Non-invasive brain headset gives back power of speech to ALS patients

Well-known theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking overcame this with a specialized voice synthesizer designed by Intel that converted his movement of cheek muscle and eye blinks into words. While Hawking’s device was customized to his needs, advances in computing technology now make it possible for any ALS patient to have a similar ability by directing their attention to an augmented reality display on a headset.

How does the device work? 

Cognixion’s BCI device, called Axon R, is a headset that can non-invasively monitor brain activity. The headset’s electrodes are placed on the occipital lobe at the back of the skull. 

Using electroencephalography (EEG), a standard brain activity monitoring technique, the headset works to record steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP), a brain signal released as a natural reaction to an image flashing at regular intervals. 

On the other hand, the headset uses augmented reality (AR) to show multiple options for letters, words, or phrases to the user and then uses the brain signal to decode user choices. Unlike Hawking’s device, the user does not have to directly gaze at the word/ text to make a choice, but the mere attention to the word triggers a brain signal. At the end of the exercise, the headset can either read out the message or display it on a screen.  

Personalized and non-invasive

Cognixion has taken its device further with an assistive AI system that can help patients produce speech more quickly. This isn’t just an autocomplete function that picks up words of the highest likelihood that will follow but an assistant trained in the speech or writing of each patient. 

Through Axon-R, Cognixion aims for communication at “near conversational speed.” However, the clinical trial aims to prioritize rates at which SSVEP selections are made and improve dialogue between patients and caretakers. With ALS being a terminal disease, the device is expected to help patients communicate their choices about care and end-of-life decisions.

Other than ALS, the device could also help patients with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and other such conditions. While many companies are looking to build BCI devices and bring them to the market, such as Elon Musk’s Neuralink, Axon-R’s distinct advantage is its non-invasive nature. 

“While folks like Neuralink are struggling to get into their first patients, we’re going to have 10 users this summer who are all going to be hopefully having conversations when they’ve been silent for a long time,” Andreas Forslund, CEO of Cognixion told Forbes. 

Following this trial, Cognixion is planning a larger trial with 50 patients. Favorable results from these trials could help the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expedite approval for this breakthrough technology.