Wireless Brain-computer Implant successfully transforms thoughts into speech

 The Connexus brain implant is a fully wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) developed by Paradromics that records brain signals from individual neurons and translates them into real-time speech or computer commands

https://www.michiganmedicine.org/news-release/university-michigan-implants-first-human-paradromics-wireless-brain-computer-interface-designed 

the potential of this wireless BCI to restore communication for people who have lost the ability to speak due to neurological disease or injury,” said Willsey, a Site Principal Investigator for the study who led the implant surgery.

“This has the potential to be a major step forward as we work toward our goal of helping treat people with paralysis who otherwise lack efficient and effective therapies for preserving communication.”

 allowing the user to control a device with their thoughts.

The Paradromics device contains 421 microelectrodes that capture brain signals from individual neurons. Those signals travel to a small transceiver in the user’s chest that sends information to an external receiver.

 https://www.uofmhealth.org/our-care/specialties-services/brain-computer-interface-bci-clinic

Patients with motor and speech disabilities and patients with post-stroke hemiparesis are the primary patient population for FDA-approved therapy (vagus nerve stimulator). 

Other conditions targeted for clinical trials include:

• Tetraplegia/tetra paresis
• Locked-in syndrome
• Spinal cord injury
• ALS
• Brainstem stroke
• Progressive muscle atrophy
• Adult-onset spinal muscle atrophy
• Muscle dystrophy