Articles tagged with Neural Prosthetics
Stimulating two parts of the brain at the same time may create richer artificial touch sensations, according to a study published in Brain Stimulation. The study found that simultaneous stimulation of the primary somatosensory cortex and insular cortex produced qualitatively richer, multicomponent percepts in three patients.
Researchers at Aarhus University have developed a tiny sensor that responds to touch in a similar way to our sensory cells. The sensor, made from a soft, silicone-like material, can convert touch into an electric potential and potentially stimulate nerves directly, allowing for prosthetic limbs with a sense of touch.
A new brain-computer interface (BCI) allows people with vocal tract and bodily paralysis to convey both speech and upper-body gestures simultaneously. The BCI successfully translated the thoughts of patients into commands that dictated the expressions of a full-body virtual avatar.
Researchers developed a hybrid technology combining human learning and machine learning in noninvasive BCIs, producing rapid and sustained gains in motor imagery control. The study demonstrates significant scientific and technological advancement in BCIs, establishing a scalable pathway toward robust neural interfaces.
Researchers have discovered that advanced brain interfacing technology used for both touch and vision prostheses is almost identical, despite being developed separately. This breakthrough could lead to faster restoration of lost senses, including sight and motor function, with a unified technology that benefits both patient groups.
Researchers at the University of Melbourne are developing a low-risk brain-computer interface that can capture unique 'QR codes' in the motor cortex to decode speech. The technology, Fluent, has shown high accuracy in converting recorded brain activity into text or audio, enabling non-verbal individuals to communicate.
Researchers developed a simple color feedback approach that improves motor control and persistence in individuals using prosthetic devices or recovering from stroke. The method, which provides real-time reinforcement, shows promise for making human-machine interface training faster and more effective.
A brain-computer interface (BCI) system has been developed at the University of California - Davis Health, allowing a person with severe paralysis caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to communicate, work, and interact with the digital world without assistance. The BCI system has been tested in a 47-year-old man with ALS, who ...
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology successfully decoded leg movements directly from remaining nerves in people with above-knee amputations. This technology opens the way to future prostheses that feel and act like a natural part of the body, providing users with more control and sensory feedback.
A new study describes an implantable brain-computer interface (iBCI) typing neuroprosthesis that can restore communication with speed and accuracy for people with paralysis. Two clinical trial participants, one with ALS and the other with a spinal cord injury, used the device to communicate rapidly and accurately, with a word error rat...
Donoghue was recognized for his foundational leadership in advancing brain–computer interfaces, enabling individuals with paralysis to regain independence. His work has shown that neural activity persists even after spinal cord injury or neurological illnesses like ALS have robbed people of their ability to move.
A new theory of proprioception challenges traditional understanding by incorporating frontier bionic evidence. The proposed framework reconceptualizes proprioception as a dynamic augmentable interface, enabling functional movement and potentially improving rehabilitation outcomes in sports injuries and neurological diseases. Researcher...
Trigeminal neuralgia is a debilitating condition causing sudden, severe electric shock-like pain in the face. University Hospitals has successfully treated two initial patients with the OneRF Trigeminal Nerve Ablation System, providing complete pain relief without complications. The minimally-invasive procedure uses radiofrequency ener...
Researchers propose a new design approach for intracortical electrodes that can record from many neurons at once without damaging them. The authors outline various manufacturing approaches, including advanced silicon micromachining and thermal fiber drawing, to create flexible devices with low stiffness.
Philip R. Troyk, director of the Pritzker Institute of Biomedical Science and Engineering at Illinois Tech, has been elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors for his groundbreaking work on neuroprosthetic devices, including an implanted cortical visual prosthesis that provides artificial vision to individuals with profo...
University of Utah engineers developed an autonomous approach using proximity and pressure sensors, training an artificial neural network on grasping postures. Study participants demonstrated improved grip security, precision, and less mental effort when using the AI-enhanced prosthesis.
Scientists developed a wireless device that uses light to send information directly to the brain, bypassing natural sensory pathways. The soft device delivers precise patterns of light through the bone to activate neurons across the cortex, allowing mice to learn and interpret meaningful signals.
The EBRAINS Summit 2025 will bring together experts to assess how neuroscience can drive medical progress, digital innovation, and responsible data use. Preliminary results from the EPINOV clinical trial, integrating virtual brain technology for epilepsy surgery planning, will be presented.
A team of researchers from Rice University and the Houston Methodist Research Institute will study how the brain responds to neural implants. They aim to develop more stable and longer-lasting brain-computer interfaces and neuroprosthetics, which could treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and stroke.
