This Chinese Startup Wants to Build a New Brain-Computer Interface—No Implant Required

M

MetaDash

A new player has emerged in China's growing brain-computer interface industry, aiming to tap into the human mind without invasive implants. Gestala, a startup based in Chengdu with offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong, plans to harness ultrasound technology to stimulate and read from the brain.

The company's CEO and co-founder, Phoenix Peng, explains that their device will initially deliver focused ultrasound to treat chronic pain, with pilot studies already showing promising results in reducing pain intensity for up to a week. The first-generation machine will be a stationary benchtop device, requiring patients to visit a clinic for treatment.

Gestala's ultimate goal is to develop a wearable helmet for home use, allowing patients to control their treatment under physician guidance. They aim to expand their offerings beyond chronic pain to include depression, mental illnesses, stroke rehabilitation, Alzheimer's disease, and sleep disorders.

Unlike existing brain-computer interfaces, which rely on electrical signals from neurons, Gestala plans to measure changes in blood flow using ultrasound technology. This approach is seen as more ambitious by Professor Max Riesenhuber of Georgetown University, who notes that extracting information from the brain with ultrasound poses significant engineering challenges, particularly when it comes to interpreting neural activity.

The potential for brain-computer interfaces to revolutionize healthcare and human capabilities has long been a topic of interest. However, most current technologies are still in their infancy, and translating these advancements into practical applications will likely take years.

Gestala's name is inspired by Gestalt psychology, which emphasizes the importance of understanding complex systems as a whole rather than just individual parts. This philosophy underlies the company's ambitious goals for brain-computer interfaces.
 
OMG, this new tech from China sounds like science fiction 🤖💥! I mean, using ultrasound to tap into the human mind? That's crazy talk 😂 but seriously, it could be a game changer in the healthcare industry. Chronic pain is so debilitating and there's still no cure 🤕. If this thing can actually deliver results, it'll be amazing. But yaaas, let's not get ahead of ourselves... Prof Max is right, it's going to take some serious engineering magic 🔧 to make this work.

I'm intrigued by the wearable helmet idea for home use 🤯. That would be a total life changer for people with mental illnesses or chronic pain. And the fact that they're thinking beyond just treating physical conditions like depression and stroke 🤝 is awesome. It's all about holistic wellness, you know? 💚
 
im so excited about this new tech... it sounds like a game changer for ppl with chronic pain & mental health issues... but i gotta wonder, how do they plan to overcome the engineering challenges prof Riesenhuber mentioned? like, isnt measuring blood flow changes super tricky? 💡🧠 also, is this just a fancy way of saying "we're using sound waves"? 🎶💫
 
I'm low-key excited about this new brain-computer interface thingy 😅. I mean, imagine being able to control your treatment from home without having to go to some lab or hospital all the time. It sounds like a total game-changer for people with chronic pain and other mental health issues. But at the same time, I'm also thinking about how this tech is gonna be super expensive and not even available to most people. Like, what's the deal with that? Can't we just make it more affordable already? 🤷‍♂️
 
🤯 Technology is rapidly advancing at an incredible pace! "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." As this new startup, Gestala, pushes the boundaries of what's thought possible with ultrasound technology and brain-computer interfaces, it's hard not to get excited about the potential for positive change. 💡
 
omg can you believe this new tech is actually going to be real?? a headset that can control your pain & emotions without any implants... its like sci-fi but also so cool 😎 i'm all about it, especially if they can make it affordable for everyone. the idea of using ultrasound technology to read brain signals is insane! i mean, how hard can it be right? 😉 Professor Riesenhuber seems kinda skeptical though, which makes sense considering the complexity of the human brain. but hey, innovation is all about taking risks, and if they can make this work, it'll be a game-changer for people with chronic conditions. fingers crossed! 🤞
 
I'm low-key obsessed with this new Gestala thing 😂🤯. I mean, we're talking about harnessing ultrasound tech to read and control our minds – it sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie! And the fact that they're already getting promising results for chronic pain is huge 🙌. But what really gets me is how ambitious their goals are – I love that they're not just stopping at treating one condition, but aiming to tackle so many more 🤝.

