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Most BCI devices are implanted via brain surgery, which is highly invasive and expensive, and generally not worth the time or effort for most users. As we developed the Enceph implant into a string-like array, we found that the whole system could fit comfortably within larger blood vessels, therefore making injection the ideal method of installation. This innovative method makes Enceph more accessible and affordable for all users.
The blood-brain barrier, which keeps pathogens and other foreign particles from entering the brain, is a major obstacle for neural implants. It’s generally bypassed in the surgical process, but to reach the brain from the bloodstream, it must be permeated. This is only possible for nanoparticles, which are tens of times smaller than our current system. Electrodes that small would either decompose easily or produce unreliable readings, so we decided to have Enceph orbit the brain within the circulatory system, taking readings as it passes without having to cross the blood-brain barrier.
Communications technology is evolving at an exponential rate, and at some point, Bluetooth will be rendered obsolete. However, the way the brain works stays the same, and so does our method for taking electrical readings from it. Instead, the Enceph app will receive updates to better utilize the collected information with future communications standards, so users can rest easy knowing that as the world around them evolves, so does Enceph.