Trending...
- Ice Melts. Infrastructure Fails. What Happens to Clean Water?
- Kilmaine Saints to Anchor St. Patrick's Day Weekend with Live Album Recording at XL Live
- Revolutionary Data Solution Transforms Health Insurance Underwriting Accuracy
A compact, remote BCI system will enable expansion of in-home study sessions, extending the geographic reach and number of individuals that can participate in BCI research.
SALT LAKE CITY, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Brain-computer interface (BCI) trials may soon be more accessible to a greater population of candidates living with paralysis, per a new partnership agreement between Blackrock Neurotech, a leader in implantable brain technology, and the University of Pittsburgh's Rehab Neural Engineering Labs (Pitt RNEL). The agreement sets the stage for Pitt RNEL to scale future brain-computer interface (BCI) studies, enabling more people with remote BCI systems to participate in study sessions from their homes. Pitt RNEL is also creating a process to expand and improve participant recruitment, both remote and on-site, ultimately enabling larger studies with greater numbers of volunteers.
Since 2004, implantable BCIs have offered people with spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders the potential to restore abilities. These BCI systems, comprised of miniaturized electronics, hardware, and machine learning software, decode and translate brain signals into digital commands, providing people with paralysis the ability to control external devices such as computer cursors or robotic arms.
Pitt was among the first research centers to implant Blackrock's BCI in human participants and has since conducted pioneering trials on a range of BCI applications, including complex control of robotic limbs and restoring sensory feedback using electrical stimulation of the brain. However, participation in Pitt's clinical trials has, up to now, largely been limited to people living within driving distance of the institution.
"Typical experiments require participants to come into our lab facilities on a regular basis, which is a successful model that will continue to be essential in pushing BCI science forward for years to come," said Michael Boninger, professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation and investigator in the Rehab Neural Engineering Labs at Pitt. "However, home testing has become an important supplement to lab testing whereby we enlist study staff to attend sessions and transport parts of the lab equipment to the participant's home to conduct testing. With this new initiative, we will develop a miniaturized and streamlined BCI system designed to work in people's homes, while replicating the potential for complex lab-based experiments."
More on The PennZone
Under this newly funded collaboration, BCI sessions using this new system will occur at the homes of people participating in the study, demonstrating that BCI research can extend outside of the greater Pittsburgh area. By reducing the challenge of study-related travel, researchers can test a broader population of participants and collect more diverse safety and efficacy data. Importantly, these in-home BCI trials are distinct from other at-home trials Pitt has conducted, where portable systems have been used independently by participants for limited testing and recreational purposes.
The Pitt RNEL group has previously shown that a portable BCI system could be successfully used at home to perform a variety of tasks by imagining the movement of a mouse cursor on the system's integrated monitor, ranging from playing computer games and typing sentences to creating digital art.
"I first started using the portable system on my own in the summer of 2020, when COVID shut down testing at the lab," said study participant Nathan Copeland. "I think in-home devices are the next essential step for getting BCI technology into the brains of the people that could have their lives improved by it. Whether it's to draw cute cats, play video games, or as a primary tool for communication, the capability of using the system in the real world beyond the confines of a lab building will start changing lives and how people think about BCI."
The expanded trials and compact system are an important step in Blackrock's efforts to make the first BCI platform commercially available to people with paralysis. The technology, which has been chronically implanted in humans since 2004, has until now only been available to patients through research studies – but Blackrock believes it is ready for real-world use.
"At a neuroscience conference a few years ago, three participants in clinical trials of Blackrock devices sat on a panel and expressed a consensus that our technology addressed immediate needs in their lives," said Marcus Gerhardt, CEO and co-founder of Blackrock. "Through this expansion of our partnership with Pitt, we will be able to connect with and learn from larger patient populations, with the guiding vision of making the technology available to as many patients as possible."
More on The PennZone
More information on the remote trials and recruitment efforts at the University of Pittsburgh can be found here.