The whole thing feels like a major paradigm shift in healthcare and tech, you know? We've been stuck with invasive implants for far too long 💉. And the fact that Gestala's approach is based on something as old-school as Gestalt psychology just makes it feel even more revolutionary 📚. Of course, there are still engineering challenges to overcome, but I'm all about rooting for underdogs – bring on the wearable helmet and let's get this revolution started 💪!
 
Just read about this new startup Gestala trying to tap into our brains without invasive implants 😊💡. Their ultrasound tech sounds promising, especially for treating chronic pain and depression. I'm intrigued by the idea of wearing a helmet at home to control treatment, but also think it's ambitious to tackle so many conditions with one device 🤔.

Not sure about the engineering challenges Prof Riesenhuber mentioned though...it's like trying to decipher a complex puzzle 💡. Anyways, excited to see where this tech takes us and how it can improve lives 👍
 
🤔 thinkin about gestala's tech... it's crazy how we're gettin close to tap into our brains without havin to mess with invasive implants 🤖 but at the same time, the fact that they're usin ultrasound tech makes me wonder if we're really just scratchin the surface of what's possible 💡 i mean, think about all the complex stuff in our brains - it's like tryin to solve a puzzle blindfolded 🔧 and yet, we're expectin these devices to just... read our minds 🤯 it's almost too good (or bad?) to be true 😳
 
🤯 The idea of non-invasive brain stimulation with ultrasound tech is kinda cool but also super complex 🤔 I mean, we've already seen how hard it is to get current BCI systems working smoothly and this new method seems even more challenging 💪. But if they can make it work, the potential for treating chronic pain, depression, and other mental health issues without invasive implants is huge 🌟. It's like, imagine being able to control your own treatment at home and getting personalized guidance from a doc 👨‍⚕️. Still, I'm not sure if we're ready for this level of tech just yet ⏰.
 
I'm still thinking about this ultrasound tech and how it can be used for pain management 🤔. I mean, if we can harness sound waves to read brain activity without implants, that's a big deal! 💡 It feels like science fiction, but here we are. Has anyone else considered the potential benefits for people with chronic pain? I know someone who suffers from it and it's hard to see them struggle. Anyway, what do you guys think about Gestala's approach vs traditional BCI methods? 🤖
 
OMG 🤯 I'm literally stoked about this new player in the BCI game! 💥 The idea of using ultrasound tech to stimulate and read from the brain is SO cool 🧠💡, especially since it means no more invasive implants 🚫! I can already imagine the possibilities - like being able to control your phone with just your thoughts 📱🤯 or having a wearable helmet that helps you manage chronic pain 🔥. The fact that they're starting with chronic pain treatment and then expanding to other conditions is genius 🧬, and I love how their name is inspired by Gestalt psychology 🤓 - it's like, totally on point! 💯 But for real though, the engineering challenges are real 🚧, so let's hope they can make this tech more accessible and affordable ASAP 💸. This could be the game-changer we've been waiting for in the BCI space 🔥💫!
 
The idea of using ultrasound technology to read and write from the brain is mind-blowing 🤯! I mean, think about it - we've been trying to crack the code of the human mind for decades, and now someone like Gestala comes along with a potential game-changer. The fact that they're starting with chronic pain treatment and then expanding into other areas like depression and Alzheimer's is huge.

I love how their approach is different from the existing brain-computer interfaces, which are all about electrical signals. Using blood flow changes to measure neural activity? That's some next-level engineering right there 🎯! Of course, Professor Riesenhuber is right that it's a tough challenge, but if anyone can do it, I think Gestala might just be the one.

I'm also intrigued by their philosophy behind the name "Gestala". It's all about understanding complex systems as a whole, and that resonates with me. The potential for brain-computer interfaces to revolutionize healthcare and human capabilities is definitely real, and I'd love to see where this technology takes us in the next few years 🚀.
 
I'm not sure about this new brain-computer interface tech 🤔... I mean, it sounds cool and all, but have you seen how much these startups are popping up? First it's AI-powered everything, now it's brain-computer interfaces too. I'm just waiting for someone to come along with a 'mind-control' headset that lets us control our homes and lives just by thinking 💡... yeah right.

