Onward Medical received a grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to support an ongoing study. The $1.1 million grant supports the expansion of an ongoing early clinical feasibility study of the use of brain-computer interface (BCI). Onward’s study evaluates the use of BCI to restore thought-driven use of the hands and arms after SCI. The first participant in the study received their investigational ARC-BCI implant in August 2023. Now, investigators can enrol up to four additional participants to receive their ARC-BCI implant.
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Onward’s ARC-IM delivers targeted, programmed therapy to the spinal cord to restore movement and other functions after SCI. Multiple feasibility studies demonstrated restored mobility and stabilized blood pressure with the device. The study looks at ARC-IM in tandem with the WImagine BCI from CEA-Clinatec.
The BCI works with ARC-IM to capture the intention of a paralyzed individual to move their upper extremities. It uses AI to decode those thoughts and convert the information into ARC-IM therapy. Precise stimulation of the spinal cord with ARC-IM results in thought-driven movement.
“While other companies are using BCI technology to interface with computers, ONWARD is leading the pursuit of BCI-augmented movement restoration,” said ONWARD Medical CEO Dave Marver. “We are grateful to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation for its support, which enables us to expand this important study.”
