Flexible low-power brain implant for monitoring and reducing seizures
A flexible, low power, multi-channel, real-time BCI for seizure monitoring and Modulation
This project is building a small, energy-saving brain implant that can monitor seizure activity across multiple brain sites and deliver targeted stimulation for people with hard-to-treat focal epilepsy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11308697 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, the team is creating a tiny, programmable implant that can record from many brain locations at once and process those signals in real time using an energy-efficient digital design. Rather than fixed analog detectors or a single-purpose chip, the device uses a flexible, clock-less (asynchronous) approach so its behavior can be reprogrammed with new algorithms. The hardware will be paired with an openly documented software language so researchers can try different detection and stimulation rules. The system will be tested on the bench and then in animal models to show it works before any future human testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with medically refractory focal epilepsy who are not good candidates for resection and who are considering implanted neuromodulation options.
Not a fit: People whose seizures are well controlled with medication, those with generalized epilepsy, or individuals unwilling to consider implantable devices are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer people with medication-resistant focal epilepsy a more precise implant that detects seizures across brain networks and stops them while using less power.
How similar studies have performed: Existing implanted therapies like responsive neurostimulation and deep brain stimulation have reduced seizures for some patients, but this project applies a newer, more flexible low-power digital design that is partly novel and still under preclinical testing.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Manohar, Rajit — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Manohar, Rajit
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.