Neora has developed a pair of earbuds that monitor brain activity, and claims they can monitor potential health issues and match music to the user’s mood.
The founders, Rayan Ahmad, Shehryar Hoda, Dang Nguyen, and Uthui Das, had the idea for neuromonitoring during their high school years after their family members suffered from brain health issues.
Ahmed, CTO at Neora, tells TechCrunch that after his father suffered a brain aneurysm, he and his co-founders realized that a lack of early detection resources could make it difficult for people like Ahmed’s father to prepare themselves “for undetected neurological threats.” “.
Niura, which will be on display as part of Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023, says its built-in electroencephalography (EEG) earbuds, which are subject to FDA Class II medical classification, are an accessible and affordable way to monitor brain health and potentially save… Spirits in the early stages of the disease. Detection of brain disorders.
Pari Patel, clinical research coordinator at Neura, says the company’s most recent paper was presented in it Crane health “In-ear electroencephalography (EEG) technology has been shown to show neural activity and detect brain wave abnormalities such as cerebral infarction and hemorrhage,” she reported. Niura has also been recognized by Ingenium Reception and Source Conference at New York Institute of TechnologyPatel says.
The year-old startup offers conductive silicone electrode technology applied in earbuds called Neural and a mobile app. He started his prototype using an Arduino, a modified heart monitor and Fast Fourier transformThe company gradually slimmed them down with NeuralONE (30 x 30 mm), “a chip that includes the EEG reader, audio data, and data processing parts,” then NeuralTWO (22 x 22 mm) and NeuralTHREE (20 x 12 mm), finally compressing the PCB to fit the earbuds. Regular. Ahmed says NeuralTHREE is ready to deploy for headphone integration.
The app offers a range of features, including “real-time visualization of EEG data, data sharing capabilities, and in-depth data analysis tools.” Data is password protected and adheres to IRB (Institutional Review Board) guidelines set by HHS (Health and Human Services) and the Food and Drug Administration (food and drug administration)strict requirements of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and complies with guidelines set by both CE (Conformité Européenne) and FCC (Federal Communications Commission), according to Patel.
“Our business model is centered around licensing our product, ensuring partnerships maintain the highest security standards. This strategic collaboration with leading companies also allows us to collectively advance our research,” Patel explains. “Furthermore, we use end-to-end encryption to protect data. Users can conveniently store their data in the Apple Health app or its Android counterpart, and we ensure that the processing of this data complies with the standards set for other wearable devices.
The dual license will allow Niura to integrate its EEG technology into products such as earphones, headsets and medical devices. Neura intends to launch a licensing program for earphone manufacturers such as Bose, Samsung and Sony, as well as biomedical companies such as Regeneron, Medtronic and Siemens. Ahmed tells TechCrunch that Niura is already in talks with two of these companies.
“Our product can be used in clinical, professional and personal settings, making it extremely versatile,” Ahmed continues. “While traditional EEG technology can only be used before or after surgeries, Niura allows doctors to safely perform open brain surgeries while tracking EEG data through these eartips. These earbuds also offer mobile and remote use, so patients and doctors can Reduce costs and resources while ensuring patient care.
Niura claims that its earbuds improve on competitors with a better user experience and comfort. The company says other competitors sell more intrusive and less diverse products. For example, Musa’s smart headbandAhmed states that the device, which also uses an EEG brain sensor and detects the health of the user’s brain, cannot be worn all day. He adds that Niura’s earbuds can continuously monitor a user’s brain activities and remain accurate even when sweating, which can affect EEG readings.
When asked about its AI-powered music recommendation, which is not a feature the company currently offers, Patel said its potential “stems from the proximity of the in-ear EEG electrode to the auditory cortex, which is responsible for processing music and sound.”
“Putting electrodes inside the ear allows us to efficiently monitor the auditory cortex and obtain insightful data from it,” explains Patel. “By tracking EEG data, we can not only improve audio experiences, but we can also tap into nuances such as moods and emotions. These insights greatly enrich the ability of our algorithms, enabling them to recommend the most appropriate music to play next in a playlist.” User’s own.
The startup, which has been bootstrapped, is currently looking to raise $550,000 in a seed round to deploy its in-ear products through partnerships. The company currently holds six provisional patents from the US Patent and Trademark Office, including the charging base and conductive ear tips, and four non-provisional patents. Neora has 30 employees as of today.