And what's with the ultrasound tech? Isn't that just gonna be super painful? 🤕 I don't know if I'd wanna sit still on some machine getting poked and prodded with sound waves. And then there's the engineering challenges... maxing out brain-computer interfaces is already a big deal, adding ultrasound to the mix? No thanks 😒.

But hey, at least it's trying to tackle some real issues like chronic pain and mental health 🤝. Maybe this thing will actually work and change people's lives for the better 🙏... but I'm gonna be over here waiting for some concrete proof before I get all excited 📊
 
I gotta say, this new tech from Gestala got me thinking about how we're all connected 🤯. I mean, they're trying to tap into our minds without messing around with invasive implants. That's some next-level stuff right there! 💥 But it makes me think, what does it mean to control our own thoughts and emotions? Is it even possible? 🤔 I've always been fascinated by the concept of the whole being more than just its individual parts – that's where Gestalt psychology comes in, man. It's like, we're not just brains, we're complex systems with all sorts of interplay going on. 💡 So, if we can harness this technology to understand ourselves better, maybe we'll finally crack the code to true self-awareness and happiness 😊. But at the same time, I'm also thinking about the potential risks and challenges that come with playing with our brains 🤕. It's like, do we really know what we're getting ourselves into? 🤔
 
🤖 I'm low-key impressed by this new startup, Gestala! The idea of using ultrasound tech to tap into the human mind without invasive implants is straight fire 🔥. I mean, we're already seeing promising results in reducing chronic pain intensity and I can only imagine how that could be game-changing for people dealing with mental health issues.

The more I read about it tho, the more I'm like... how are they planning to make this wearable helmet thingy a reality? 🤔 Professor Riesenhuber's concerns about engineering challenges are valid, but if Gestala can crack the code, we're talking about a whole new level of treatment options. The ultimate goal is ambitious, but if it works, it could be life-changing for millions of people worldwide 💡.

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in the next few years. I'm all about innovation and pushing boundaries when it comes to healthcare 🌟
 
🤔 I'm not convinced that using ultrasound tech to read brains is a game-changer. Prof Riesenhuber's concerns about engineering challenges make sense, and I'd love to see more data on this approach working in real-world settings before getting too excited. How reliable are these results from pilot studies? What's the accuracy rate of reading brain activity via blood flow changes? Need some solid science here 📊👀
 
OMG 🤯, can you believe how fast this brain-computer interface tech is advancing? 🚀 I mean, initially it's going to be stuck in the clinic and patients have to visit a bunch of times 🤦‍♀️, but they got plans for a wearable helmet that's actually kinda cool 💡. And the fact that it doesn't need implants? That's major 🙌. The more I read about this, the more I'm like "what if this could help people with mental health stuff? Like anxiety and depression?" It's crazy to think about all the possibilities 💭.

I do have one question tho... how does their ultrasound tech work? 🤔 Is it safe or is there a risk of like, exploding brains or something 😱? I know that sounds dramatic but I just wanna make sure they're not messing with people's brains.
 
I'm intrigued by Gestala's approach to using ultrasound tech to tap into our minds 🤯. It sounds like they're trying to find a middle ground between invasive implants and more traditional treatments, which is a good thing given how polarized the BCI debate can get. I mean, who wouldn't want to try something that could potentially alleviate chronic pain or depression without having to deal with the hassle of going to a clinic? 🤕 It's also interesting to see them exploring different applications beyond just pain management - expanding into mental health and neurorehabilitation could be a game-changer. Of course, Professor Riesenhuber's comments about the engineering challenges they're facing are totally valid, but it sounds like Gestala is on the right track. Let's hope they can make their wearable helmet a reality soon! 💻
 
I think ultrasound tech can be game changer 💡 but what if it becomes too expensive for people to afford? Like, they're gonna have to pay big bucks for that wearable helmet 🤯 and not everyone has that kinda cash 💸... but at the same time, it could really help people with chronic pain and depression 🤕 so I guess we gotta weigh the pros & cons 📊
 
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