Portable bedside brain test for detecting hidden consciousness
Official title: Portable TMS-EEG device for bedside detection of covert consciousness
Funded at Intrinsic Powers, INC. · NIH-11353794 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small, portable device using brain stimulation and EEG will help doctors identify covert consciousness in patients with severe brain injuries right at the bedside.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Intrinsic Powers, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Mcfarland, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $467,771 |
| NIH project number | 5R41NS137850-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11353794 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with acquired brain injury and disorders of consciousness in ICU settings who are suspected to have covert consciousness.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without DoC or those not in ICU settings may not benefit from this device.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a portable, wheelable TMS-EEG system that works in the ICU to detect covert consciousness in patients who seem unresponsive. It refines a new algorithm, Presence-IP1.0, and tests its accuracy on real patient data without requiring MRI. The goal is to provide clinicians and families with clearer information about a patient’s level of consciousness to guide care decisions. The work emphasizes real-time analysis and practicality in the ICU setting to improve bedside usefulness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could help families and clinicians make better-informed decisions about care and recovery potential for patients with DoC.
How similar studies have gone: Previous methods showed high accuracy but required lengthy data collection and many EEG channels; this project aims to streamline for ICU use.
Where this research is happening
-
Intrinsic Powers, INC.
Mcfarland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boly, Melanie — Intrinsic Powers, INC.
- Study coordinator: Boly, Melanie
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.