A blog about what is new (and old) in the world of active implantable medical devices

Category Archives: AIMD Companies

CorTec reports cortical-electrode recordings lasting more than four years

Posted on by Posted in Brain-Computer Interface, CorTec, EEG Monitoring
CorTec Closed-Loop Brain Interchange implant system

Image Credit: CorTec

CorTec announced that its micro-electrocorticography (µECoG) arrays have continued recording neural activity more than four years after implantation in a nonhuman primate at Weill Cornell Medicine. The research involved two animals, with 63 of 64 contacts still functioning in the animal under continued observation. Results presented at the September 2026 Graz Brain-Computer Interface Conference compared recordings through day 1,361 and found stable spatial and spectral characteristics, including distinguishable activity patterns during alert task performance and drowsiness.

The arrays sit on the dura without penetrating brain tissue and use medical-grade silicone and platinum-iridium, with materials and manufacturing methods shared by the electrodes in CorTec’s Brain Interchange system.

Medtronic Receives CE Mark for Pacemakers Designed for Conduction-System Pacing

Posted on by Posted in Bradycardia, Cardiac Pacing, Cardiac Stimulation (other), Heart Failure (CHF), Medtronic

Medtronic announced on October 19, 2026, that its Vitalis pacemaker portfolio has received CE marking. The family includes ReSyncra CSP, Restoria CSP, Refina CSP, Effectra, and Confirma, with dedicated conduction-system pacing features available in selected models. ReSyncra CSP provides an option for patients indicated for conventional biventricular pacing in whom effective cardiac resynchronization therapy cannot be achieved. Its AdaptivCSP algorithm automatically adjusts pacing timing to support ventricular synchronization.

The notable development is the integration of CSP-specific control and monitoring into the pulse generator. ReSyncra CSP, Restoria CSP, and Refina CSP incorporate CSP MVP programming options and a CSP Morphology Monitor for following therapy during remote and office evaluations. These capabilities complement Medtronic’s existing SelectSecure Model 3830 lead and CSP delivery tools, extending support beyond lead placement to ongoing therapy management.

Coherence Neuro Raises $45 Million to Advance Implantable Cancer Monitoring and Treatment

Posted on by Posted in Cancer, Coherence Neuro

Image Credit: Coherence Neuro

Coherence Neuro has announced $45 million in funding backed by Founders Fund and the OpenAI Startup Fund to develop implantable systems for monitoring and treating cancer. Its proposed SOMA-1 platform would combine recording of electrical activity in the tumor environment with responsive stimulation, initially targeting glioblastoma. The company reported preclinical work in mice using neural recordings to estimate tumor growth and plans to use the funding to advance toward its first chronic human glioblastoma trial. It is also seeking FDA Breakthrough Device designation and expanding its preclinical research into pancreatic cancer. Inventing cancer therapy that learns

The engineering objective is to link continuous electrical sensing with therapeutic stimulation in a closed-loop implant. Coherence’s human study announced in June 2026 at Royal Melbourne Hospital represents an earlier development stage. That study uses CIPHER, a flexible thin-film cortical electrode system, for short-duration recording and stimulation during brain tumor surgery. It evaluates intraoperative safety, performance, and handling rather than chronic cancer treatment. Whether electrical measurements can reliably track human tumor progression and guide effective stimulation remains to be established. The devices remain investigational.

Nurotron auditory brainstem implant receives Chinese market approval

Posted on by Posted in Brainstem stimulation, Deafness, Nurotron
Nurotron brainstem stimulator for deafness

Image Credit: Nurotron

China’s National Medical Products Administration announced approval of Nurotron’s WH-01A auditory brainstem implant, developed with Professor Wu Hao’s team at Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital. The implant addresses an important limitation of cochlear prostheses in patients with severe inner-ear malformations or an absent cochlear nerve may lack the anatomical pathway needed for cochlear stimulation to produce hearing. The WH-01A bypasses the cochlea and cochlear nerve, delivering electrical stimulation through an electrode array placed on the surface of the brainstem’s cochlear nucleus.

According to the developing team’s announcement, the system incorporates a 16-contact electrode array, a high-rate stimulation chip, and a coding strategy designed for Mandarin’s four lexical tones, with the ability to stimulate and record neural responses simultaneously. Registration trials began in 2022, with implantation and follow-up completed in 2024.

