Tetraplegic and quadriplegic patients are given the capability to manage computers, control robotic arms, and thought type at 90 characters per minute which shows 94% accuracy thanks to new brain-computer interface technology.
Blackrock Neurotech along with technology licensed from Stanford University has created a new brain-computer interface technology which is set to be released in the market this year. This technology allows 10x faster communication compared to other products in the market.
For some members of our society, the link between the body and brain has been affected due to accidents or illnesses, and can no longer move at will. This is where brain-computer interface technology comes in to help. Establishing a connection between our minds and technology is a growing niche that could have a value of over $5 billion by 2030. This includes non-invasive technologies such as encephalography, electrocorticography, and magneto as well as invasive products that use direct neural interfacing.
“This technology … picks up signals directly from individual neurons, takes that data out of the brain, does something cool with it, sometimes brings it back into the brain, and the effective outcome is that … a tetraplegic patient can move a prosthetic arm around, grab a glass or a canned bottle of water, and then drink themselves again for the first time since having tragic accidents,” Blackrock Neurotech Co-Founder and CEO Marcus Gerhardt said.
“It can allow a person who can’t communicate, let’s say an ALS maybe locked-in patient, to use this interface to communicate again.” he added.
The product is set to come out this year but pricing has yet to be finalized. The company assures that “the cost has to be in line with what the healthcare industry is generally used to,” They also stated that it would be in reach for funding campaigns and fits within insurance reimbursement.
Image Source: www.blackrockneurotech.com
