The procedure took place at Salford Royal Hospital, part of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, U.K. Dr. David Coope, a neurosurgeon and chief clinical investigator, led the study with Kostas Kostarelos, the chief scientific investigator and InBrain co-founder.
A patient undergoing brain tumor resection received the InBrain BCI technology. The company says its BCI successfully differentiated between healthy and cancerous brain tissue with micrometer-scale precision. According to InBrain, the milestone marks a significant advancement in demonstrating the ability of graphene-based BCI technology beyond decoding and translating brain signals, to become a reliable tool for use in precision surgery in diseases such as cancer, and in neurotechnology more broadly
Coope said the BCI managed to capture brain activity in areas where traditional metals and materials struggle with signal fidelity. Graphene provides ultra-high density for sensing and stimulating, he says. That proves critical for high-precision resections while preserving the patient’s functional capabilities, like movement, language or cognition.
“The world’s first human application of a graphene-based BCI highlights the transformative impact of graphene-based neural technologies in medicine. This clinical milestone opens a new era for BCI technology, paving the way for advancements in both neural decoding and its application as a therapeutic intervention,” said Carolina Aguilar, CEO and co-founder of InBrain Neuroelectronics.
More about the study and the InBrain BCI technology
According to Kostarelos, InBrain expects its first-in-human study to involve 8-10 patients. It primarily seeks to demonstrate the safety of graphene in direct contact with the human brain. Additionally, Kostarelos says it aims to demonstrate graphene’s superiority over other materials in decoding brain functionality in both awake and asleep states.
InBrain’s graphene-based Intelligent Network Decoding & Modulation (BCI-Tx) Platform powers the study in the UK. In September 2023, InBrain received FDA breakthrough device designation for its graphene-neural platform as an adjunctive therapy for treating Parkinson’s disease.
The platform leverages graphene to deliver ultra-high signal resolution and adaptive neuroelectronic therapy. It enables the real-time decoding of biomarkers and precise modulation of cortical and subcortical structures at the micrometer scale for neural network rebalancing.
Graphene, a two-dimensional material made of a lattice of carbon atoms. The thin material — stronger than steel, the company says — utilizes a combination of electrical and mechanical properties. InBrain’s semiconductor-derived brain-computer interface (BCI) technology could decode and modulate brain activity. It uses AI to trigger adaptive responses for personalized neurological treatment. In addition to Parkinson’s, the company notes epilepsy and speech impairment as potential target areas for treatment.
“InBrain is at the forefront of precision neurology, integrating BCI decoding with high-precision neuromodulation to restore function and alleviate symptoms, delivering continuous, personalized treatment to maximize benefits while minimizing side effects.”
The company featured on last year’s MassDevice list of five BCI companies you should know. Read about five more in this year’s edition. Additionally, in 2022, we published a list of seven BCI companies you should know as well.
