Blackrock Neurotech is a pioneer in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah[1]. Founded in 2008 as a spinout from the University of Utah, Blackrock is widely recognized as the leading provider of implantable neural recording technology, with their Utah Array becoming the gold standard for chronic neural interfaces in research and clinical applications.
Blackrock's Utah Array has been implanted in more patients than any other invasive BCI system, making it the most clinically validated invasive BCI technology available today[2]. The company has a long-standing track record of enabling breakthrough neuroscience research and recently received FDA approval for their first commercial neural interface system.
The Utah Array represents the culmination of decades of neural interface development, combining sophisticated engineering with extensive clinical validation to become the most widely used implantable BCI technology globally[3].
The Utah Array is Blackrock's flagship product — a microelectrode array designed for chronic implantation in the brain[1:1]:
Specifications:
Design Principles:
The Utah Array employs precise microfabrication techniques developed at the University of Utah:
Silicon Processing
Clinical Design Considerations
The Utah Array provides exceptional neural recording capabilities:
Single-Unit Recording
Local Field Potentials
| Product | Application | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Utah Array | Research/Clinical | FDA Approved |
| MoveAgain BCI | Motor restoration | FDA Approved |
| Neuralace | High-density (10,000+ electrodes) | Development |
| Cereplex System | Wireless recording | Research |
Neuralace
The Neuralace represents Blackrock's next-generation approach:
Wireless Systems
Future developments include fully implantable systems:
Blackrock Neurotech's technology has been central to groundbreaking clinical demonstrations of BCI capability, establishing benchmarks for what is possible with invasive neural interfaces[4]. These applications span neurodegenerative diseases, motor disorders, and neurological injuries.
Blackrock's MoveAgain BCI received FDA breakthrough device designation and represents the company's first commercial product for patients with paralysis[5]:
First Demonstration (2006)
The seminal study by Hochberg et al. demonstrated that neural signals could control external devices:
High-Performance Control (2013)
Collinger et al. achieved unprecedented control quality:
Communication Applications (2015)
Gilja et al. demonstrated high-performance communication:
Recent Advances (2019-2023)
Willett et al. demonstrated rapid, accurate typing:
Blackrock Neurotech maintains a leading position in the invasive BCI market through several key differentiators:
| Feature | Blackrock Utah Array | Neuralink | Synchron |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrodes | 100-128 | 1,024 | 16 |
| Invasive | Yes (intracortical) | Yes (intracortical) | Yes (endovascular) |
| Wireless | Optional | Yes | Yes |
| FDA Status | Approved | Trial | Trial |
| Clinical Years | 15+ | 1 | 2 |
Clinical data from the BrainGate consortium and other studies demonstrate the safety of Utah Array implantation[8]:
Surgical Risks
Long-Term Safety
Hochberg LR, et al. Neuronal ensemble control of prosthetic devices by a human with tetraplegia. Nature. 2006[2:2].
Gilja V, et al. Clinical translation of a high-performance neural prosthesis. Nature Medicine. 2015[6:1].
Collinger JL, et al. High-performance neuroprosthetic control by an individual with tetraplegia. Lancet. 2013[4:2].
Willett FR, et al. Neural control of computer cursor with rapid, accurate typing. eLife. 2019[7:1].
Rubin DB, et al. Interim Safety Profile From the Feasibility Study of the BrainGate Neural Interface System. Neurology. 2023[8:1].
Simeral JD, et al. Neural control of cursor trajectory by human motor cortex. Neural Networks. 2011[9].
Jarosiewicz B, et al. Performance of a neural interface device in people with tetraplegia. Journal of Neural Engineering. 2015[10].
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Electrodes per Array | 100-128 |
| Shank Length | 1.0-1.5 mm |
| Shank Width | 50-80 μm |
| Electrode Spacing | 400 μm |
| Recording Sites | 1-2 per shank tip |
| Substrate | Silicon |
| Conductor | Platinum/iridium |
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Signal Bandwidth | 0.3 Hz - 7.5 kHz |
| Sampling Rate | 30 kHz |
| Input Impedance | >1 GΩ |
| Noise Level | <5 μV RMS |
| Common Mode Rejection | >80 dB |
Blackrock Neurotech is pursuing several development paths to enhance BCI capabilities:
Wireless Systems
Increased Channel Count
Neuralace Platform
Bidirectional Systems
Therapeutic Applications
The Utah Array enables sophisticated neural decoding through several complementary approaches[11]:
Population Coding
Motor intentions are encoded across populations of neurons rather than individual cells. The Utah Array's multi-unit recording captures this population activity, enabling precise movement reconstruction. Studies demonstrate that 50-200 neurons can encode multiple movement parameters with high accuracy.
Feature Extraction
Neural signals are processed through several stages:
Machine Learning Decoding
Modern decoders employ sophisticated algorithms:
The primary motor cortex (M1) provides the neural substrate for BCI control:
Neural Representation
Plasticity and Adaptation
The motor cortex demonstrates remarkable adaptability:
Utah Array implantation involves a carefully designed surgical protocol:
Preoperative Planning
Implantation Surgery
Recovery and Training
Effective BCI use requires decoder calibration:
Initial Calibration
Ongoing Adaptation
Blackrock technology supports an extensive research network:
BrainGate Consortium
The BrainGate research consortium represents the premier academic collaboration:
Independent Research Groups
Numerous academic laboratories utilize Utah Array technology:
Cerebus System
Blackrock's Cerebus provides complete data acquisition:
Analysis Software
Supporting tools enable scientific discovery:
BCI technology involves significant investment:
Implantation Costs
Operational Costs
Current reimbursement landscape:
United States
International
BCI technology raises important ethical questions:
Informed Consent
Privacy and Security
Broader ethical considerations include:
Blackrock Neurotech. Company Website. 2024. ↩︎ ↩︎
Hochberg LR, et al. Neuronal ensemble control of prosthetic devices by a human with tetraplegia. Nature. 2006. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Lakatos K et al. Utah Array in clinical applications. Brain-Computer Interfaces. 2014. ↩︎
Collinger JL et al. High-performance neuroprosthetic control by an individual with tetraplegia. Lancet. 2013. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Blackrock Neurotech. MoveAgain Brain-Computer Interface. 2024. ↩︎
Gilja V et al. Clinical translation of a high-performance neural prosthesis. Nature Medicine. 2015. ↩︎ ↩︎
Willett FR et al. Kinematic decoding in motor cortex. eLife. 2019. ↩︎ ↩︎
Rubin DB et al. Interim Safety Profile From the Feasibility Study of the BrainGate Neural Interface System. Neurology. 2023. ↩︎ ↩︎
Simeral JD et al. Neural control of cursor trajectory by human motor cortex. Neural Networks. 2011. ↩︎
Jarosiewicz B et al. Performance of a neural interface device in people with tetraplegia. Journal of Neural Engineering. 2015. ↩︎
Donoghue JP. Connecting cortex to machines. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 2007. ↩︎