First-in-human study confirms safety of graphene-based brain interface

Spain-based INBRAIN Neuroelectronics has completed patient recruitment for its first-in-human study evaluating a graphene-based cortical interface. The first-in-human study recruited ten participants, eight of whom underwent surgery using the graphene interface. It gives surgeons the clear, detailed information they need to protect vital functions, such as speech and movement. The device performed well throughout these procedures with no failures or safety issues, allowing researchers to collect complete, high-quality datasets from all eight surgical patients. “The completion of patient enrollment in this first-in-human study marks an important step for INBRAIN and the field of neurotechnology,” said Carolina Aguilar, CEO and Co-founder, INBRAIN Neuroelectronics. “Graphene has the potential to fundamentally change how we interface with the brain, enabling higher resolution of neural function-specific biomarkers, safer, and more intelligent BCI systems,” Aguilar added. Neural mapping INBRAIN’s graphene electrodes are a major advancement in neural technology. Currently, the standard electrodes used are often too rigid and bulky to capture clear data for surgeries. On the other hand, graphene electrodes offer a major upgrade for brain surgery. Graphene is often hailed as a “wonder material” made of a single layer of carbon atoms. With its flexibility, it wraps around the brain’s microscopic folds like high-tech cling film. The newly designed graphene neural interface is ultra-thin and flexible. Precision is vital in neurosurgery, where even a single millimeter can determine whether a patient retains the ability to speak or move. The device uses sensitive carbon rather than metal to deliver signals that are much clearer and more precise, enabling surgeons to map and understand brain activity in real time with far greater detail. In this study, INBRAIN’s graphene interface was tested during brain tumor surgeries to evaluate its safety and performance alongside standard …