing aside, implants have to go deeper into our brain tissue to get the best performance. Unknowns about safety, performance and cost are why the trials that happen in the coming year could make or break these four contenders. Synchron, the first to collaborate with Apple, is among the least invasive. Its implant, a tubular mesh of electrodes, is run through a major blood vessel in the brain, like a stent. It can be installed without opening the patient's skull, so more physicians could be trained to perform the operation, says Kurt Haggstrom, the company's chief commercial officer. The downside: The brain-activity readings from the electrodes tend to be less precise. In the Apple scenario, patients must wear Apple's Vision Pro goggles for now. They move a cursor via eye tracking, not mind control, then 'click' an item by thinking about a large movement of one of their limbs. By the end of 2025, Synchron is to begin final FDA trials of its implantable brain-computer interface. Those trials will take about two years, says Haggstrom. Precision Neuroscience aims to put a small, flat array of electrodes onto the surface of people's brains. While the current system is wired, Precision is developing one that is completely wireless, where nothing protrudes through skin and it communicates and recharges wirelessly. With 1,024 electrodes spread across 1.5 square centimeters, the system can potentially do more than Synchron's. For example, it might be able to translate thought to speech. A key challenge: Neuralink and others benefit from decades of deep-brain recordings in primates. Precision records neural activity differently, and researchers are only beginning to map the signals, says Cajigas, who has tested it in 11 patients so far. (He's not a paid Precision collaborator.) 'In the next year, I think this could be a viable solution for patients who are amputees to control a robotic hand,' he adds. With its new FDA permissions, Precision can install its system in a person's head for up to 30 days. The company will be putting its devices in somewhere between dozens and a hundred patients in the next 12 months, says CEO Michael Mager. If those trials are successful, the company will test more permanent implants. Paradromics' brain-computer interface looks like a coin with Velcro on one side, with 421 tiny electrodes that push 1.5 millimeters into the brain. Installing several of these electrode arrays could allow for an especially fast connection, like the difference between a bad Wi-Fi signal and a great one. It can record from individual neurons, like Neuralink's system, says Chief Executive Matt Angle. The company's electrodes are so small, they could in theory go unnoticed by the patient's brain, preventing the kind of scarring and other issues that bedeviled early systems in university labs, he adds. The company hasn't installed one in a human yet, but two have been inside the brains of sheep for three years, and both maintained a strong connection to the brain throughout that time. Paradromics is part of an FDA program designed to accelerate the approval of breakthrough medical devices, and plans to start its first clinical trial in humans later this year. Neuralink has implanted devices in three patients, Musk, its founder, has said. The second patient has shown off capabilities previously demonstrated only in research labs, where wires went deep into participants' brains and ran directly to external computers. With electrodes implanted seven millimeters into the brain, that Neuralink patient could design software, play videogames and more. This kind of implant comes with potential trade-offs, says Cajigas. There's the question of whether, over time, the brain will respond to these electrodes in ways that make them unusable. And then there's the matter of upgradeability: Once you've put electrodes deep into your cortex, it's not clear how easily you'll be able to take them out and put in a new model. Neuralink didn't respond to requests for comment. Getting a brain implant might one day become as routine as, say, getting a cochlear implant, which by 2022 had reached a million hearing-impaired patients. If so, the ability to directly interface with our brains could be one of the most transformative medical, and potentially consumer, technologies in history. Experts I interviewed described various potential uses for brain-computer interfaces: figuring out which medication works best for our particular brain chemistry; using just thoughts to control vehicles, limbs and exoskeletons; and generating speech directly from thought. Getting there requires vaulting over one other hurdle that has nothing to do with science: These startups have to become real businesses, says Justin Sanchez, former head of brain-implant research at the Pentagon's R&D arm, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. It's possible one could one day become a medical-device giant in its own right. But most of these companies are likely to run out of money or get acquired by big medical-technology companies, first. Whatever happens, brain-computer interfaces have advanced far enough that experts agree they can already give doctors new ways to improve patients' lives, and are likely to show up in many more of our heads in the future. Write to Christopher Mims at
Irish Times
01-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
‘Great progress' in the race to turn brainwaves into fluent speech
