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Ability Neurotech has completed the first-in-human procedure for its implantable brain-computer interface (BCI), marking the company's entry into clinical-stage development.
The procedure was performed at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) University Hospital Rechts der Isar as part of a study involving up to five patients undergoing brain tumor surgery. The initial procedures validated the company's neural signal acquisition system during 20–30 minutes of intraoperative recording under general anesthesia.
Future stages of the study will evaluate neural decoding in conscious patients performing speech and motor tasks, with the company planning a subsequent long-term implantation study.
Ability's implantable BCI combines implanted electrodes with a wearable external device to record, transmit, analyze, and stimulate brain activity, with the goal of restoring communication and movement for patients with paralysis or speech loss.
CEO Rotem Kopel said:
"The real-world validation of our signal acquisition system to capture high-quality neural data in patients brings us another step closer to restoring communication, movement and autonomy for those living with paralysis and speech loss."
The milestone represents Ability Neurotech's first clinical validation of its BCI platform and advances its development of long-term implantable neurotechnology.
