BrainGate wireless iBCI lets T5 and T10 use a tablet at home

AI system

System: BrainGate wireless intracortical brain-computer interface (Kalman filter velocity decoder plus linear discriminant click classifier)
Model: Not assessed
Release: Not assessed
Application developer: BrainGate consortium (Brown University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Providence VA Medical Center, Stanford University)
Role: Not assessed
Configuration: Not assessed
Inputs and outputs: Not assessed
Autonomy: Not assessed
Workflow: Chronically implanted microelectrode arrays with usable spiking signals. Daily Kalman filter and linear discriminant decoder calibration. Wireless transmitters removing the cable tether.
Human oversight: Not assessed
Relation to AI: Machine-learning decoders (Kalman filter and linear discriminant classifier) are the mechanism that translates intracortical activity into cursor movement and clicks. Wireless hardware enabled home use. The decoded control is what produced the tablet and typing capacity.
AI contribution: Machine-learning decoders (Kalman filter and linear discriminant classifier) are the mechanism that translates intracortical activity into cursor movement and clicks. Wireless hardware enabled home use. The decoded control is what produced the tablet and typing capacity.

Studies: Not assessed
Study design: Not assessed
Measurement: Not assessed
Setting and sample: Not assessed
Measures: T5 typed 196 correct characters in 14.6 minutes (13.4 per minute)
Comparison: the cabled intracortical BCI
Results: Result: Communication bitrates were equivalent between cabled and wireless configurations.
Additional value from AI: Not assessed
Limitations: Not assessed
Denominators: Not assessed
Materials for replication: Not assessed

Participants: Developer: BrainGate consortium (Brown University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Providence VA Medical Center, Stanford University). Operator: BrainGate consortium (pilot clinical trial); sessions in participants' homes with research staff present.
Jurisdictions: Developer: United States. Operator: United States.
Ownership and control: Not assessed
Dependencies: Not assessed
Cross-border connections: Not assessed
Geopolitical implications: Not assessed

Conditions for replication: Stable array signal quality years after implantation. Research staff available to set up sessions. Participant retains intention-to-move signals in motor cortex.
Replication attempts: 1 follow-up entries. Benefit recurred: 1.
Later findings: No later development found.
Availability: Not assessed
Institutional decision: Not assessed
Grounds: Not assessed
Action and result: Not assessed
Success criterion: Not assessed

Assessed benefits: People. Society.
Depth: People: 2. Society: 1.
Reasons: People: Two identifiable participants gained tablet control, web browsing and typing at home. Use was within supervised research sessions rather than independent daily use, so the gain is material but not yet life-changing. Society: First human demonstration of wireless broadband iBCI use at home; a step toward practical deployment rather than a population-level change.
Observed or intended: Not assessed
Rubric: Not assessed
Assessor and date: Not assessed
Alternative assessments: Not assessed
Fill: The makers' claim

Kind: Not assessed
Related entries: Not assessed
Field: Neurotechnology / assistive communication. People with tetraplegia.
Purpose: Restore computer access and communication for people with paralysis by decoding intended movement from motor cortex
Dates: Date basis unassessed: 2021 (precision unassessed). Updated: 22 October 2026.
Stage: Not assessed
Version: SHA-256: 1444ea654864…

Peer-reviewed study Developer

Simeral JD, Hosman T, Saab J, et al. (2021). Home Use of a Percutaneous Wireless Intracortical Brain-Computer Interface by Individuals With Tetraplegia. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering 68(7).
Peer-reviewed study Developer

Nuyujukian P, Albites Sanabria J, Saab J, et al. (2018). Cortical control of a tablet computer by people with paralysis. PLoS One 13(11).