News

Manufacturers of neurorobotics systems are making efforts to expand the market for their devices to a wider range of consumers and neurorehabilitation users. Two publicly traded vendors recently announced partnerships to develop new versions of their exoskeleton systems for applications beyond functional restoration for individuals with SCI. ReWalk Robotics Ltd., the Israeli manufacturer of exoskeleton systems, recently previewed a prototype for a soft-suit exoskeleton intended to assist stroke survivors.

Dubbed the non-conference, the 4th biennial Cleveland NEW event took place June 21-23, 2017 at the Global Health Innovation Center in Cleveland, OH. More than 80 stakeholders from the neural engineering field participated, including clinicians, funding agencies, industry, researchers, and academics. The event featured two and half days of interactive discussions that endeavored to identify and tackle some of the key challenges and opportunities confronting neural engineering.

Brain computer interface technology has made tremendous strides in the 17 years that we have published this newsletter. Algorithms for decoding raw brain signals have become more accurate and sophisticated over time and the range of applications has expanded considerably in neuroprosthetics and other areas of neurotechnology. But as BCI technology gets even more sophisticated, it will become increa…

The evolution of the neurotechnology industry has been marked . The organic growth of the industry has been fueled the last five to 10 years. As more neurotech startups emerge there are more tools available to them. Neurotech entrepreneurs are not the pinnacles of patience and many are seeking alternative ways of raising critical funding. As we reported two years ago [NBR May15 p1], crowdfunding is a viable option—particularly for noninvasive and consumer focused devices.

Clinicians, neural engineers, and researchers from across the globe attended the 13th World Congress of the International Neuromodulation Society in Edinburgh, Scotland earlier this month. The meeting included a preconference session devoted to noninvasive brain stimulation on May 27 and another devoted to innovations in neuromodulation on May 28. The theme of the innovations session was “The Chall…

Readers of this publication know well the impact that new technologies can have on people with neurological impairments. A new publication from the National Academies helps make that case even stronger. The Promise of Assistive Technology to Enhance Activity and Work Participation was authored by a team of experts within NAS, NAE, and NAM (formerly IOM). The publication results from a 2012 recommendation from the U.S.

One of the most intriguing challenges facing the neurotech industry has been to enhance learning and memory, either as a rehabilitation therapy for individuals with brain disorders, or as a way to improve cognitive performance in nonimpaired people. As we report on page 1 of this issue, the Pentagon has taken a deep interest in using neurotechnology to exploit cortical plasticity and has funded research at seven U.S.

The South (SXSW) became popular as a music festival but has morphed into a pop culture mecca featuring film, technology, and health. It is known for attracting early adopters to the scene and technology companies know this. It was on the SXSW stage that the likes of Wikipedia, Instagram, and Google+ were launched. Fast forward to 2017: neurotechnology and brain science are coming of age. At this year’s event, more than a dozen sessions featured technology and the brain or human interfaces.

By now, nearly everyone is aware of the enormous toll the opioid epidemic has taken on our society. What’s not generally known, and needs to be investigated, is who is responsible for the overdose deaths, addiction, and crime that resulted when addicts realized that heroin is a cheaper alternative to the prescription drugs they were given. We should certainly start with the pharmaceutical vendors who put profit above overall health and safety.

About 100 neurotechnology industry executives, entrepreneurs, and investors attended the 2016 Neurotech Leaders Forum, held in San Francisco, CA earlier this month. The two day-event, now in its 16th year, was produced , the publisher of this newsletter. Doug Weber from DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office delivered the keynote address on day one. The programs he manages are focused on replacing, healing, and enhancing physiology through neurotechnology.