Gestala secures $21.6M for ultrasound brain-computer interface

"The company is developing non-invasive brain-computer interface technology based on focused ultrasound, a modality that Peng argues addresses one of the most persistent barriers to BCI adoption at scale: the requirement for brain surgery. Unlike electrode-based implants, ultrasound can penetrate the skull and access deep neural circuits without any incision."

"The company claims its technology can reach deep neural circuits that implanted surface arrays cannot, and that it can modulate activity across larger brain regions simultaneously, potentially enabling applications that current generation BCIs cannot support."

"Gestala has raised $21.6 million, approximately CN¥150 million, just two months after its founding, at a valuation that Peng told TechCrunch sits between $100 million and $200 million. Investor demand significantly exceeded available allocation: commitments ultimately totalled more than $58 million, making the round more than 2.5 times oversubscribed."

Gestala, founded by Phoenix Peng who previously built NeuroXess, represents a new approach to brain-computer interfaces by eliminating the need for surgical implants. The company uses focused ultrasound technology that penetrates the skull to access deep neural circuits without incisions. Using phased-array ultrasound, the system can monitor and precisely stimulate or suppress specific neural regions. Gestala claims its technology reaches deeper neural circuits than surface electrode arrays and can modulate activity across larger brain regions simultaneously. The lead clinical program targets chronic pain management, with academic research suggesting ultrasound neuromodulation significantly reduces pain levels. The company addresses a large addressable population in both China and the United States.

Read at TNW | Health-Tech