The Brain Interchange implant system will deliver direct cortical electrical stimulation as part of the treatment. Credit: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for an investigational device exemption (IDE) application by the University of Washington School of Medicine to conduct an early feasibility study using CorTec’s Brain Interchange implant system.

This study will explore the potential of cortical stimulation in stroke rehabilitation to enhance brain plasticity by utilising the closed-loop Brain Interchange implant system.

The Brain Interchange System is a fully implantable closed-loop brain-computer interface (BCI) that has now been cleared for human use. This technology is expected to open new avenues for the investigation of therapies for neurological diseases.

CorTec chief technology officer Dr Martin Schuettler said: “The system is capable of interchanging information between biology and technology, between brain and computer. That’s why we call it CorTec Brain Interchange.

“With our system, we are providing the technological tools that are needed to develop new therapies and brain-computer interface applications.”


The IDE study, which marks the first human application of the Brain Interchange System, is planned to be conducted in collaboration with experts in the field.