BionicVEST · Project

First Implant to Restore Balance and Prevent Falls in Elderly Patients

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Imagine your inner ear has two systems that keep you balanced — one detects rotation (like turning your head), and the other detects gravity and up-down or side-to-side motion (like riding an elevator). Existing experimental implants only address the rotation part. BionicVEST built the first device that also restores the gravity-sensing part, which is critical for standing upright and knowing which way is "up." Think of it as a hearing aid, but for your sense of balance — targeting the 38% of elderly people who suffer from debilitating vertigo.

By the numbers

38%

Prevalence of vestibular vertigo in elderly population

100 million

People worldwide who could benefit from a vestibular implant

60,000 million euros

Associated total costs of vestibular dysfunction in Europe

EUR 2,899,690

EU contribution to the project

Consortium partners across 5 countries

The business problem

What needed solving

Vestibular vertigo affects 38% of elderly people, causing falls, permanent disability, and death — costing Europe an estimated 60,000 million euros. Current experimental implants only address rotational balance (semicircular canals) but cannot restore the sense of gravity and linear motion, which is essential for standing upright and preventing falls.

The solution

What was built

The project developed the first vestibular prosthesis system capable of electrically stimulating the saccule and utricle to restore the sense of linear accelerations. This included a vestibular response telemetry system for analyzing evoked nerve potentials, and the device went through design, fabrication, and clinical testing phases across 16 deliverables.

Audience

Who needs this

Medical device companies manufacturing cochlear implants or neurostimulatorsENT clinics and balance disorder treatment centersElderly care facility operators with high fall-injury ratesHealth insurers covering elderly populations with high fall-related costsRehabilitation technology companies developing balance-assist devices

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Medical device manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Companies developing cochlear implants or neurostimulation devices

If you are a medical device company already manufacturing cochlear implants or neural stimulators — this project developed the first vestibular prosthesis that restores the sense of linear acceleration by stimulating the otolith organ. With an estimated 100 million people worldwide who could benefit, this represents a major new product category adjacent to your existing manufacturing and regulatory expertise.

Elderly care and assisted living

mid-size

Target: Operators of senior care facilities and fall-prevention programs

If you run assisted living facilities dealing with high fall rates among residents — vestibular vertigo affects 38% of the elderly and causes permanent disability and even death. This project developed an implantable solution that could drastically reduce fall-related injuries. The associated costs of vestibular dysfunction reach 60,000 million euros across Europe, making prevention far cheaper than treatment.

Health insurance and reimbursement

enterprise

Target: Health insurers covering elderly populations

If you are a health insurer facing rising costs from fall-related hospitalizations in elderly policyholders — vestibular dysfunction costs Europe an estimated 60,000 million euros. This project created a vestibular implant designed to restore balance function and reduce fall risk. Early coverage decisions for this device category could position you ahead of competitors as clinical evidence matures.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would a vestibular implant cost compared to current fall-prevention treatments?

The project data does not include per-unit device pricing. However, the total associated costs of vestibular dysfunction in Europe are estimated at 60,000 million euros, suggesting significant room for a cost-effective implant solution. Pricing would likely be comparable to cochlear implants given similar surgical complexity.

Can this be manufactured at industrial scale?

The project was funded under FET Open (Future and Emerging Technologies), which focuses on early-stage breakthrough research. The consortium included 2 industry partners out of 7 total, but scaling to mass production would require additional manufacturing partnerships and regulatory clearances beyond the project scope.

What is the IP situation and licensing potential?

Based on available project data, the consortium developed the first-ever system to electrically stimulate the otolith organ for linear acceleration sensing. IP likely resides with the 7-partner consortium across 5 countries. Licensing arrangements would need to be negotiated with the coordinator, Servicio Canario de la Salud in Spain.

What regulatory approvals are needed?

As an active implantable medical device, this requires CE marking under the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and FDA approval for US markets. The project included clinical trial objectives to demonstrate safety and efficacy, which are prerequisites for regulatory submission.

How long before this reaches patients?

The project ran from 2018 to 2023 and aimed to complete device design, fabrication, and clinical trials. Based on available project data, further clinical validation and regulatory approval processes would be needed before commercial availability, typically adding 3-5 years for this device class.

How does this differ from existing vestibular implants?

Current devices under research only detect angular velocity (head rotation) using gyroscopes and stimulate the semicircular canals. BionicVEST is the first to also address linear accelerations by stimulating the saccule and utricle — the structures responsible for sensing gravity and maintaining upright posture.

Consortium

Who built it

The BionicVEST consortium brings together 7 partners from 5 countries (Australia, Belgium, Spain, Italy, UK), with a healthy mix of 3 universities, 2 research organizations, and 2 industry partners (29% industry ratio, including 1 SME). The coordinator is Servicio Canario de la Salud, a Spanish health service — meaning the clinical expertise sits at the leadership level. The inclusion of industry partners signals awareness of eventual commercialization, though the FET Open funding scheme and EUR 2,899,690 budget indicate this is still firmly in the research phase. The international spread across 5 countries provides access to multiple regulatory environments for future clinical validation.

SERVICIO CANARIO DE LA SALUDCoordinator · ES
UNIVERSIDAD DE LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIAparticipant · ES
UNIVERSIDAD DE NAVARRAparticipant · ES
COCHLEAR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LIMITEDparticipant · UK
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA LA SAPIENZAparticipant · IT

How to reach the team

Coordinator is Servicio Canario de la Salud (Spain). Use SciTransfer's coordinator lookup service to find the right contact person.

Order a report on this consortium See SERVICIO CANARIO DE LA SALUD profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing or partnership opportunities with the BionicVEST team? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction and provide a detailed technology brief.

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