Onward Medical Advances in Brain-Computer Interface Development
The Dutch neurotechnology group announced on Thursday the implementation of its experimental ARC-BCI therapy in two new patients with spinal cord injuries, bringing the total number of procedures to seven.
Surgical Procedures in Switzerland
According to the press release, the two operations were carried out at the University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV) in Switzerland, under the direction of Jocelyne Bloch, head of neurosurgery. The patients are a 35-year-old woman with a spinal injury from two years ago, and a 39-year-old man whose injury occurred seven years ago. The company stated that the participants received the ARC-BCI therapy to respectively restore upper and lower limb movements. These implants are part of feasibility clinical studies funded by grants from the European Union through the European Innovation Council, as well as by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation.
The ARC-BCI Platform
The ARC-BCI platform developed by Onward Medical includes an implant placed on the motor cortex, designed to record brain signals related to movement intention, the group indicates. The system uses artificial intelligence to decode these signals and translate them into instructions transmitted wirelessly to an implanted neurostimulator, which stimulates targeted regions of the spinal cord via specially designed electrodes. The company notes that its brain-computer interface technology is based on over eight years of human safety data. The ARC-BCI system was designated as a breakthrough device by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2024 and is also included in the FDA's full product lifecycle advisory program, which provides early regulatory guidance for innovative technologies.
Continued Research and Development
Dave Marver, CEO of Onward Medical, stated that the group continues to learn from this feasibility clinical research, building on its understanding of spinal cord stimulation to restore movement after paralysis. According to him, the company is exploring the potential benefits of adding a brain-computer interface and plans to share more details in a peer-reviewed publication. The group recalls that its ARC therapy has received a total of ten FDA breakthrough device designations. Its ARC-EX system is marketed in the United States and Europe, while the implantable ARC-IM system, designed in particular to treat blood pressure instability after spinal cord injury, remains in the development phase. Based in the Netherlands, the company has a scientific and technical center in Switzerland and an office in Boston.
