• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

MassDevice

The Medical Device Business Journal — Medical Device News & Articles | MassDevice

  • Latest News
  • Technologies
    • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
    • Cardiovascular
    • Orthopedics
    • Neurological
    • Diabetes
    • Surgical Robotics
  • Business & Finance
    • Wall Street Beat
    • Earnings Reports
    • Funding Roundup
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Initial Public Offering (IPO)
    • Legal News
    • Personnel Moves
    • Medtech 100 Stock Index
  • Regulatory & Compliance
    • Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
    • Recalls
    • 510(k)
    • Pre-Market Approval (PMA)
    • MDSAP
    • Clinical Trials
  • Special Content
    • Special Reports
    • In-Depth Coverage
    • DeviceTalks
  • Podcasts
    • MassDevice Fast Five
    • DeviceTalks Weekly
    • OEM Talks
      • AbbottTalks
      • Boston ScientificTalks
      • DeviceTalks AI
      • IntuitiveTalks
      • MedtechWOMEN Talks
      • MedtronicTalks
      • Neuro Innovation Talks
      • Ortho Innovation Talks
      • Structural Heart Talks
      • StrykerTalks
  • Resources
    • About MassDevice
    • DeviceTalks
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Leadership in Medtech
    • Manufacturers & Suppliers Search
    • MedTech100 Index
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • Whitepapers
    • Voices
Home » Draper Labs plans human study of neural implants

Draper Labs plans human study of neural implants

September 23, 2016 By Sarah Faulkner

Draper Labs HaptixDraper Laboratories is reportedly planning for the 1st human study of its neural implants for amputees to begin in late 2016 or early 2017.

This follows Phase I findings that demonstrated Draper’s wireless electronics package for its implantable devices work effectively by achieving a high bandwidth communication capacity of 20 megabits per second, relaying information quickly and efficiently.

The University of Texas Southwestern conducted successful testing of Draper’s electrode component in animal studies. Next, the lab will launch a human study as early as this fall as part of a follow-on Phase II contract with the U.S. Defense Dept.’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Draper’s Haptix system works using electrodes that deliver electrical signals to nerves in the forearm, creating an artificial sensory feedback loop. The electrodes wrap around and directly interact with the nerves.

The company reports that miniaturizing the device to the size of an aspirin will give a better experience to the user, since the device can get closer to the neural interface to stimulate sensor nerves. The implant will be the first of its kind to be developed that size, according to John Lachapelle, the program’s principal investigator.

The device will ultimately allow people with prostheses a much more intuitive user experience and improved interactions with the world around them, according to Draper.

“Draper makes inherently safe systems that work, whether we’re designing an active implantable medical device or a fault-tolerant computer system for space missions,” Dr. Philip Parks, Draper’s Haptix program manager, said in prepared remarks.

Filed Under: Clinical Trials, Implants, Prosthetics, Research & Development Tagged With: Draper Laboratories

More recent news

  • Medtronic Diabetes names CFO with consumer experience ahead of separation
  • Preceptis Medical has a new CEO as it advances ear tube tech
  • FDA clears first over-the-counter cuffless blood pressure monitor
  • Mendaera wins FDA clearance for robotic needle placement
  • Johnson & Johnson seeks to have $442 million antitrust verdict tossed out

Primary Sidebar

“md
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest med device regulatory, business and technology news.

DeviceTalks Weekly

See More >

MEDTECH 100 Stock INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
MDO ad

Footer

MASSDEVICE MEDICAL NETWORK

DeviceTalks
Drug Delivery Business News
Medical Design & Outsourcing
Medical Tubing + Extrusion
Drug Discovery & Development
Pharmaceutical Processing World
MedTech 100 Index
R&D World
Medical Design Sourcing

DeviceTalks Webinars, Podcasts, & Discussions

Attend our Monthly Webinars
Listen to our Weekly Podcasts
Join our DeviceTalks Tuesdays Discussion

MASSDEVICE

Subscribe to MassDevice E-Newsletter
Advertise with us
About
Contact us

Copyright © 2025 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.

Privacy Policy