Neuroscientists are striving to give a voice to people unable to speak in a fast-advancing quest to harness brainwaves to restore or enhance physical abilities. Researchers at universities across California, and companies such as New York-based Precision Neuroscience, are among those making headway towards generating naturalistic speech through a combination of brain implants and artificial intelligence. Investment and attention have long been focused on implants that enable severely disabled people to operate computer keyboards, control robotic arms or regain some use of their own paralysed limbs. But some labs are making strides by concentrating on technology that converts thought patterns into speech. 'We are making great progress – and making brain-to-synthetic voice as fluent as chat between two speaking people is a major goal,' says Edward Chang, a neurosurgeon at the University of California, San Francisco. 'The AI algorithms we are using are getting faster, and we are learning with every new participant in our studies.' READ MORE Chang and colleagues, including from the University of California, Berkeley, last month published a paper in Nature Neuroscience detailing their work with a quadriplegic woman – paralysed limbs and torso – who had not been able to speak for 18 years after suffering a stroke. She trained a deep-learning neural network by silently attempting to say sentences composed using 1,024 different words. The audio of her voice was created by streaming her neural data to a joint speech synthesis and text-decoding model. The technique reduced the lag between the patient's brain signals and the resultant audio from the eight seconds the group had achieved previously to one second. This is much closer to the 100-200 millisecond time gap in normal speech. The system's median decoding speed was 47.5 words per minute, or about a third the rate of normal conversation. Even if you could, you wouldn't want people to hear your inner speech — Nick Ramsey of University Medical Centre Utrecht. Many thousands of people a year could benefit from so-called voice prosthesis. Their cognitive functions remain more or less intact but they have suffered speech loss due to stroke, the neurodegenerative disorder ALS and other brain conditions. If successful, researchers hope the technique can be extended to help people who have difficulty vocalising because of conditions such as cerebral palsy or autism. The potential of voice neuroprosthesis is beginning to trigger interest among businesses. Precision Neuroscience claims to be capturing higher-resolution brain signals than academic researchers, since the electrodes of its implants are more densely packed. The company has worked with 38 patients and plans soon to collect data from more, providing a potential pathway to commercialisation. Precision received regulatory clearance on April 17th to leave its sensors implanted for up to 30 days at a time. That would enable its scientists to train their system with what could within a year be the 'largest repository of high-resolution neural data that exists on planet Earth', says chief executive Michael Mager. The next step would be to 'miniaturise the components and put them in hermetically sealed packages that are biocompatible so they can be planted in the body forever', says Mager. [ Brain tech breakthrough restores ALS patient's ability to speak Opens in new window ] Elon Musk's Neuralink, the best-known brain-computer interface (BCI) company, has focused on enabling people with paralysis to control computers rather than giving them a synthetic voice. An important obstacle to the development of brain-to-voice technology is the time patients take to learn how to use the system. A key unanswered question is how much the response patterns in the motor cortex – the part of the brain that controls voluntary actions, including speech – vary between people. If they remained very similar, machine-learning models trained on previous individuals could be used for new patients, says Nick Ramsey, a BCI researcher at University Medical Centre Utrecht. That would accelerate a process that today takes 'tens or hundreds of hours, generating enough data by showing a participant text and asking them to try to speak it'. Ultimately a voice neuroprosthesis should provide the full expressive range of the human voice Ramsey says all brain-to-voice research focuses on the motor cortex where neurons activate the muscles involved in speaking, with no evidence that speech could be generated from other brain areas or by decoding inner thoughts. 'Even if you could, you wouldn't want people to hear your inner speech,' he adds. 'There are a lot of things I don't say out loud because they wouldn't be to my benefit or they might hurt people.' The development of a synthetic voice as good as healthy speech could still be 'quite a ways away', says Sergey Stavisky, co-director of the neuroprosthetics lab at University of California, Davis. His lab has demonstrated it can decode what someone is trying to say with about 98 per cent accuracy, he says. But the voice output isn't instantaneous and it doesn't capture important speech qualities such as tone. It is unclear if the recording hardware – electrodes – being used can enable the synthesis to match a healthy human voice, he adds. Scientists need to develop a deeper understanding of how the brain encodes speech production and better algorithms to translate neural activity into vocal outputs, says Stavisky. 'Ultimately a voice neuroprosthesis should provide the full expressive range of the human voice, so that for example they can precisely control their pitch and timing and do things like sing.' – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2025
