In 2025, the neurotech startup Paradromics plans to start human trials for its brain implant, boosting the ante in the developing brain-computer interface (BCI) industry.
This action sets Paradromics against Neuralink, the project of Elon Musk that has received the most media attention in this field.
According to the startup, approximately $100,000 (roughly N150 million) will be the retail price of the brain implants.
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Paradromics CEO’s Vision
Matt Angel, Paradromics CEO and founder, expressed his enthusiasm during an interview about the potential of brain-computers. He said that the brain is a super fascinating organ. They have about 85 billion neurons, and every neuron is a million times slower than a computer chip. And yet, the brain does incredible things.
Matt Angel emphasised the necessity of high-speed, high-data-rate devices to interact with numerous neurons simultaneously to transfer data to and from the brain effectively.
According to Angle, Paradromics aims to use its electronic devices to address urgent medical requirements by turning incurable brain health disorders into manageable technological challenges. Patients who have lost their ability to communicate as a result of illnesses like paralysis, ALS, or spinal traumas will initially be the target audience for the brain implants.
Chief scientific officer Vikash Gilja said they have chosen to focus on motor and speech because they are well-trodden in their research community and the science exists.
Paradromics aims to transform experimental science into practical medical devices powered wirelessly and calibrated for users, eliminating frequent charging and to require only a brief calibration routine.
Angle is optimistic about gaining commercial approval for the brain implants by 2029.
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Brain-Healing Tech meets Neurological Disorder
Angel stated that the first million people to get brain-computer interfaces will be getting them to treat severe medical conditions.
Even while Angle noted that consumer applications might exist in the future, he emphasised that the current priority is creating trustworthy and safe gadgets for those with severe physical and mental health issues.
Elon Musk co-founded Neuralink, which gained fame in March by implanting a device in a patient’s brain. However, a few weeks later, an implant component failed, which presented a challenge to the process.
According to a study by Chukwuemeka Eze et al., neurological illnesses are 45.4% standard in Nigeria. In southwest Nigeria, the study found 352 cases of neurological diseases for every 1,000 individuals.
The most frequent neurological conditions, the most common strokes, impact speech and movement abilities.