Damiano G. Barone on being a neurosurgeon and improving patient quality of life through surgery
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
Release Date: 11/28/2022
Samuel Browd | Venture Studios, BCI, and Digital Neurosurgery
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
Dr. is a pediatric neurosurgeon, at the University of Washington, and Co-CEO/Chief Medical Officer of , a venture studio focused on neurological technologies. In this episode, we discuss his path from early neuroscience research and pediatric neurosurgery into device development, brain-computer interfaces, and the challenge of moving promising neurotechnology from universities into real clinical use. We also explore the idea of “digital neurosurgery”: how neurosurgery still captures enormous amounts of valuable data in analog or siloed ways, why AI and computer vision may reshape...
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Jin Hyung Lee | Visualizing Brain Circuits with EEG and AI
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
is an associate professor at Stanford and founder of , a company translating years of brain circuit research into clinical software for neurological care. In this episode, we discuss how her team thinks about the brain as a circuit system, why neurological disorders can be difficult to diagnose with today’s tools, and how LVIS’s NeuroMatch platform aims to use EEG data to visualize brain network function in a more accessible way. We also talk about why EEG remains clinically useful despite its limitations, how software can help clean and interpret noisy brain signals, and why Dr. Lee...
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JB (NextSense) | Ear EEG Earbuds That Measure and Improve Sleep
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
In this episode of the Neural Implant Podcast, , founder and CEO of , discusses how his team is transforming ordinary-looking earbuds into wearable brain interfaces capable of recording EEG directly from the ear. Originally incubated inside Google X before spinning out as an independent company, NextSense combines consumer electronics with neuroscience to monitor sleep, enhance slow-wave activity through closed-loop audio stimulation, and explore future applications ranging from epilepsy forecasting to Alzheimer's disease monitoring. We also discuss the engineering challenges of ear EEG,...
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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...
info_outlineDamiano Giuseppe Barone is a neurosurgery clinical lecturer at the University of Cambridge and fellow at The Walton Centre in Liverpool, UK. He is interested in tackling basic and translational challenges for the development of the next generation of neural bioelectronics.
***This podcast is sponsored by Ripple Neuro, check out their Neuroscience Research Tools here***
Top 3 Takeaways:
- "My favorite procedure is the procedure that works and you see the patient after that is is a changed patient."
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"You come out from medical school like age 23 or 24. Then you get to a general medical program which in the United Kingdom lasts 2 years in and then you get to the residency, which is 8 years. And then 10 years after you are age 34 practicing the neurosurgeon. I personally took what is called an 'out of programme for research/. So basically I halted my neurosurgery residency. I stepped out and I stepped in a PhD program while still covering what is called the on-call rota, which is basically doing emergency work in neurosurgery just to keep my clinical skills going." This added a few more years of training to the list.
- "Quality of life procedures, to be offered to the patients, will have to have a 70 to 80% improvement to justify the risks the patient will have to go through."
0:45 Do you want to introduce yourself better than I just did?
2:45 You spent 20 years in training for this, did you know this at the outset?
4:00 "What's it like to get only a few hours of sleep for years?"
5:00 Why did you choose to go the PhD route as well?
7:45 What's it like to be digging around in the body?
9:45 Sponsorship by Ripple Neuro
10:00 "What's your favorite procedures and what's your least favorite procedures?"
12:15 "What percentage of patients see improvements?"
14:30 "What are some, risks other than it not working, what are maybe some damage or maybe even death is that a possibility?"
16:45 "It's much more dangerous to have, a large device versus a small device. Is that kinda what you've seen?"
18:45 "Have you been involved in electrode design or device design?"
19:45 "What are you working on now?"
25:00 "What are the next steps?"
28:00 "What would you recommend or what kind of advice do you have for people considering this?"