Neurotech Vendors Incorporate VR in New Therapies

by James Cavuoto, editor

November 2021 issue

Several new and emerging manufacturers of neuromodulation systems have chosen to integrate extended reality (XR)—which encompasses virtual reality and augmented reality—into their new therapeutic approaches. The new strategies deliver indirect stimulation of the nervous system, utilizing the patient’s natural sensory pathways.

Cognixion, a Santa Barbara, CA startup, recently raised $12 million in seed funding to develop AI-powered neural interfaces that unlock speech and smart home controls for people with communication and physical disabilities. The funding will help Cognixion develop new adaptive interfaces that make AR technology easier to use by everyone. Prime Movers Lab led the round with co-investors Northwell Health, Amazon Alexa Fund, and Volta Circle.

Cognixion’s noninvasive, wireless brain-computer interface, Cognixion ONE, features an integrated augmented reality display. The device detects signals from a user’s brainwaves associated with visual fixation on interactive objects and enables hands-free, voice-free control of XR applications in the headset. Cognixion ONE is a closed-loop device that stimulates the visual cortex within the brain and reads its activity while sending control signals back to the AR application. It also integrates with leading research software.

In addition to Cognixion ONE, the company is building advanced machine learning algorithms and an AI-powered language system, which adapts to each user’s unique communication style, making it more efficient at recognizing and anticipating what they intend to communicate. A Cognixion headset user will be able to interface directly with Amazon Alexa from anywhere, accessing the smart assistant’s functions within the headset to interact with their environment and control smart devices, or access news, music, information, and more.

“Cognixion is solving usability and accessibility issues for XR and enabling new capabilities for people with disabilities today,” said Andreas Forsland, Cognixion founder and CEO.

At the 2021 Neurotech Leaders Forum earlier this month, Richard Hanbury, CEO of another XR firm called Sana Health, described his firm’s audio-visual headset, which received FDA breakthrough device designation for treating fibromyalgia. The device delivers visual and auditory stimulation while measuring heart rate variability.

Another vendor of immersive therapeutics, AppliedVR, recently announced that the FDA granted de novo approval for its flagship therapeutic, EaseVRx, to treat chronic low back pain, which received breakthrough device designation last year. The news comes on the heels of AppliedVR announcing its $36 million series B funding round, bringing its total funding to $71 million.

EaseVRx delivers pain management training based on cognitive behavioral skills. It uses an immersive VR system that delivers VR content while incorporating biopsychosocial pain education, diaphragmatic breathing training, mindfulness exercises, relaxation-response exercises, and executive functioning games.