A pioneering eye device has restored reading vision to people with sight loss, allowing them to read letters, numbers, and words through a prosthetic eye. The PRIMA chip operation involves an implant paired with augmented-reality glasses, enabling patients to regain their independence and confidence.
Scientists at Linköping University develop artificial neurons made of conductive plastics that perform advanced functions like biological nerve cells. They simplify the basic structure to make it compact and biologically relevant.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve and the Cleveland VA are conducting a clinical trial to test sensory-enabled neural-controlled prostheses developed since 2015. The study will enroll 12 people with upper-limb amputation to compare standard prosthetic arms and hands to the sensory-enabled neural-controlled prostheses.
A new strategy reduces inflammation around neural prosthetics, improving their long-term performance and stability. The approach involves coating electronic implants with a potent anti-inflammatory drug, allowing the body to better tolerate the implant.
Researchers at UC Davis developed a brain-computer interface that translates neural activity into speech in real time. The technology allows individuals with ALS to communicate more naturally and inclusively, with 60% of synthesized words intelligible to listeners.
Scientists develop brain-computer interface that allows users to design distinct tactile experiences for different objects, enabling them to guess the object by sensation alone. The study represents an important step towards creating a neuroprosthetic that feels pleasant and intuitive to use.
Researchers at U-M and Stanford aim to create implantable brain computer interfaces to detect and interpret brain signals, enabling stroke victims to communicate more effectively. The devices will use tiny carbon-based electrodes to record signals from the brain's temporal region and transmit them wirelessly.
Researchers at Linköping University developed a fluid battery that can be integrated into future technology in a completely new way. The soft battery has been tested to have high capacity, recharging over 500 times and maintaining its performance.
The Open Brain Institute launches a groundbreaking platform to simulate and study digital brains, empowering researchers to explore brain complexity and diseases. With its virtual neuroscience laboratories, the OBI enables global collaboration and access to cutting-edge virtual labs.
Researchers have created a new open-source tool to optimize the placement of visual brain implants on a large scale. The tool, developed by the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, uses data from participants with intact vision to predict optimal implant locations and minimize safety risks.
A team developed a system integrating implanted spinal cord neuroprosthesis with rehabilitation robotics, delivering well-timed electrical pulses to stimulate muscles. The technology enhances immediate mobility and fosters long-term recovery, presenting a more effective rehabilitation approach than robotics alone.
Johns Hopkins engineers developed a pioneering prosthetic hand that can grip and grasp everyday objects like a human, using a hybrid design that combines rigid and soft robotics. The system achieves 99.69% accuracy in handling objects of varying textures and materials.
A brain-computer interface has enabled a person with tetraplegia to control a virtual quadcopter by thinking about moving their unresponsive fingers. This technology provides unprecedented control, allowing the user to maneuver through a virtual obstacle course and potentially enabling remote work and social interactions.
Researchers developed a brain-computer interface that recreates tactile feedback to give prosthetic hands nuanced 'feeling'. The technology uses electrical stimulation to recreate sensations of touch, movement, and shape on the prosthetic hand, allowing users to develop confidence in motor control and sense of touch.
Researchers developed a new algorithm to decode neural signals representing hand postures, enabling more precise control of neuroprostheses. The study, conducted on rhesus monkeys, shows that posture-related activity in the primate grasping circuit is crucial for accurate control.
Researchers developed an AI-driven approach to model complex hand movements, overcoming current limitations in neuroscience and biomedical engineering. The model achieved a 100% success rate in controlling virtual Baoding balls, showcasing its strength in various challenging situations.
Researchers developed a new brain-computer interface that translates brain signals into speech with up to 97% accuracy, enabling a man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to communicate with friends and family. The system was tested in real-time conversations with continuous updates, achieving high word accuracy rates.
Researchers at Linköping University have created soft electrodes made of gold nanowires and silicone rubber, capable of stimulating nerve signals and capturing electrical signals. The material is expected to last for at least three years and has potential applications in medical devices.
A new surgical procedure reconnects muscles in the residual limb, allowing patients to receive proprioceptive feedback about their prosthetic limb's position. Seven patients who underwent this surgery were able to walk faster, avoid obstacles, and climb stairs more naturally than those with traditional amputations.
Researchers at ETH Zurich developed biomimetic computer-to-brain communication enhancing naturalistic touch sensations via peripheral nerve stimulation. The bio-inspired approach enabled prosthetic legs to evoke natural sensations, allowing amputees to walk faster and with greater confidence.
A team of scientists has successfully used a neural prosthetic device to recall specific memories in adults with epilepsy. The device uses a person's own memory patterns to facilitate the brain's ability to encode and recall memory, showing promise for cognitive enhancement technologies.