AIMD Workshop 2026 Summary

Posted on by Posted in ADCORPUS, AIMD Business, TU Delft

AIMD Workshop 2026 SummaryAIMD workshop 2026

The 2026 edition of the Active Implantable Medical Devices (AIMD) Workshop, organized by ADCORPUS together with Delft University of Technology, took place on 4–5 June at the TU Delft Aula Congress Centre, gathering nearly 200 engineers, researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders from across the active implant community. Following the 2025 Barcelona edition, this year’s move to TU Delft reflected the workshop’s core aim of connecting industry and research around next-generation active implants.

Here is a summary kindly provided by Nicolás Barabino, PhD: Continue reading→

Atrotech’s Phrenic Nerve Stimulation System

Posted on by Posted in Atrotech, Central Alveolar Hypoventilation, Phrenic Nerve Stimulation, Respiratory Muscle Paralysis, Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Atrotek's Atrostim system for phrenic nerve stimulation www.implantable-device.com

Image credit: Atrotek

My friend and colleague Nicolas Barabino, founder of Adcorpus, saw my post on the Avery phrenic nerve stimulator, and pointed me to another company in this space.

Atrotech’s RF-powered diaphragm pacing system was originally developed in Finland. Beginning in the late 1970s, Pasi P. Talonen, Gerhard A. Baer and colleagues at Tampere University of Technology developed an externally powered phrenic nerve stimulator for patients with respiratory paralysis. Their work led to the establishment of Atrotech Oy in Tampere in 1984 as a university spin-off and eventually to the commercial Atrostim phrenic nerve stimulation system.

Like the Avery diaphragm pacemaker, Atrostim uses an external transmitter and antennas to send both energy and stimulation information across intact skin to passive receivers implanted subcutaneously in the chest. Each receiver is connected to an electrode placed around a phrenic nerve, allowing bilateral stimulation to contract the diaphragm and produce inspiration. A distinctive feature of the Atrostim system is its quadripolar electrode. Four contacts surround each phrenic nerve and are activated in different combinations sequentially. This approach was developed to distribute stimulation among different portions of the nerve and reduce diaphragm fatigue during long-term pacing.

Atrostim entered clinical use around 1990, and a 1996 international study reported experience with 64 patients in 14 countries. The system subsequently became commercially available in Europe for patients with high spinal cord injuries and central hypoventilation. Atrotech remains in operation in Tampere today, now as the Finnish subsidiary of the French company Tidalium, and continues to manufacture Atrostim implants more than four decades after development of the original Tampere phrenic nerve stimulator.

Avery’s diaphragm pacemaker

Posted on by Posted in Avery, Brainstem Injury, Diaphragmatic Pacing, Pain, Phrenic Nerve Stimulation, Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Spinal Cord Stimulation

Avery Labs' Diaphragmatic RF pacemaker. David Prutchi PhD. www.implantable-device.com

Last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting Dr. David Delman, an electrical engineer and physician who had worked at Avery Laboratories. Dr. Delman showed me several examples of Avery’s radiofrequency-powered diaphragm pacing equipment, including an external transmitter, antenna, and implanted receiver. The transmitter’s coupling coil immediately caught my attention because it is essentially identical to the external coil used with the Cutler-Hammer/Airborne Instruments Laboratory RF cardiac pacemaker developed for William W. L. Glenn about a decade earlier. That resemblance is especially interesting because the two systems share a common technological background.

Avery Labs' Diaphragmatic RF pacemaker transmitter. David Prutchi PhD. www.implantable-device.com

Avarey Laboratories external RF transmitter

Continue reading→

The history of RF-powered and inductive pacemakers

Posted on by Posted in Bradycardia, Cardiac Pacing, Cordis, Cuttler-Hammer, History, Lucas, Medtronic, Museum, My Portfolio, Wireless Power Transmission

Cuttler-Hammer RF pacemakers

I’m happy to share that a paper I coauthored with Daniel Villamil, “The Forgotten History of Semi-Implanted Radiofrequency- and Inductive-Powered Cardiac Pacing Systems,” has been published online in Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology (PACE).

