Innovative Startup in Neurotechnology

Gabe Newell, the founder of Valve, has endorsed a new venture called Starfish Technologies, which is developing brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) aimed at treating various neurological conditions. This was reported by TechSpot.

Starfish Technologies is not connected to the gaming industry but is focused on medical applications. Their first chips are expected to be available by the end of 2025. The team is working on compact, energy-efficient, and wireless implants that can read and stimulate activity across multiple brain regions simultaneously.

The technology is targeted at disorders related to neural connectivity issues, such as Parkinson's disease. Starfish is actively seeking partners among experts in wireless energy transfer, neurointerfaces, and communication technologies.

Valve has previously explored brain implants within a gaming context, and other companies like Sony, Tencent, and Apple are also showing interest in this technology. However, Starfish aims to concentrate on medical scenarios first.

The company has already released technical specifications for its chip. The device measures 2×4 mm and consumes just 1.1 mW of power during standard operation. It is capable of recording brain activity (spikes and local field potentials) from 16 channels simultaneously at a frequency of 18.75 kHz using 32 electrodes. Additionally, the chip supports electrical stimulation and includes built-in features for monitoring impedance, measuring voltage during stimulation, and digital signal processing, allowing it to operate through low-speed wireless interfaces. Production is based on TSMC's 55 nm process.

Interestingly, Starfish's main competitor is Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk. Neuralink is already testing its BCI systems on humans, with the first patient receiving an implant in January 2024, and currently, its functionality remains intact despite some disconnection of threads.

Neuralink uses a larger implant with 1024 electrodes, consuming around 6 mW of power and requiring periodic wireless recharging. The company is targeting both medical and experimental applications of brain interfaces.