The Wyss Center is developing a fully implantable brain-computer interface (BCI) that can directly detect brain signals, and wirelessly transmit data through the scalp. The neural data is received by an external wearable device and then sent to a computer via a wired connection. The computer decodes the brain signals in real time to control assistive devices such as prosthetics or to integrate with voice or communication systems.
The system, called ABILITY which stands for Active Brain Implant Live Information Transfer sYstem, uses multiple channels to collect high-resolution brain data.
Our technology development efforts are focused on the following applications:
- Enabling communication with people ‘locked-in’ as a result of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), as part of the INTRECOM project with UMC Utrecht Brain Center (the Netherlands), Graz University of Technology (Austria) and CorTec (Germany)
- Restoration of reach, grasp and walking in people following spinal cord injury or stroke
- Exploring the potential for use in neuromodulation applications
Whitepaper
ABILITY
In numbers
128
channels of neural data
50 Mbits/s
broadband neural data sensing and transmission
in 2022
Preclinical trials with the implant
The Ability platform
Implant and connected electrodes
The electrodes detect brain signals and the implant wirelessly transmits the neural data to the wearable.
An innovative optical data transfer link enables 128 channels of high bandwidth neural data to be wirelessly sent from the brain to a computer in real-time.
Wearable
The wearable is a component that comprises a head piece placed on the skin directly over the implant thanks to magnetic alignment, and a clip-piece. These wirelessly power the implant through the skin via induction.
The wearable also receives the neural data sent wirelessly by the implant and sends it to an external processing unit via a wired connection.
Data processor
The external data processor uses the NeuroKey software to analyse the data, decode communication and movement intent, and send commands to computers or assistive devices in real time.
Data visualization
ABILITY enters preclinical trial
A preclinical trial has been performed with the ABILITY brain-computer interface system. The study, which has been carried out in sheep, is a crucial step towards development of a fully implantable device to enable applications such as communication and movement for people with paralysis. The trial has assessed the safety and feasibility of brain signal recording and wireless transfer of neural data to a wearable computer.
The ABILITY wearable
ABILITY comprises implantable and wearable components. Here, the image on the left shows the printed circuit board layout of the USB adapter – part of the ABILITY wearable. The image on the right is the physical board used in the wearable. Components marked yellow and blue in the layout are deep, so not visible on the board.
NeuroKey data processing software
The Wyss Center’s NeuroKey software is fully integrated with ABILITY. Developed as medical-grade software, the data analysis platform processes large amounts of information in real-time and enables rapid prototyping of clinical applications.
We collaborate with academic and clinical partners as well as a network of industrial technology partners.
