Paradromics' first trial participant speaks in real time, including on a call with family
Three months after implantation, the Connexus BCI let a woman with motor neuron disease answer open-ended questions and talk with her grandchildren.
Paradromics says the first participant in its Connect-One study is now using the Connexus brain implant for real-time speech and text communication. She is a Michigan woman in her 60s with motor neuron disease, implanted in June (our coverage).
What she has done
According to the company, she has moved beyond scripted tests: she chose her own words, answered open-ended questions and spoke with her grandchildren on a live phone call. Paradromics says the system worked with both attempted speech and imagined speech.
In August, the FDA also approved an expansion of the study that lets participants use the system with their own laptops, tablets and phones through Paradromics’ software, rather than only with lab equipment.
What we don’t know yet
Paradromics hasn’t released figures for decoding accuracy, vocabulary size, speech rate or long-term durability. These are company-reported results from one person, not yet peer-reviewed.
Why it matters
Speech is the most demanding task for a BCI. Reaching live conversation within a few months of implantation is an encouraging early sign for Paradromics’ high-bandwidth design, as competition in speech neuroprostheses intensifies.
Learn more: Speech neuroprosthesis · Neural decoding · Paradromics in the Directory