About Blackrock Neurotech
Blackrock Neurotech is dedicated to the clinical translation of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. Blackrock, founded in 2008, is the world's leading platform company for BCI technology and the development of implantable solutions that improve human lives. Blackrock's precision electrode technology is at the core of many worldwide innovations in BCI, enabling dozens of early users (known as "BCI Pioneers") to SeeAgain, HearAgain, MoveAgain and more. For more information, visit https://blackrockneurotech.com/
About the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
The University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences include the schools of Medicine, Nursing, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and Public Health. The schools serve as the academic partner to UPMC. Together, their combined mission is to train tomorrow's health care specialists and biomedical scientists, engage in groundbreaking research that will advance understanding of the causes and treatments of disease, and participate in the delivery of outstanding patient care. Pitt has ranked among the top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health since 1998. For additional information about Pitt Health Sciences, please visit https://www.health.pitt.edu/.
Media contact:
Lightspeed PR/M for Blackrock
[email protected]
SOURCE Blackrock Neurotech
SALT LAKE CITY, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Brain-computer interface (BCI) trials may soon be more accessible to a greater population of candidates living with paralysis, per a new partnership agreement between Blackrock Neurotech, a leader in implantable brain technology, and the University of Pittsburgh's Rehab Neural Engineering Labs (Pitt RNEL). The agreement sets the stage for Pitt RNEL to scale future brain-computer interface (BCI) studies, enabling more people with remote BCI systems to participate in study sessions from their homes. Pitt RNEL is also creating a process to expand and improve participant recruitment, both remote and on-site, ultimately enabling larger studies with greater numbers of volunteers.
Since 2004, implantable BCIs have offered people with spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders the potential to restore abilities. These BCI systems, comprised of miniaturized electronics, hardware, and machine learning software, decode and translate brain signals into digital commands, providing people with paralysis the ability to control external devices such as computer cursors or robotic arms.
Pitt was among the first research centers to implant Blackrock's BCI in human participants and has since conducted pioneering trials on a range of BCI applications, including complex control of robotic limbs and restoring sensory feedback using electrical stimulation of the brain. However, participation in Pitt's clinical trials has, up to now, largely been limited to people living within driving distance of the institution.
"Typical experiments require participants to come into our lab facilities on a regular basis, which is a successful model that will continue to be essential in pushing BCI science forward for years to come," said Michael Boninger, professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation and investigator in the Rehab Neural Engineering Labs at Pitt. "However, home testing has become an important supplement to lab testing whereby we enlist study staff to attend sessions and transport parts of the lab equipment to the participant's home to conduct testing. With this new initiative, we will develop a miniaturized and streamlined BCI system designed to work in people's homes, while replicating the potential for complex lab-based experiments."
More on The PennZone
- Athens in Spring: A Culinary City Break That Rivals Paris and Copenhagen
- ClearSight Therapeutics Signs LOI with Covalent Medical for $60M Multi-Channel OTC Eye Care Partnership
- Jayne Williams Joins Century Fasteners Corp. Sales and Business Development Team
- Lord of the Rings Star Orlando Bloom To Host Special Experience at FAN EXPO Philadelphia
- Rocket Fibre Services Growing Customer Base With netElastic Networking Software
Under this newly funded collaboration, BCI sessions using this new system will occur at the homes of people participating in the study, demonstrating that BCI research can extend outside of the greater Pittsburgh area. By reducing the challenge of study-related travel, researchers can test a broader population of participants and collect more diverse safety and efficacy data. Importantly, these in-home BCI trials are distinct from other at-home trials Pitt has conducted, where portable systems have been used independently by participants for limited testing and recreational purposes.
The Pitt RNEL group has previously shown that a portable BCI system could be successfully used at home to perform a variety of tasks by imagining the movement of a mouse cursor on the system's integrated monitor, ranging from playing computer games and typing sentences to creating digital art.
"I first started using the portable system on my own in the summer of 2020, when COVID shut down testing at the lab," said study participant Nathan Copeland. "I think in-home devices are the next essential step for getting BCI technology into the brains of the people that could have their lives improved by it. Whether it's to draw cute cats, play video games, or as a primary tool for communication, the capability of using the system in the real world beyond the confines of a lab building will start changing lives and how people think about BCI."
The expanded trials and compact system are an important step in Blackrock's efforts to make the first BCI platform commercially available to people with paralysis. The technology, which has been chronically implanted in humans since 2004, has until now only been available to patients through research studies – but Blackrock believes it is ready for real-world use.
