CorTec GmbH announced that the first participant in the University of Washington’s NIH-funded clinical trial of the Brain Interchange BCI system has successfully controlled a computer through thought alone – including a functional demonstration of the video game Pong – using the implanted device and cortical electrodes placed to support his motor recovery after stroke. This is the first reported instance worldwide in which a single fully implanted, wireless BCI system has demonstrated both brain stimulation for therapeutic stroke rehabilitation enhancement and thought-based computer control in the same patient using identical hardware.
During experimental brain-computer interface (BCI) sessions, the participant thinks of moving his arm, without any physical movement. The Brain Interchange implant records the corresponding cortical activity through its AirRay electrodes placed on the brain surface and transmits it wirelessly to an external computer, where advanced algorithms decode the signals in real time and translate them into control commands. In a first demonstration, the participant was able to play the Pong video game through thought alone, within only about two hours after being introduced to the concept of controlling a computer with his mind.
A remarkable aspect of this study is that no modification to the implanted system was required. The Brain Interchange the same fully implanted, wireless device delivering therapeutic cortical stimulation for stroke rehabilitation – performed the neural decoding using identical hardware and the same surgical placement.
“This is not a strategic pivot and not a new product,” said Dr Frank Desiere, CEO of CorTec. “It is empirical proof of what we have been building for more than a decade. The same implant that helped the first participant regain motor function after a stroke now also enables him to control a computer through thought alone. We know of no other fully implanted, wireless BCI platform technology worldwide that has demonstrated this dual clinical capability in a single patient.”
“Our wireless implant system delivers both therapeutic stimulation and real-time neural sensing and decoding using soft electrodes that are positioned on the brain surface,” said Dr Martin Schuettler, CTO and Co-Founder of CorTec. “Without the need to penetrate brain tissue, our technology enables long-term safety for the patient.”
“For the first time, we are decoding real-time intent from a fully implanted BCI in an individual with stroke, and the signals are clear and consistent,” said Prof. Jeffrey Herron, Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine. “The same capability could ultimately serve patients with a wide range of neurological conditions.”
