Hocoma's Ursula Costa on helping patients gain maximum potential with
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
Release Date: 06/28/2019
Ali Samiian - The Hidden Barrier That Kills Neurotech Startups
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
In this episode of the Neural Implant Podcast, host Dr. Ladan Jiracek speaks with , founder of , about one of the most overlooked challenges in neurotechnology and medical devices: reimbursement. Ali has spent over 20 years working across pharma, medical devices, and neuromodulation, including leadership roles at Abbott, Novartis, and Cala Health, where he helped secure reimbursement for a first-in-class wearable neuromodulation therapy for essential tremor. In this conversation, Ali explains why FDA approval alone is often not enough for a company to succeed, and why coding, coverage, and...
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Ellyn Ito - MindVibe and Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Stress and Focus
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
In this episode of the Neural Implant Podcast, host Dr. Ladan Jiracek speaks with , CEO and co-founder of , about their wearable neurotechnology platform and flagship product, MindVibe. This non-invasive device combines vagus nerve stimulation and acupressure-based neuromodulation to help regulate the body’s stress response and improve overall wellness. Ellyn shares how MindVibe is designed to promote calm, enhance focus, and improve sleep quality through ultra-low electrical stimulation that users don’t even feel. The conversation explores the science behind multi-mode stimulation, why...
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Dr. Christian Iorio-Morin - From Gamma Knife to Neuroprosthetics: The Future of Functional Neurosurgery
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
In this episode of the Neural Implant Podcast, host Dr. Ladan Jiracek speaks with , functional neurosurgeon and professor at the , about the evolving landscape of neurosurgery—from treating movement disorders and chronic pain to pushing the boundaries of paralysis recovery. Christian shares insights from his clinical work using gamma knife surgery, neuromodulation, and microvascular techniques, as well as his leadership on the RE-MOVE project, a large-scale initiative aiming to restore movement by reconnecting the brain and spinal cord through implantable technology. The conversation...
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Omari Bouknight - Resonant Link Medical and the Next Generation of Wirelessly Powered Neurotech
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
In this episode of the Neural Implant Podcast, host Dr. Ladan Jiracek sits down with , CEO of , to explore how advances in wireless power transfer are reshaping the future of implantable medical devices. Omari shares how traditional power limitations have historically constrained device design—and how Resonant Link Medical’s technology is turning power into an enabler, allowing for smaller, smarter, and longer-lasting implants. The conversation dives into real-world applications across neurotech and beyond, including how faster, more efficient wireless charging could unlock advanced...
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Francesco Petrini - SensArs and the Future of Sensory Neuroprosthetics for Diabetic Neuropathy
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
In this episode of the Neural Implant Podcast, host Dr. Ladan Jiracek sits down with Francesco Petrini, co-founder and CEO of SensArs, to discuss how intraneural stimulation could help restore sensation in patients with diabetic neuropathy. Francesco explains how loss of feeling in the feet can lead to unnoticed injuries, chronic wounds, and even amputations - and why rebuilding sensory feedback could dramatically improve quality of life. The conversation explores SensArs’ approach to neuromodulation and what it takes to translate sensory neuroprosthetics into real-world clinical impact. Top...
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Ignacio Sáez - Neurotechnology for Cognition: Recording and Modulating the Human Brain
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
In this episode of the Neural Implant Podcast, host Dr. Ladan Jiracek sits down with Dr. , , whose lab uses intracranial brain recordings to study the biology of human cognition. Ignacio shares how cutting-edge neurotechnology like iEEG can reveal the neural dynamics behind decision-making, risk, memory, and brain states - and how those insights could unlock more targeted neuromodulation therapies for psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. Top 3 Takeaways: Epilepsy patients undergoing seizure monitoring often have 100-200 electrodes implanted in their brains and may...
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Dr. Ladan Jiracek - My PhD Defense, LCP Neural Implants, and What’s Next
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
In this solo episode of the Neural Implant Podcast, host Dr. Ladan Jiracek shares the story behind finally completing his PhD at the University of Florida - from the highs of passing his dissertation defense to the long, frustrating, and deeply technical journey of developing liquid crystal polymer (LCP)-based neural implants. I break down why LCP is so promising for long-term implantable devices, how delamination and bonding challenges became the core focus of his dissertation, and what it took to fabricate ultra-thin polymer electrodes approaching “biological invisibility.” I also...
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Paul Goode: Implantable Glucose Monitoring—and a Neural Interface Twist
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
In this episode, Paul Goode (Glucotrack) dives into the next wave of continuous glucose monitoring: an active, fully implantable CGM designed to deliver long-term, pacemaker-style reliability without external wearables. We discuss first-in-human progress, why implantables may change diabetes care at home, and a fascinating neural angle—how similar chemistry and form factors could be adapted to epidural glucose sensing and even paired with neural recording electrodes to capture metabolic and neural data together. If you care about closed-loop systems, chronic implants, or bridging...
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Fabio Boi on Corticale’s Ultra-Dense, Minimally Invasive Brain Interfaces
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
In this episode of the Neural Implant Podcast, I speak with , Co-Founder and CSO of , an Italian neurotech company that is redefining the landscape of brain-computer interfaces. Corticale is pioneering a new generation of minimally invasive, CMOS-based neural implants that can record from thousands of neurons simultaneously—introducing their flagship technology, SiNAPS. Fabio walks us through how SiNAPS achieves single-cell resolution recordings via its 1024-electrode array, enabling high-fidelity access to both action potentials and local field potentials deep within cortical tissue. We...
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Ben Woodington on Coherence Bio's Revolutionary Cancer Reprogramming Approach
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
In this episode of the Neural Implant Podcast, we sit down with , co-founder of , a groundbreaking medical technology company pioneering a new frontier in cancer treatment. By integrating neurotechnology, neurobiology, and machine learning, Coherence is building a platform that doesn't just fight cancer—it manages it in real time. Ben shares how Coherence is moving beyond the traditional "cut, burn, poison" model of oncology, and instead focusing on precision neuromodulation to monitor and control cancer progression—offering hope for 24/7 adaptive treatment with fewer side effects and...
info_outlineUrsula Costa is the Head of Clinical Affairs at Hocoma AG, an established neural rehabilitation company based in Zurich, Switzerland. She is a licensed physical therapist who has recovered herself from a spinal cord injury as a young girl and then nurtured her passion for neurorehabilitation. She holds a PhD from Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona in Physical Therapy and has held a professorship at the same university.
Takeaway: Rehabilitation technology is a tool to help the patient gain maximum potential not a tool to do the motion passively. Technology coupled with rehabilitation aids in the achievement of neuroplasticity and physical recovery.
[0:00] Jen French of Neurotech Reports introduces Ursula Costa from Hocoma at RehabWeek 2019.
[0:37] Hocoma AG was the initiator of the RehabWeek concept. Costa explains what the event means to them and connecting with clinicians.
[1:27] Through the lens of a physical therapist, Costa talks about her personal story of recovery from a spinal cord tumor and how that motivated her to study physical therapy.
[2:37] The line of Hocoma products focus on neural rehabilitation. They have introduced robotics into the field as well. Costa walks us through some of the technology and the challenge of clinical adoption.
[3:45] Costa discusses the principle of neuroplasticity and intensity in rehabilitation and how technology can help assist in the rehabilitation process.
[4:51] Costa talks about the excitement for the future of rehabilitation and the mindset change about efficiencies of technology and personalization of rehabilitation.