Precision Neuroscience is an American medical technology company operating in the
brain-computer interface (BCI) space. Founded in 2021, the company is focused on
developing implantable neural interface technology designed to help people with
severe neurological conditions, particularly those affected by paralysis and other
forms of motor and speech impairment. Precision Neuroscience was co-founded by
Benjamin Rapoport, who was also a co-founder of Neuralink, alongside Michael Mager,
Mark Hettick, and Craig Mermel, bringing together expertise in neurosurgery,
engineering, and neuroscience.
The company's central mission is to build a safe, minimally invasive brain-computer
interface that can read and interpret neural signals, ultimately restoring
capabilities lost to injury and disease. Precision positions itself as pursuing a
less invasive approach compared to some competitors in the field, emphasizing
reversibility, safety, and scalability in its device design.
What the Company Does
Precision Neuroscience develops technology that sits on the surface of the brain to
record neural activity. Rather than penetrating brain tissue with electrodes, the
company's approach uses an ultra-thin film that conforms to the surface of the
cerebral cortex. This surface-based (rather than penetrating) design is intended to
reduce the risk of damage to brain tissue and to allow the device to be implanted
and removed with minimal disruption.
The signals collected by the interface are processed and translated into digital
commands. The long-term goal is to enable individuals who have lost the ability to
move or speak—due to conditions such as spinal cord injury, stroke, amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS), or other neurodegenerative disorders—to control digital
devices, communicate, and interact with the world using their neural activity.
The company has pursued a strategy of gathering clinical data through work with
patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures, allowing its technology to be tested
and refined in real-world medical settings. This clinical engagement is a key part
of how Precision develops and validates its systems.
Core Technology and Products
Layer 7 Cortical Interface
The flagship product of Precision Neuroscience is the Layer 7 Cortical Interface.
The name references the layered structure of the cerebral cortex. The Layer 7 is an
extremely thin, flexible microelectrode array designed to rest on the surface of the
brain without penetrating the tissue.
Key characteristics of the Layer 7 Cortical Interface include:
Thinness: The array is significantly thinner than a human hair, allowing it to
conform closely to the folds and contours of the brain's surface.
High electrode density: The device packs a large number of electrodes into a
compact area, enabling high-resolution recording of neural signals across the
cortical surface.
Minimally invasive implantation: The design allows the array to be inserted
through a very small cranial opening, reducing the invasiveness of the procedure
compared to approaches that require larger openings or tissue penetration.
Reversibility: Because the device sits on the surface rather than embedding within
brain tissue, it is intended to be removable, which is an important consideration
for patient safety and future upgrades.
Regulatory Progress
Precision Neuroscience has advanced its technology through the U.S. regulatory
process. The company received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) for a component of its wired electrode array system. This clearance relates to
the use of the electrode array to record, monitor, and stimulate electrical activity
on the surface of the brain for limited durations, which supports clinical and
research applications. Achieving FDA clearance is a significant milestone for a
company in the brain-computer interface field and reflects progress toward broader
medical use.
Services and Applications
The primary applications that Precision Neuroscience is working toward include:
Restoring communication for individuals who have lost the ability to speak.
Enabling control of computers, digital devices, and assistive technologies
through neural signals for people with paralysis.
Providing high-resolution brain mapping data that can assist neurosurgeons during
procedures and support research into brain function.
Advancing the understanding of neurological conditions through the detailed data
collected by its high-density electrode arrays.
The company's technology has potential relevance across a range of conditions,
including spinal cord injuries, stroke, ALS, and other disorders that affect motor
control and communication.
Approach and Differentiation
Precision Neuroscience distinguishes itself within the competitive brain-computer
interface landscape through its emphasis on a minimally invasive, surface-based
design. While some companies in the field pursue electrodes that penetrate into
brain tissue to capture signals from deeper structures, Precision has chosen to
focus on a conformable film that stays on the cortical surface. This choice reflects
the company's priorities around safety, reversibility, and the ability to scale the
technology to serve large numbers of patients.
The founding team's background, particularly the involvement of professionals with
prior experience in the BCI industry and in neurosurgery, has shaped the company's
technical direction and clinical strategy.
Company Background and Funding
Since its founding, Precision Neuroscience has attracted investment to support the
development and clinical testing of its technology. The company is headquartered in
the United States, with operations that include research, engineering, and
manufacturing efforts to bring its neural interface systems toward commercial and
clinical readiness. The company has raised multiple rounds of funding from venture
capital and other investors interested in the emerging neurotechnology sector.
Significance
Precision Neuroscience operates at the frontier of medical technology, in a field
that combines neuroscience, engineering, microfabrication, and clinical medicine.
Brain-computer interfaces represent a rapidly developing area with the potential to
transform the lives of people living with severe neurological impairments. By
focusing on a safe, thin, and removable interface, Precision aims to make this
technology accessible and practical for real patients, while contributing to the
broader scientific understanding of how the brain works.
The company's progress through FDA clearance and clinical engagement positions it as
a notable participant in the growing neurotechnology industry, where the challenges
of safety, signal quality, and scalability are central to bringing brain-computer
interfaces from experimental settings into widespread medical use.
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