Bridge Neurotech has emerged from stealth with plans to develop a fully non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI), partnering with Butterfly Network, Inc. (NYSE: BFLY) to explore ultrasound-based technology for decoding brain activity without implants or surgery.
The companies have signed a multi-year research and development agreement through Butterfly Embedded, under which Bridge will license Butterfly’s Ultrasound-on-Chip technology for its BCI research.
Ultrasound Moves Into BCI Development
Bridge was founded around the premise that advances in neuroscience, semiconductor technology and artificial intelligence could enable brain activity to be imaged and decoded through the skull.
Unlike invasive BCI systems that require surgical implantation, Bridge is pursuing an approach based on ultrasound. The company said its objective is to develop technology that could eventually support restoration of neurological functions and potentially enable new forms of human-computer interaction.
As part of its launch, Bridge also announced its first human research study and said it has begun enrolling participants.
The agreement with Butterfly includes technology access and development milestone payments to Butterfly, along with commitments from Bridge to purchase Butterfly hardware. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Will Biederman, founder and CEO of Bridge Neurotech, said ultrasound is central to the company’s approach because it could provide a pathway toward real-time brain interaction without surgery.
Butterfly’s Ultrasound-on-Chip technology integrates ultrasound capabilities onto a semiconductor platform, combining imaging hardware with software and programmable functionality.
Semiconductor Platform Supports Research
For Butterfly, the partnership expands the potential application of its semiconductor-based ultrasound technology beyond conventional medical imaging.
Joseph DeVivo, president, CEO and chairman of Butterfly Network, said non-invasive approaches could help broaden access to BCI technology if the field can overcome its technical challenges.
BCI development has historically involved significant engineering and medical constraints, particularly around acquiring sufficiently detailed brain signals while avoiding invasive procedures. Bridge’s approach seeks to address that challenge using ultrasound combined with semiconductor and AI technologies.
The research remains at an early stage, and the companies have not disclosed clinical performance results or indicated when a commercial BCI could become available.
The partnership nevertheless places Butterfly’s integrated ultrasound platform in a new research area at the intersection of medical imaging, neuroscience and human-computer interfaces.
