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Advancements in Brain Pacemaker Technology: A New Era of Innovation

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Neurotechnology is rapidly advancing, with regulatory approvals for brain implants occurring more swiftly. Innovations from companies like Neuralink, Inbrain, and Cortec are enhancing brain-computer interfaces, enabling paralyzed individuals to communicate through brain activity. While current technologies face challenges like diminishing signal quality, new materials like graphene promise improved long-term monitoring. Future developments aim to not only measure but also manipulate brain signals, potentially revolutionizing treatments for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and mental illnesses.

The Rise of Neurotechnology

Neurotechnology is experiencing an unprecedented surge, with regulatory bodies increasingly greenlighting new brain implants in shorter timeframes. A notable advancement occurred last year when a robot successfully implanted innovative, thread-like electrodes into the brains of two patients, developed by the American enterprise Neuralink.

Innovations are also emerging from Europe, with the Swiss firm Inbrain currently trialing flexible electrodes for deep brain stimulation in human subjects. Meanwhile, the German company Cortec is exploring systems capable of measuring and modifying brain signals, promising exciting developments in the field.

Understanding Brain Activity

The quest for the perfect brain-computer interface has accelerated significantly in recent years, more than a century after a pioneering surgeon in Germany first managed to measure human brain activity. This pivotal moment sparked a fascination with the electrical currents in the brain, leading to gradual advancements.

In 1924, a teenager underwent brain surgery at the university hospital in Jena. During the procedure, Dr. Hans Berger placed electrodes on the boy’s brain experimentally. To the astonishment of the medical team, a galvanometer connected to the electrodes registered electrical activity, revealing that nerve cells were continuously exchanging signals.

As technology progressed, measuring electrodes evolved, allowing for the capture of brain activity from the scalp. This led to the creation of electroencephalography, which remained a crucial tool for decades, enabling doctors to measure abnormal brain activity in conditions such as epilepsy.

In the 1980s, the first genuine brain-computer interface emerged, replacing paper with computer screens. This transition allowed for enhanced analysis, as brain signals could now be stored, filtered, and amplified digitally.

Today, paralyzed individuals can control computer cursors or spell words using brain-computer interfaces. A metal plate equipped with electrodes is placed on their brain, and in some cases, electrode pins penetrate the nerve tissue directly. The “Utah Array,” developed over 20 years ago by Blackrock, is a key player in this technology.

Innovations in Brain-Computer Interfaces

Despite the potential of the “Utah Arrays,” fewer than 50 patients worldwide use them to communicate with computers, primarily due to significant limitations. Over time, these devices capture diminishing brain activity, with many electrodes ceasing to send signals to the computer.

In a bid to overcome these challenges, companies like Cortec, Inbrain, and Paradromics are working tirelessly to enhance brain-computer interfaces. None of the newly approved systems leave open wounds; for instance, Cortec has developed a thin transmitter that fits snugly between the patient’s scalp and skull, allowing the skin to heal over it.

These innovative systems wirelessly transmit measured signals to a computer, with patients able to control the device using a magnet. Paradromics utilizes a similar approach, placing its transmitter beneath the skin in the patient’s chest area.

The ideal performance of a brain-computer interface varies widely. Neuralink’s thread-like electrodes can establish up to 1,000 connections to the brain, aiming for high bandwidth to maximize data transmission. Other companies prioritize reliability over the sheer number of measurement points. Inbrain, however, is taking an entirely fresh approach by utilizing graphene to manufacture its electrodes.

Graphene, a carbon-based material, offers advantages over metal electrodes, as it reduces the formation of scar tissue, allowing for stable long-term measurement of nerve cell activity. According to Carolina Aguilar, CEO of Inbrain, graphene can capture much more brain activity per square millimeter compared to traditional metal electrodes.

Some companies are pursuing the ultimate goal of brain-computer interfaces: not just measuring brain activity but also controlling it. Cortec is at the forefront of this endeavor, with systems designed to stimulate brain activity in addition to monitoring it.

Currently, patients benefiting from deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease have implantable devices that send electrical impulses at regular intervals. However, the results remain inconsistent. Cortec’s CTO, Martin Schüttler, likens current brain stimulation technology to early heart pacemakers, which operated at a constant rate regardless of the patient’s activity.

The future vision for brain stimulators is to function adaptively, adjusting stimulation based on real-time brain activity. Cortec is actively testing such devices on patients recovering from brain hemorrhages, aiming to encourage nerve cell growth and compensate for lost brain function.

Although the rapid evolution of brain-computer interfaces is promising, significant challenges remain before a true medical revolution occurs. Measuring brain signals is just the beginning; comprehending them is an entirely different challenge.

As we continue to explore the intricate workings of the brain, understanding the signals associated with mental illnesses and determining the appropriate stimulation for conditions like depression will be crucial. Only once reliable communication is established between the brain and computer can we begin to interpret and harness brain activity effectively.

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