Implantable device to restore speech for people who cannot speak
A fully implantable speech neuroprosthesis
This project is building a fully implanted brain-connected device that turns neural signals into real-time synthesized speech for people with severe speech loss from conditions like ALS or stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11021064 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would get a small implanted brain interface that records electrocorticography (ECoG) signals and wirelessly sends them to a portable computer that converts those signals into spoken words. The team will finish the 3D electronic packaging, electrode arrays, and device peripherals, manufacture devices, and run safety and functional tests. They plan to obtain an FDA investigational device exemption (IDE) and perform intra-operative clinical work to optimize how the electrodes interface with the brain. The goal is a mobile, untethered system that reduces infection risk and helps people communicate more independently.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with severe dysarthria or anarthria from ALS, stroke, or similar paralysis who are medically stable and able to undergo brain surgery and follow-up visits.
Not a fit: People who still have usable speech, have severe cognitive impairment that prevents device control, or have medical conditions that make brain surgery unsafe are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could restore real-time speech and substantially improve independence and quality of life for people who cannot speak.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has decoded words and sentences from brain recordings using ECoG, but fully implantable, wireless speech prostheses are a newer step now being developed.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cong, Peng — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Cong, Peng
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.