Inbrain Neuroelectronics has successfully completed patient recruitment for its first-in-human study of a graphene cortical interface (NCT06368310), involving ten patients, of whom eight underwent surgical treatment. Conducted in collaboration with the University of Manchester and Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, the study aimed to assess the device’s safety and its performance during neurosurgical tumor resections. Key objectives included evaluating signal quality, stability, stimulation capability, and compatibility with standard surgical tools and recording equipment.

The preliminary findings indicate a favorable perioperative safety profile, with no device-related adverse events or failures reported up to the point of surgical discharge. The study’s primary endpoint involves a 90-day postoperative safety monitoring period, which includes imaging assessments. Notably, the graphene electrodes demonstrated high-resolution neural signal capture and decoding capabilities during surgery, including in awake procedures that facilitated speech mapping. The ultra-thin, flexible design of the electrodes aims to enhance conformability and precision in stimulation, which is critical for effective neural interfacing.

The implications of this study are significant for the field of neural interfaces and brain-computer interaction. The successful integration of graphene electrodes with standard monitoring systems could shift current paradigms in neurosurgical practices, potentially accelerating the development of advanced neuroprosthetics and therapeutic interventions for neurological disorders. As full study results are anticipated later this year, this research may pave the way for more effective and safer applications of neural interfaces in clinical settings, impacting both patient outcomes and future research directions in neurotechnology.

Source: longevity.technology