A groundbreaking medical breakthrough has been achieved with the successful testing of a graphene brain implant on a human brain. The implant, developed by Spanish company InBrain Neuroelectronics, is a thin, flexible device made of graphene, a material that is both the thinnest and strongest known to date.
Graphene, a flat form of carbon made up of a single layer of atoms, was first isolated in 2004 by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov at the University of Manchester. This wonder material won Geim and Novoselov a Nobel Prize in physics in 2010. Over the years, graphene has been making its way into various applications, including batteries, sensors, semiconductors, air conditioners, and even headphones.
The graphene brain implant is a type of brain-computer interface (BCI) that collects and decodes brain signals. The device is made up of 48 tiny decoding graphene electrodes, each measuring just 25 micrometers. It is half the thickness of a human hair and can be placed on the brain’s surface.
The graphene brain implant has several benefits over conventional electrodes used for brain mapping. It is more flexible and can conform to the surface of the brain, making it easier to place in difficult-to-reach areas. Additionally, the device can differentiate between healthy and cancerous brain tissue with micrometer-scale precision.
The graphene brain implant has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of various brain disorders. According to Carolina Aguilar, InBrain’s CEO and cofounder, the company is aiming to develop a commercial product that can be used for brain decoding and brain mapping. The implant is currently being tested in up to 10 patients who are undergoing brain surgery for other reasons.