Guarded Exuberance
Like it or not, the growth of the neurotechnology industry depends heavily on perceptions—perceptions of investors, regulators, clinicians, and patient communities, among others. Few events in recent history have had as immediate an impact on neurotech investor and entrepreneur communities as the recent publication that projects a $400 billion total addressable market for brain-computer interfaces in the U.S.
LSX Boston Conference Features Neurotech Executives
The LSX World Conference USA, held in Boston, MA earlier this month, brought together some key leaders in the neurotechnology and medical technology sectors for a dynamic event focused on innovation, partnerships, investment, and commercialization strategies. The conference featured sessions on industry trends, investment insights, and the regulatory landscape. Among the standout events was the keynote panel with Becton, Dickinson CSO, Joseph Smith.
BCI Vendors Stake Out New Ground and Applications
The market for brain-computer interfaces experienced a new round of competitive activity in recent weeks as new vendors entered the market and existing players introduced new enhancements to their offerings. One of the most significant developments involves new materials. INBRAIN Neuroelectronics, the Barcelona, Spain manufacturer of graphene-based brain implants, announced the first human implantation of its cortical interface in a patient undergoing brain tumor resection.
California Researchers Integrate Stem Cells with Brain Implants
For many years, regenerative medicine has been touted as a promising area of medical research. In 2004, the state of California formed the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine to fund stem cell research in the state. But to date, stem cell therapies have not delivered on the breakthroughs that many experts expected 20 years ago. Within the central nervous system, stem cells still hold promise for helping patients with brain and spinal cord damage.
The Next Generation
As the neurotechnology industry enters its third decade, industry leaders would be wise to consider where the next generation of entrepreneurs and executives will come from. While government and nonprofit agencies such as the NIH and the NSF have played a major role in promoting and funding young neurotech researchers, success in a commercial setting requires a unique combination of technical, organizational, and entrepreneurial skills.
Scientists and Engineers Assemble for NYC Neuromodulation
The 2024 NYC Neuromodulation Conference, held at City College New York earlier this month, brought scientists, engineers, and industry experts to explore the latest advancements in brain stimulation technologies. This annual event, a cornerstone in the field of neurotechnology, provides a fitting backdrop for discussions on cutting-edge topics. This year’s conference highlighted significant progres…
New CMS Policy for taVNS Will Impact BioElectRx Vendors
The landscape of medical device coverage is ever-changing, influenced , evolving clinical evidence, and regulatory decisions. One such advancement is transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, a novel therapy with a broad spectrum of potential applications, such as neurological diseases (chronic pain, epilepsy, migraine, and tinnitus) and psychiatric disorders (depression, PTSD, anxiety, substance abuse, and opioid withdrawal).
Multifunctional Implant Performs Variety of Functions
Neurotech researchers and commercial firms have developed a number of novel implants that have achieved commercial and clinical success as either a neurostimulation or neurosensing system. And while there are several examples of closed-loop systems, such as NeuroPace’s RNS device, that can perform both sensing and stimulation, that is generally the limit of multifunctionality. A spinoff from MIT ca…
Neuromodulation Researchers Explore Carry-Over Effect
One of the most intriguing aspects of neuromodulation is the observed carry-over effects in certain applications, where the therapeutic benefits persist beyond the duration of stimulation. Recently, there have been a number of articles exploring the carry-over effect in peripheral nerve stimulation for the treatment of pain. Interestingly, this phenomenon has been well documented in peripheral nerve stimulation for overactive bladder for nearly 20 years.
The Baby and the Bathwater
Much of the need for neurotechnology devices and therapies has arisen because of pain. In the early days of this industry, it was chronic low back pain that drove sales of spinal cord stimulation systems—still the largest product category in the global neuromodulation market. But newer devices and therapies are targeting other forms of pain, including the intense psychic pain that accompanies major depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders.