Scientists have created a brain-computer interface (BCI) so thin and powerful it could revolutionize the treatment of neurological disorders. Known as the Biological Interface System to Cortex (BISC), this wireless implant is a single chip just 50 micrometers thick—about the width of a human hair—that can be placed on the brain's surface.
Developed by researchers from Columbia University, Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania, and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, the device achieves an unprecedented scale of miniaturization. It packs an incredible 65,536 electrodes and transmits data at a speed of 100 Mbps, which is at least 100 times faster than existing wireless BCIs. This high-bandwidth connection is designed to pair with advanced AI to decode movement, perception, and intent, turning the brain's cortex into a real-time communication portal.
Initial short-term clinical studies in human patients are underway. The technology promises to transform care by enabling new treatments for drug-resistant epilepsy, restoring motor functions for paralysis, and potentially creating high-resolution visual prosthetics for blindness. A startup named Kampto Neurotech has been founded to develop the technology for clinical use.