BrainGate is a brain implant system previously built by Cyberkinetics, currently under development and clinical trials, designed to help those who have lost control of their extremities or other bodily functions, such as patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Spinal Cord injury. Braingate technology and related assets of Cyberkinetic are now owned by Braingate, Co. The sensor, which is implanted in the brain, monitors brain activity in the patient and converts the user's intention into computer orders.
In its current form, BrainGate consists of a sensor implanted in the brain and an external decoder device, which connects to some type of prosthesis or other external object. The sensor is in the form of a Multielectrode array, formerly known as the Utah Array, consisting of 100 thin electrodes that sense the electromagnetic signature of neurons firing in specific areas of the brain, eg, the area that controls the movement of the brain. arm . The sensor translates that activity into electrically charged signals, which are then sent to an external device and decoded into software. The decoder connects and can use the brain signals to control an external device, such as a robotic arm, a computer cursor or even a wheelchair. In essence, BrainGate allows a person to manipulate objects in the world using only the mind.
In addition to the real-time analysis of the neuronal patterns to retransmit the movement, the BrainGate matrix is also capable of recording electrical data for further analysis. A possible use of this feature would be for a neurologist to study the patterns of seizures in a patient with epilepsy.
BrainGate was originally developed by researchers from the Department of Neuroscience at Brown University in conjunction with biotechnology company Cyberkinetics, Inc. Cyberkinetics later separated from manufacturing devices at Blackrock Microsystems, which now manufactures sensors and acquisition hardware of data. BrainGate Company acquired the intellectual property and related technology of Cyberkinetics and continues to own intellectual property related to BrainGate.