ByAxon · Project

Nanotechnology Implant That Bypasses Spinal Cord Injuries to Restore Movement

healthPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)

Imagine your spinal cord as a highway for electrical signals between your brain and body. When that highway gets damaged — say, from an accident — the signals can't get through, and you lose movement or feeling. ByAxon built a tiny implant that works like a detour road around the damaged section. It reads the electrical signals on one side of the injury using ultra-sensitive magnetic sensors, then sends matching signals on the other side to keep the communication going.

By the numbers

consortium partners across 4 countries

total project deliverables produced

demonstrated prototype components

countries involved (DE, ES, FR, IT)

industrial partner in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Spinal cord injuries affect millions worldwide and current neural interfaces require bulky equipment, large numbers of cables, and lack sensory feedback. There is no implantable device today that can both sense and stimulate directly at the spinal cord level to restore signal transmission past an injury site. Companies developing neuroprosthetics need smaller, more sensitive sensor technology that works at room temperature.

The solution

What was built

The consortium delivered a bypass prototype combining magnetic sensors and stimulating electrodes, a functional artificial neuron that replicates neural electrical signals, nanostructured electrodes using nanowire coatings for better tissue adhesion, and a four-bridge magnetic sensor based on perovskite oxide materials. In total, 21 deliverables were produced across 5 demonstrated components.

Audience

Who needs this

Neuroprosthetics and neural implant manufacturersMedical device companies developing spinal cord injury treatmentsNeurotechnology startups building brain-computer interfacesRehabilitation equipment manufacturersPharmaceutical and biotech companies investing in neuromedicine R&D

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Neuroprosthetics & Neural Implants

enterprise

Target: Medical device manufacturer developing neural interfaces

If you are a neural implant company struggling with sensor sensitivity and the need for cryogenic cooling in magnetic brain sensing — this project developed room-temperature magnetoresistance-based sensors that detect neural magnetic fields without bulky equipment. The bypass prototype combines sensing and stimulation in one implant, validated across 5 demonstrated component deliverables from an 8-partner consortium.

Rehabilitation & Assistive Technology

mid-size

Target: Rehabilitation technology company building solutions for spinal cord injury patients

If you are a rehab tech company dealing with the limitations of current functional electrical stimulation — too many cables, no sensory feedback, brain-level-only detection — this project built nanostructured electrodes with nanowire coatings for improved tissue adhesion and a functional artificial neuron that replicates neural signals. These components were designed to work directly at the spinal cord level, not just the brain.

Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials

SME

Target: Nanomaterials supplier or coating specialist serving the biomedical sector

If you are a nanotechnology company looking for validated biomedical applications of your materials — this project demonstrated nanostructured electrodes using template-assisted electrochemical deposition and four-bridge magnetic sensors based on half-metallic perovskite oxides (LSMO). The consortium of 3 universities and 3 research institutes across 4 countries validated these materials for neural interfacing.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or integrate this technology?

Based on available project data, the EU contribution amount is not disclosed. The technology was developed under an RIA (Research and Innovation Action) with public funding, meaning licensing terms would need to be negotiated directly with the coordinator (FUNDACION IMDEA NANOCIENCIA in Spain). As publicly funded research, licensing conditions may be favorable for commercial partners.

Can this be manufactured at industrial scale?

The project produced prototype-level components — a bypass prototype, first-version magnetic sensors, and first-version nanostructured electrodes. The fabrication methods (template-assisted electrochemical deposition for electrodes, LSMO-based sensor bridges) are lab-scale processes. Significant engineering work would be needed to move from these first prototypes to volume manufacturing.

What is the IP situation and can we license this?

The project involved 8 partners across 4 countries (DE, ES, FR, IT) including 3 universities, 3 research organizations, and 1 industrial partner. IP ownership would be shared according to the consortium agreement. The coordinator FUNDACION IMDEA NANOCIENCIA would be the first point of contact for licensing discussions.

How far is this from being used in actual patients?

This is early-stage technology funded under the FET-Open scheme, which supports high-risk frontier research. The deliverables describe 'first versions' of sensors and electrodes and a bypass prototype. Medical device regulatory approval (CE marking, FDA) would require years of additional preclinical and clinical testing beyond what this project delivered.

What exactly was demonstrated and tested?

The consortium delivered 5 demonstrated components: a bypass prototype combining sensors and electrodes, a functional artificial neuron generating neuron-equivalent electrical signals, nanostructured electrodes with nanowire coatings, a four-bridge LSMO magnetic sensor, and nanostructured electrodes on neuron-accessible substrates. A total of 21 deliverables were produced.

Is there regulatory precedent for this type of device?

Neural implants and spinal cord stimulators are regulated as Class III medical devices in the EU (MDR) and by the FDA in the US. While existing spinal cord stimulators have regulatory pathways, an active bypass implant with magnetic sensing is a new device category. Based on available project data, regulatory strategy was not a primary deliverable of this research project.

Consortium

Who built it

The ByAxon consortium of 8 partners spans 4 countries (Germany, Spain, France, Italy) with a heavy research focus: 3 universities and 3 research organizations versus just 1 industrial partner and 1 other entity. Only 1 SME participates, giving a 12% industry ratio — typical for FET-Open frontier research but a signal that commercialization was not the primary goal. The coordinator, FUNDACION IMDEA NANOCIENCIA in Spain, is a research foundation specializing in nanoscience. A business partner looking to commercialize this technology would essentially be the missing industrial link — the consortium has deep scientific expertise but limited manufacturing or go-to-market capability.

FUNDACION IMDEA NANOCIENCIACoordinator · ES
SERVICIO DE SALUD DE CASTILLA LA MANCHAparticipant · ES
SCUOLA INTERNAZIONALE SUPERIORE DI STUDI AVANZATI DI TRIESTEparticipant · IT
ECOLE NATIONALE SUPERIEURE D'INGENIEURS DE CAENthirdparty · FR
AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICASparticipant · ES
UNIVERSITE DE CAEN NORMANDIEthirdparty · FR
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSparticipant · FR

How to reach the team

FUNDACION IMDEA NANOCIENCIA, Spain — a nanoscience research foundation. SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction to the project coordinator.

Order a report on this consortium See FUNDACION IMDEA NANOCIENCIA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing the ByAxon sensor or electrode technology for your neural interface product line? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the research team and help structure a technology transfer discussion.

Order a report on this topic More in Health & Biomedical