The paper explores an often overlooked chapter in pacemaker history. These systems transferred energy across intact skin to a small and remarkably simple implanted receiver. We trace their development from the pioneering Glenn and Mauro RF pacemaker of 1959 through the later Cutler-Hammer, Cordis Transicor, and Abrams/Lightwood/Lucas systems.

We also consider the modern implications of this early work. Although continuously externally powered cardiac pacing was replaced by fully implantable pulse generators, the same basic strategy remains useful in modern therapies that place a small batteryless stimulator near the treatment site while keeping the power source and part of the control system outside the body.

The paper can be read free of charge through Wiley’s read-only sharing service:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/author/AG7CFNUADCCW4RNDDVNK?target=10.1111/pace.70377

Reference:

David Prutchi and Daniel Villamil, “The Forgotten History of Semi-Implanted Radiofrequency- and Inductive-Powered Cardiac Pacing Systems,” Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology, 2026. DOI: 10.1111/pace.70377.

Biotronik performs first US implant of LivIQ leadless pacemaker

Posted on by Posted in Biotronik, Bradycardia, Cardiac Pacing
Biotronik LivIQ Leadless Pacemaker

Image Credit: Biotronik

On June 8, 2026, Biotronik announced the first U.S. implant of its LivIQ leadless pacemaker as part of the BIO-LivIQ global pivotal clinical trial. The device uses a novel far-field sensing scheme to electrically detect atrial activity and thus enable a single-device VDD mode. According to Biotronik, this sensing approach supports AV synchrony across a broad range of clinical scenarios.

Additionally, LivIQ features a highly maneuverable catheter designed to provide precise control and predictable placement within the RV.

The BIO-LivIQ study will enroll 325 patients across 60 sites worldwide. The trial will evaluate device safety, pacing performance, AV-synchrony behavior, and quality-of-life outcomes to generate the evidence required for global regulatory submissions.

Mobia Medical (previously MicroTransponder) plans IPO

Posted on by Posted in Micro Transponder, Mobia Medical, Stroke, Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Image credit: MicroTransponder

MicroTransponder (now renamed Mobia Medical) developed the Vivistim™ system intended for the treatment of stroke. The implant is based on the idea that synchronizing vagus nerve stimulation with movement increases neural plasticity in the brain, resulting in enhanced recovery.

In May 2017 MicroTransponder presented results from its Vivistim™ Stroke Rehabilitation trial. The objective of this multicenter, double-blind, randomized, active-controlled trial was to improve upper limb mobility in stroke survivors suffering chronic disability. The data showed 75% of patients had a clinically meaningful response on the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Scale (FMUE) at the end of a six weeks of physical therapy compared to 33% for the control group. 90 days after the six weeks of physical therapy ended 88% of VNS patients had responded compared to 33% in the control arm. And during the long-term portion of the study average FMUE scores continued to increase, with the 6 month and 9 month data showing further gains. All responders indicated they believed their overall health had improved and were satisfied with the therapy.

Over 1,000 Vivistim systems have been implanted so far.

In 2021 FDA approved the MicroTransponder Vivistim Paired VNS System to treat moderate to severe upper extremity motor deficits associated with chronic ischemic stroke using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).  Last year, Mobia reported sales of $32 million, which is approximately double of its prior-year.  However, 2025 saw a net loss of $46.5 million, compared to a net loss of $24.6 million in 2024.  

Recently, in February 2026, MicroTransponder announced that it has changed its corporate name to Mobia Medical, Inc.   Now, Mobia has set the terms for its initial public offering, with the intent to raise about $150 million by offering 10 million shares for between $14 and $16 each.   Mobia announced that it plans to use about $93.5 million of the IPO proceeds to expand its direct sales force and commercial organization.  The proceeds of the IPO are expected to fund the company for around 1 year.

 

Epia Neuro’s implantable BCI for post-stroke hand rehabilitation

Posted on by Posted in Brain-Computer Interface, Epia Neuro, Stroke
Epia Neuro's implantable BCI for post-stroke hand rehabilitation www.implantable-device.com David Prutchi PhD

Image Credit: Epia Neuro

Epia Neuro is a San Francisco brain-computer interface company that came out of stealth in early April 2026. It is focused on restoring function for people with neurological conditions, starting with post-stroke motor impairment and later expanding to areas such as cognitive decline and other neurologic disorders. The company describe it as building “intent-driven” neurotechnology that translates brain signals into action.  Their leadership team includes Michel Maharbiz, PhD as CEO, Gil Mandelbaum, PhD as Chief Technology and Science Officer, and Michelle Patruno as COO.

