Sensor-Tech: Elvis Neuroimplants

2024

Prototypes of stimulator board and electrodes, speech processor for implant Elvis C

On June 11, 2024, the chairman of the board of Sberbank PJSC Hermann Gref "" held a meeting of the Board of Trustees. Co-Unity Deaf-Blind Support Fund At the meeting, the participant "" Skolkovo Laboratory "Sensor-Tech" presented the results of the project to develop the cochlear implant ELVIS C.

ELVIS C is a Russian implant that will give electronic hearing to deaf and deaf-blind people. It consists of two parts: a speech processor and an implantable part (stimulator and electrode chain).

The cochlear implant directly stimulates the auditory nerve, takes on the function of an auditory analyzer - the "cochlea" - and thus allows you to bypass the damaged auditory pathways.

As of June 2024, the team of the Sensor-Tech Laboratory created prototypes of a stimulator board and electrodes, a speech processor, and also developed a software part of a medical device.

The project specialists carry out work related to the organization of production and preparation for certification of the device in 2025.

In 2026, the Laboratory plans to introduce a neuroimplant into medical practice. ELVIS C will be available to patients in Russia.

The development of high medical technologies in our time is of particular importance for Russia. Especially when it comes to medical systems for people with disabilities. Within the framework of the forum, we discussed the possibility of deploying the production of neuroimlants ELVIS on the basis of Skolkovo, said Denis Kuleshov, director of the Sensor-Tech Laboratory.

We are pleased to see that the ELVIS C project has made significant progress, and are confident that it will bring real benefits to many people in Russia. The Skolkovo Foundation plans to continue to provide support to the project, including at the stage of certification of the cochlear implant. We hope that the production of ELVIS C will be deployed on the territory of the Skolkovo innovation center, noted Pavel Gudkov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Skolkovo Foundation for Financial Support and Technological Expertise, member of the Council of the So-Unity Foundation.

Trial Launch Plan to Install Visual Neuroimplant to Humans

Researchers "Sensor-Tech" are working on the creation of the first line of neuroimplants in Russia, capable of affecting the human senses, including for deep stimulation of the brain, helping with severe neurological diseases. The company is already installing visual implants on monkeys, and plans to start testing on volunteers in 2025. Skolkovo reported this on May 21, 2024.

Neuralink is moving forward very quickly thanks to the financial great support and investment it has received in. USA But so far, its efforts have largely focused on the neuroimplant that will help paralyzed people. We at Sensor Tech have chosen our priority to help the deaf and blind. We expect that people with impaired hearing sight Russian and neuroimplant ELVIS will be able to offer in a few years, in 2026-2027. It is worth noting that hearing implants are already presented on the global market, but the neuroimplant in the head for brain restoring vision is a novelty. If we manage to quickly pass clinical trials with the participation of blind volunteers, then we can become one of the first companies in the world to certify such a system, which, to a certain extent, will, of course, be a huge breakthrough, - said the Denis Kuleshov director of the Sensor-Tech Laboratory.

2022: Brain implants created in Russia that were able to activate the senses

In mid-June 2022, it became known about the creation in Russia of brain implants that can activate the senses. This technology is jointly developed by the Co-Unity Deaf-Blind Support Fund and the Sensor-Those non-profit laboratory.

The Elvis line of neuroimplants, which was first presented in public in June 2022, will return blind vision, deaf hearing, as well as correct serious brain diseases and neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease and chronic pain syndromes.

In Russia, created brain implants that were able to activate the senses

The Elvis system is able to affect different areas of the brain, causing certain sensory sensations in a person. The line of neuroimplants is being created in Russia for the first time. It includes an implant to restore hearing (Elvis C), an implant to treat neurological disorders (Elvis DBS) and an implant to return vision to the blind (Elvis V).

The neuroimplant for hearing restoration Elvis C allows you to transmit sounds from the microphone directly to the cochlea of the inner ear, where the nerve endings are located. As a result, the patient receives electronic hearing.

The cochlear implant Elvis C consists of two parts: the first patient wears on the ear, it is called a speech processor. The second part is implanted under the skin, and a thin string of electrodes through the skull penetrates directly into the cochlea of the inner ear and stimulates nerve endings, which then transmit a signal to the brain.

Elvis C is the first cochlear implant in Russia, since at the moment patients are given only implants from foreign manufacturers (Australia, USA, China).

Neuroimplant for the correction of neurological diseases Elvis DBS will help people suffering from Parkinson's disease, chronic pain syndromes, tremors, Tourette syndrome and other neurological disorders.

The system consists of two parts - special electrodes are introduced into the subcortical structures of the brain and connected to a neurostimulator in the patient's chest. At the same time neurostimulator is programmed for each patient by doctor and allows to set parameters of brain stimulation depending on disease.

The Elvis DBS implant will have 13 electrodes that will stimulate brain cells in 360 mode so that the neurosurgeon has more options to tailor the stimulation strategy for each patient. The device will allow sending data on a person's condition remotely, which will increase the quality and effectiveness of treatment.^[1]

2021: Creation of an implant for vision restoration in the Russian Federation

On June 2, 2021, it became known about the creation by Russian specialists of an implant for the head, brain which allows the return sight of blind and deaf-blind people. A technology called Elvis is being jointly developed in the deaf-blind support fund "" and Connection the laboratory "," Sensor-Tech as well as scientists from the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology RAS and the Center for Collective Design. MOUTH OF MIREA

The product is installed in the brain zone, which is responsible for vision, and stimulates it with small currents. This is how a person begins to see flashes of light. On the head, the patient must put on a hoop with two cameras, which will serve as eyes and read the image in real time. On the belt, the patient fixes a microcomputer that will analyze the image from the cameras, highlight the contours of important objects and transfer personnel to the implant in the brain.

An implant for restoring vision Elvis is being created in Russia

The implant is intended for those who have completely lost their sight, but have visual experience. The brain should not be damaged. Blind patients, according to the developers, will be able to distinguish light from darkness and see silhouettes.

The neuroimplant Elvis will help blind people for whom no more methods of therapeutic and surgical treatment are available today, - explained the project manager Denis Kuleshov.

He attributed to them patients with such severe diseases as terminal glaucoma and terminal retinitis pigmentosa, as well as those who, for one reason or another, lack eyes.

By early June 2021, components of the Elvis system are being tested on rodents, and then monkey tests are planned. Clinical trials of the implant on blind volunteers are scheduled for 2023. According to the creators, the technologies for installing an implant in Russia will become widely available from 2027.^[2]

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