Researchers developed a machine learning framework that encodes images like a retina, reducing sensory encoding challenges in neural prostheses. The actor-model approach produced images eliciting a neuronal response more akin to the original image response.
Researchers have developed a spinal cord stimulation technology that restores sensation, improves function, and reduces phantom limb pain after trans-tibial amputation. The study showed significant improvements in balance control and gait stability, with an average 70% reduction in phantom limb pain.
A new deep-learning method, DFINE, can accurately decode brain signals in real time while handling randomly missing signals, enhancing neurotechnologies. This breakthrough advances brain-computer interfaces for treating various neurological and mental health conditions.
A new speech prosthetic developed by Duke neuroscientists and engineers can translate brain signals into spoken words, improving communication for people with neurological disorders. The device achieved an accuracy rate of 40% in predicting intended speech from 90 seconds of brain activity.
Researchers at HHMI's Janelia Research Campus have discovered that rats can think about places and objects not in front of them, generating specific neural activity patterns in the hippocampus. This ability is fundamental to remembering past events and imagining future scenarios, indicating that animals possess a form of imagination.
Researchers developed robotic prosthetic ankles controlled by nerve impulses, allowing amputees to move more naturally and improving stability. The study found that users were significantly more stable when using the robotic prototype, changing their postural control strategy and mimicking the body's behavior.
A new simulation paradigm for cortical prosthetic vision has been developed, enabling more realistic brain surface mapping and improving 'bionic eye' outcomes. Researchers used MRI-derived phosphene maps and clustering algorithms to determine optimal electrode implantation sites.
Neuroscientists at UC Berkeley have successfully reconstructed a recognizable song from brain recordings, capturing the electrical activity of brain regions tuned to music attributes. This breakthrough could enable future brain implants with prosodic content, improving communication for patients with speech disorders.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory developed a wearable thin-film thermoelectric cooler that enables amputees to perceive temperature sensations in their phantom limbs. The technology has practical applications for improved prostheses, haptics, and pain management.
Researchers have successfully integrated sensors, skeletal implants, and prosthetic limbs to enable unprecedented control over every finger of a bionic hand. The innovation uses reconfigured residual limbs and redistributed nerves to provide improved prosthetic control and sensory feedback.
Researchers at TUM developed a new approach to measure human brain activity using microelectrodes and awake brain surgery. They found individual neurons specialize in handling specific numbers, providing insights into cognitive functions and developing solutions for brain function disorders.
Rice University engineers developed ultraflexible nanoelectrodes that can deliver high-resolution stimulation therapy with minimal scarring and degradation. The devices showed precise spatiotemporal stimulus control, enabling the development of new brain stimulation therapies for patients with impaired sensory or motor functions.
A study from the University of Chicago uses machine learning to record intricate tongue movements and neural activity, revealing that brain patterns can accurately predict 3D tongue shape. This breakthrough could lead to brain-computer interface-based prosthetics for restoring lost functions of feeding and speech.
Taiyun Chi develops a neural interface with neural recording channel counts over 10 times higher than current technology and creates a noninvasive deep-brain-stimulation system based on temporally interfering electromagnetic waves.
Researchers have developed a machine learning model that can predict the word about to be uttered by a subject based on their neural activity. The model achieved 55% accuracy using six channels of data and 70% accuracy using eight channels, comparable to other studies requiring electrodes over the entire cortical surface.
The study found conserved structures of neuronal activity in the sensorimotor cortex of freely moving rats, revealing a clear gradient for contralateral bias. This breakthrough helps understand brain control of movements under natural conditions and enables further development of neuroprosthetic devices.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales have developed optrodes that can measure neural activity using light, potentially revolutionizing medical technologies like nerve-operated prosthetics. The new approach addresses long-standing issues with impedance mismatch and crosstalk, paving the way for more complex neural networks.
Researchers discovered that brain-robot interfaces can reroute motor pathways around damaged areas in stroke patients, allowing for improved hand function and control. This breakthrough technology uses proprioceptive feedback to enhance communication between the brain and muscles.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a tiny, flexible neural probe that can record and stimulate neural activity while minimizing injury to surrounding tissue. The probe is ideal for studying peripheral nerves or the spinal cord, where traditional probes may not fit due to its small size and flexibility.
Researchers at UBC create ionic skins made of flexible hydrogels that use ions to carry an electrical charge. These hydrogels can generate voltages when touched, producing a piezoionic effect that allows them to detect pressure and other stimuli. The technology has potential applications in prosthetics, wearable sensors, and body impla...