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The BCI Briefing

Patent familyBCI, high confidence

Flexible electrode carrier

Filed by INBRAIN Neuroelectronics and Imbrain Neuroelectronics S R L, first in 2020.

Granted · EPView in Espacenet
Earliest priority
21 Dec 2020 · European Patent Office
Status
A grant was published in European Patent Office, first on 16 Jul 2025
Published in
European Patent Office · International (PCT) · China · United States · Spain
Registered as
INBRAIN Neuroelectronics SL · 茵布雷恩神经电子学有限责任公司
Inventors
Bakker, Bert · Decré, Michel · Antonio Gqrrido Ariza, José · Garrido Ariza, José Antonio · 伯特·巴克 · 米歇尔·戴克利 · and 2 more
Family
DOCDB 74095662 · 7 publications

What it concerns

The present invention relates to a flexible electrode carrier (100) for neurostimulation, in particular for Cortical and/or Deep Brain Stimulation, having a proximal end (104) and a distal end (106), wherein the flexible electrode carrier (100) comprises at least two zones (110) each comprising a plurality of electrodes (100).

The abstract as published by the patent office, from US20240042195A1. It describes the invention; it is not a statement of what is protected.

Protection themes

  • Interface and electrodes

    Electrodes and arrays · Peripheral interfaces

  • Packaging

    Packaging and hermeticity

  • Stimulation

    Stimulation

What the filing appears to be about, read by published rules from its title, abstract and classification codes (A61B18/1492, A61B2562/0209, A61B2562/066, A61B2562/125, A61B2562/164). The claims define what a patent protects, and they are not read here.

Why it matters

Interface and electrodes
Everything downstream works with what the contacts pick up. Their number, size and distance from the neurons set the ceiling on the signal. The problem behind it: more contacts, closer to neurons, that still record after years in tissue that reacts to them.
Packaging
Body fluid destroys unprotected electronics. An implant meant to last has to stay sealed for years while passing every channel through its wall. The problem behind it: a seal that lasts as long as the patient needs it, at a size that leaves room for the channels.
Stimulation
Restoring sensation, sight or movement needs information going in, and a therapy that adapts needs to sense and stimulate at once. The problem behind it: evoking a precise, stable effect without damaging tissue or electrodes, and without blinding the recording.

Why the layer matters to the field, not a judgement of this filing. A patent family shows that protection was sought. It does not show that the technology was built, is used in a product, or works in people. The whole stack

The family

One invention, published 7 times in 5 offices. Each publication opens in Espacenet.

Timeline

  1. 21 Dec 2020First filingEarliest priority, at European Patent Office. The family is counted in this year.
  2. 24 Nov 2021ApplicationsFiled at International (PCT), China, United States.
  3. 22 Jun 2022First publicationEP4015033A1, European Patent Office.
  4. 18 Jan 2023Owner recordedEuropean Patent Office, on EP4015033A1: party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred); owner named: INBRAIN NEUROELECTRONICS SL.
  5. 21 Jun 2023Owner recordedUnited States, on US20240042195A1: assignment; owner named: INBRAIN NEUROELECTRONICS SL, SPAIN.
  6. 27 Dec 2023Office recordInternational (PCT), on WO2022135815A1: ep: pct application non-entry in european phase.
  7. 16 Jul 2025Grant publishedEP4015033B1, European Patent Office.
  8. 26 Aug 2026Office recordEuropean Patent Office, on EP4015033A1: lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] (CZ, GR, HR, IS, MC, NO, PL, RS, SK, SM, TR).

Dates as the offices published them. Office records are in the offices' own words and are a selection: refusals, lapses and withdrawals, and records that name an owner. Each concerns one member of the family, not the family as a whole, and another member in the same office may stand. Whether a patent is in force today is not assessed.

Sources

  • Bibliographic data, family members and office records: European Patent Office, Open Patent Services (the DOCDB and INPADOC databases), read 7 Oct 2026.
  • The record itself, with its claims and description: US20240042195A1 in Espacenet
  • Counted as a BCI patent family: classified A61N1/0531 (brain cortex electrodes); filed by INBRAIN Neuroelectronics SL, an organisation already in the graph; describes neural hardware or methods without naming the field; cites a family already accepted. How families are found and judged