Electrochemically activated and reduced graphene oxide structure

The present invention relates to a reduced graphene oxide structure for stimulation and/or recording of the central and/or peripheral nervous system comprising a stack of layered, reduced graphene oxide flakes, wherein the reduced graphene oxide structure is electrochemically activated.

The abstract as published by the patent office, from US20240268740A1. It describes the invention; it is not a statement of what is protected.

• Interface and electrodes

  Electrodes and arrays · Materials and coatings · Peripheral interfaces

• Stimulation

  Stimulation

What the filing appears to be about, read by published rules from its title, abstract and classification codes (A61B2562/125, A61B5/263, A61B5/291, A61B5/369, A61B5/4064). The claims define what a patent protects, and they are not read here.

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.

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

One invention, published 8 times in 4 offices. Each publication opens in Espacenet.

• European Patent Officea route to several countries, not a countryEP4098317A17 Dec 2022EP4098317B112 Nov 2025 · grantEP4738475A26 May 2026EP4738475A38 Jul 2026
• International (PCT)a route to several countries, not a countryWO2022253827A18 Dec 2022
• United StatesUS20240268740A115 Aug 2024US12721562B21 Sep 2026 · grant
• SpainES3061092T331 Mar 2026

1. 3 Jun 2021First filingEarliest priority, at European Patent Office. The family is counted in this year.
2. 31 May 2022ApplicationsFiled at International (PCT), United States.
3. 7 Dec 2022First publicationEP4098317A1, European Patent Office.
4. 8 Nov 2023Owner recordedEuropean Patent Office, on EP4098317A1: party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred); owner named: FUNDACIO INSTITUT CATALA DE NANOCIENCIA I NANOTECNOLOGIA (ICN2).
5. 8 Nov 2023Owner recordedEuropean Patent Office, on EP4098317A1: party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred); owner named: INSTITUCIO CATALANA DE RECERCA I ESTUDIS AVANCATS (ICREA).
6. 12 Dec 2023Owner recordedUnited States, on US20240268740A1: assignment; owner named: INBRAIN NEUROELECTRONICS SL, SPAIN.
7. 12 Dec 2023Owner recordedUnited States, on US20240268740A1: assignment; owner named: FUNDACIO INSTITUT CATALA DE NANOCIENCIA I NANOTECNOLOGIA (ICN2), SPAIN.
8. 12 Dec 2023Owner recordedUnited States, on US20240268740A1: assignment; owner named: INSTITUCIO CATALANA DE RECERCA I ESTUDIS AVANCATS (ICREA), SPAIN.
9. 29 May 2024Office recordInternational (PCT), on WO2022253827A1: ep: pct application non-entry in european phase.
10. 16 Jul 2025Owner recordedEuropean Patent Office, on EP4098317A1: party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred); owner named: FUNDACIO INSTITUT CATALA DE NANOCIENCIA INANOTECNOLOGIA (ICN2).
11. 16 Jul 2025Owner recordedEuropean Patent Office, on EP4098317A1: party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred); owner named: INSTITUCIO CATALANA DE RECERCA I ESTUDIS AVANCATS(ICREA).
12. 12 Nov 2025Grant publishedEP4098317B1, European Patent Office.
13. 6 Aug 2026Office recordEuropean Patent Office, on EP4098317A1: lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] (AT, BG, CZ, DK, EE, FI, HR, IS, IT, LT, LV, NO, PL, PT, RS, SE, SK, SM).
14. 1 Sep 2026Grant publishedUS12721562B2, United States.

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.

Organisation

INBRAIN Neuroelectronics · 12 families identified

• 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: US20240268740A1 in Espacenet
• Counted as a BCI patent family: classified A61N1/0529 (electrodes for brain stimulation); filed by INBRAIN Neuroelectronics SL, an organisation already in the graph; a hardware layer of the stack, filed by a company that builds interfaces. How families are found and judged