Epia’s first product is a dual-phase stroke therapy intended to support both rehabilitation after stroke and long-term assistive living. The platform combines:

  • an implantable brain interface,
  • a decoder/AI layer that interprets neural signals, and
  • an external grip-assist motorized glove/prosthetic to help the user open and close the hand.

Continue reading→

Relief Cardiovascular’s IVC flow modulation for HF treatment

Posted on by Posted in Heart Failure (CHF), IVC flow modulation, IVC Monitoring, Relief Cardiovascular
Render of Relief Cardiovascular's Relief System for the treatment of heart failure congestion through modulating inferior vena cava flow and monitoring venous hemodynamics

Render of what Relief Cardiovascular’s RELIEF System may look like. Based on image presented by Professor Alex Rothman at CSI congress’ Focus D-HF. Note: this is not an official Relief Cardiovascular image.

Relief Cardiovascular is a private early-stage company founded in 2022 and focused on transcatheter implants for heart-failure congestion, especially volume-overload and diuretic-resistant disease. It is backed by cardiovascular-focused investors including Broadview Ventures, Advent Life Sciences, Good Growth Capital, and Heartwork Capital.

The company’s lead product is the RELIEF System, which it describes as a permanently implanted transcatheter valve-and-sensor system intended to improve fluid management in heart failure by modulating inferior vena cava flow and monitoring venous hemodynamics. Relief says the implant is placed in the IVC below the renal veins, where it can reduce venous pressure, increase renal perfusion, and collect daily pressure waveforms for clinician-directed therapy through a cloud-enabled interface. Continue reading→

Print version of: Pioneering Rhythm Management: A Design Analysis of the Earliest Battery-Powered Implantable Pacemakers

Posted on by Posted in Bradycardia, Cardiac Pacing, Elema-Schonander (-1959), Medtronic

(c) 2026 David Prutchi and Daniel Villamil. All rights reserved

I’m pleased to share that our paper has now been published in PACE: “Pioneering Rhythm Management: A Design Analysis of the Earliest Battery-Powered Implantable Pacemakers.”

Over the past year, my colleague Daniel Villamil and I have pursued this as a hobby project, combining historical research with hands-on engineering. We analyze the earliest battery-powered implantable pacemakers developed independently by Rune Elmqvist (1958) and Wilson Greatbatch (1960), and we reconstruct faithful working replicas to explore the design tradeoffs and constraints that shaped these devices.

A read-only, full-text version is available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/author/YFUMNTB3P4YUS3WFCNJ7?target=10.1111/pace.70127

 

 

China becomes first country to approve invasive BCI for commercial use

Posted on by Posted in Borui Kang Medical Technology, Brain-Computer Interface, Neuracle, NeuroXess, Paralysis, Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), StairMed
Neuracle BCI

Image credit: CCTV/The Chosun Daily

China’s National Medical Products Administration (CNMPA) recently approved an invasive BCI hand motor function compensation system developed by Shanghai-based BCI startup Neuracle.

Neuracle’s BCI (made by Borui Kang Medical Technology) is indicated for quadriplegic patients aged 16 to 60 who cannot use their hands due to cervical spinal cord injuries. The implant reads the patient’s extradural EEG and activates an exoskeletal glove in response to the patient’s thoughts.

The clinical trial supporting the approval showed that all 36 enrolled subjects could grasp specific objects simply by thinking. Most patients could control the device independently at home within a month post-surgery.

Other Chinese BCI companies nearing commercial approval include Shanghai-based NeuroXess and StairMed.

StairMed is pursuing the same invasive route as Neuralink, but has developed its own electrodes, algorithms, system hardware, and surgical robot. It is progressing through Chinese clinical work, including 64 channel and 256 channel systems.

NeuroXess, founded in 2021, and is focused on developing fully implantable, high-bandwidth flexible neural probes for medical applications.