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Brain Computer Interface – an Implant to Record from the Brain and Send Info to the Brain: Dr. Nicolas Vachicouras, Neurosoft Bioelectronics

Alex Jani: interviewing visionaries of healthcare innovation

So you have a panna cotta brain
and so do I,
no reason to worry,
that's our biology.

Now, how do you even try to place anything on that panna cotta – to record the activities of the brain or to send messages to the brain, like stopping shaking or pain, in severe diseases – so that you won't damage it?

You’ll hear about 

  • how does brain-computer interface work, 
  • epilepsy and stopping drug resistant seizures, 
  • severe tinnitus or ringing in the ears, 
  • the science of making rigid materials stretchable
  • and more.


My guest, Dr. Nicolas Vachicouras, is a micro-engineer fascinated with micro-nanotechnologies for interfaces with the nervous system. Boldly enough he knew he wanted to found a startup even before his PhD.

Neurosoft Bioelectronics work on soft brain electrodes that act as implantable brain-computer interface. They started with SOFT ECoG tested now for epilepsy and SOFT TINNIT to provide relief in severe tinnitus. They have developed technology that allows the manufacturing of extremely compliant neural interfaces that can achieve long-term bio-integration in the body. Meaning, that the "panna cotta" brain seems, so far, to be quite receptive. 

Studies continue. 

The brain-computer history is just beginning.

Here is where you can follow Neurosoft's developments
http://www.neurosoft-bio.com

Timestamps
0:00 Dr. Nicolas Vachicouras and Neurosoft Bioelectronics
1:10 First Soft Brain Electrodes Tested in a Patient in Houston
6:27 What is Brain-Computer Interface
9:00 Current Gold Standard for Drug-resistant Epilepsy
13:40 What are Soft Brain Electrodes and What Can You Read from the Brain
18:42 Soft Electrodes Other Uses: Block Chronic Back Pain, Stimulate Part of Brain to Stop Shaking in Parkinson's and More
21:26 Minimally Invasive Brain Implant – a Burr Hole Instead of Opening the Skull
24:16 Panna Cota Brain or What is Brain from Microengineering Perspective
28:30 How to Make Metals Stretchable
32:07 Brain Surgeons and New Technologies First Adopters, Regulatory Requirements
40:49 Early Startup Founder Challenges, Transition from Research to Business
49:17 Brain Implant to Treat Severe Tinnitus, What is Tinnitus
52:41 Challenges of Bringing Brain Medical Devices to the Market
55:34 Future of Brain-Computer Interfaces
1:01:24 Thank You, Follow Neurosoft Bioelectronics
1:01:58 Follow X-Health.show, Disclaimer

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