"At a neuroscience conference a few years ago, three participants in clinical trials of Blackrock devices sat on a panel and expressed a consensus that our technology addressed immediate needs in their lives," said Marcus Gerhardt, CEO and co-founder of Blackrock. "Through this expansion of our partnership with Pitt, we will be able to connect with and learn from larger patient populations, with the guiding vision of making the technology available to as many patients as possible."
More on The PennZone
- Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies Honors New Doctor of Behavioral Health Graduates
- IDpack v4 Launches: A Major Evolution in Cloud-Based ID Card Issuance
- Corey Lakins Set to Launch Glow Your Influence, a Podcast Spotlighting Women Leaders
- CCHR Says Psychiatry's Admission on Antidepressant Withdrawal Comes Far Too Late
- 505 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Launches in Albuquerque, Bringing a Customer-First Approach to Home Services
More information on the remote trials and recruitment efforts at the University of Pittsburgh can be found here.
About Blackrock Neurotech
Blackrock Neurotech is dedicated to the clinical translation of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. Blackrock, founded in 2008, is the world's leading platform company for BCI technology and the development of implantable solutions that improve human lives. Blackrock's precision electrode technology is at the core of many worldwide innovations in BCI, enabling dozens of early users (known as "BCI Pioneers") to SeeAgain, HearAgain, MoveAgain and more. For more information, visit https://blackrockneurotech.com/
About the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
The University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences include the schools of Medicine, Nursing, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and Public Health. The schools serve as the academic partner to UPMC. Together, their combined mission is to train tomorrow's health care specialists and biomedical scientists, engage in groundbreaking research that will advance understanding of the causes and treatments of disease, and participate in the delivery of outstanding patient care. Pitt has ranked among the top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health since 1998. For additional information about Pitt Health Sciences, please visit https://www.health.pitt.edu/.
Media contact:
Lightspeed PR/M for Blackrock
[email protected]
SOURCE Blackrock Neurotech
Filed Under: Business
0 Comments
Latest on The PennZone
- Capsadyn® Launches on Amazon, Offering Non-Burning Capsaicin Pain Relief
- Pita Chip Celebrates One Year at The Concourse at Comcast Center with Free Entrees for the Community
- When Representation No Longer Reflects the District — Why I'm Voting for Pete Verbica
- How Direct Home Buyers Are Simplifying the Selling Process for Philadelphia Homeowners
- Off The Hook YS (NY SE: OTH) Executes Transformational Apex Acquisition, Creating Vertically Integrated Marine Powerhouse with $60M Inventory Capacity
- Tri-State Area Entrepreneur Launches K-Chris: A Premium Digital Destination for Luxury Fragrances
- Why One American Manufacturer Builds BBQ Smokers to Aerospace Standards
- Diversified Roofing Solutions Strengthens Industry Leadership With Expanded Roofing Services Across South Florida
- ZRCalc™ Cinema Card Calculator Now Available for Nikon ZR Shooters
- Revolutionary Data Solution Transforms Health Insurance Underwriting Accuracy
- $36 Million LOI to Acquire High Value Assets from Vivakor Inc in Oklahoma's STACK Play — Building Cash Flow and Scalable Power Infrastructure; $OLOX
- Kobie Wins for AI Innovations in the 2026 Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service
- Author Jeff Bogle to Host Street Cats Mediterranean Cruise Featuring Cat Behaviorist Molly DeVoss
- Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP Celebrates 35 Years of Advocating for Maryland's Injured Workers and Families
- Art of Whiskey Hosts 3rd Annual San Francisco Tasting Experience During Super Bowl Week
- Kilmaine Saints to Anchor St. Patrick's Day Weekend with Live Album Recording at XL Live
- PADT Earns Prestigious 2025 Americas Customer Loyalty Award from Ansys, Part of Synopsys
- Florida Keys Visitors Can Save 15 Percent With KeysCaribbean's Advanced Booking Discount
- Sleep Basil Unveils Revamped Natural Latex Mattress Collection Page for Cooler, Cleaner, Better-Aligned Sleep
- Conexwest Delivers Custom Shipping Container MRI Lab, Saving California Hospital an Estimated $9 Million in Renovation Costs