Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions

In this episode, we dive into the world of European intellectual property and medtech innovation with Dr. Christian Wende [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-wende-7445b477/?originalSubdomain=de], a German and European Patent Attorney specializing in medical technology at DTS [https://dts.law/en/team/dr-ing-christian-wende/]. With a background in mechanical engineering, a Ph.D. in liver dialysis research, and a Master of Laws in European IP law, Christian brings a rare and powerful combination of technical, legal, and clinical insight. We explore how startups and investors should think about IP strategy in Europe, the impact of the new Unified Patent Court (UPC), the nuances between U.S. and EU patent landscapes, and how IP due diligence is handled during VC rounds and M&A activity. Whether you're a founder, investor, or innovator in medtech or neurotech, this episode is packed with actionable insights. This episode is sponsored by Black Swan IP – patent strategy and legal support for neurotech innovators. Learn more at www.blackswan-ip.com/ [https://www.blackswan-ip.com/] Top 3 Takeaways: * When looking for a good IP lawyer, don’t try to search blindly—ask founders who’ve successfully done it before. You’ll often hear the same trusted names. And even if those lawyers are conflicted, they’ll usually refer you to a trusted colleague. The IP community is small and highly referral-driven. * Becoming a qualified German and European patent attorney is a long and rigorous journey—often taking over 14 years. It includes a PhD, a three-year legal apprenticeship, two bar exams (German and European), and additional certification for the Unified Patent Court. Only about 25% of German candidates pass the European exam on their first try. * Investors expect transparency and a plan—especially when IP litigation risk is involved. Hiding potential legal issues is a red flag that can derail multimillion-dollar investments, particularly in later-stage rounds. For high-stakes backers, surprise IP battles are deal-breakers, not details. 1:30 What is a patent and how is it different in Europe vs the US? 3:30 How far in advance should you be thinking about European patents? 8:15 How did you get into patent law? 10:00 What kind of education is necessary for this? 14:30 What was your role in the Sapiens DBS IP portfolio? 17:15 Sponsorship by blackswan-ip [https://www.blackswan-ip.com/]  17:45 What are common issues especially in Merger and Acquisition deals? 27:15 What is one of the biggest mistakes you see neurotech companies do? 30:00 How do you recognize good legal counsel? 32:30 How do your Japanese roots fit into everything? 36:00 Are you knowledgable about the Asian side of medtech? 38:00 Is there anything that we didn't talk about that you wanted to mention?

In this special episode recorded after the workshop in Barcelona, I talk with Nicolas Barabino [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolasbarabino/] and Antoni Ivorra [https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniivorra/], two of the key organizers behind the 2025 Active Implantable Medical Devices (AIMD) Workshop [https://eventum.upf.edu/127847/detail/active-implantable-medical-devices-workshop-2025.html]. We dive into the vision behind this growing event, which brings together top researchers, engineers, clinicians, and entrepreneurs to explore the cutting edge of implantable medical devices. Nicolas and Antoni share insights on the evolution of AIMD technologies, the role of multidisciplinary collaboration, and how this annual workshop is shaping the next generation of innovators. We also touch on the challenges that startups face in the space—regulatory hurdles, IP strategy, and the importance of academic-industry partnerships. Whether you're a student curious about the field or a seasoned expert navigating the complexities of medical implants, this conversation is packed with valuable takeaways from the heart of Europe’s neurotech and medtech community. This episode is sponsored by Black Swan IP – patent strategy and legal support for neurotech innovators. Learn more at www.blackswan-ip.com/ [https://www.blackswan-ip.com/] Top 3 Takeaways: * This year’s AIMD workshop struck a successful balance between clinical research and industry—50/50 over two days. Feedback from both local and international attendees praised the diverse topics, especially the sessions on soft electrodes and innovative implantable technologies. * The AIMD Workshop stood out for its diverse programming—not just cutting-edge technology talks like those on soft electrodes, but also valuable discussions on market strategy, startup resources, and IP, including insights from a patent lawyer on what investors really look for. This blend of technical and business perspectives resonated strongly with attendees.  * At events like AIMD, aim for just one meaningful 10–15 minute conversation per day—enough to be memorable and lay the groundwork for a follow-up. Quality over quantity builds lasting connections. 1:00 Antoni, do you want to talk about why you were hosting the workshop and what you liked about it? 2:15 Nicolas, do you want to introduce yourself again? 4:30 It was aimed at students, what percentage were students? 5:15 What kind of talks were there? 8:15 Can we define Active Impalntable Medical Device and why was it focused on neurotech? 11:00 Sponsorship by blackswan-ip [https://www.blackswan-ip.com/]  11:30 What will next year's meeting look like? 12:45 Which of the topics have some of the biggest future in the field? 17:45 What kind of advice do you have for students who can attend these kinds of conferences? 21:00 Anything that we didn't talk about that you wanted to mention?

In this episode, we sit down with Chad Andresen [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadandresen/], Chief Business Officer of Lunosa [https://lunosasleep.com/], to explore a groundbreaking approach to treating obstructive sleep apnea. Lunosa is developing a self-expanding, injectable neurostimulator that aims to replace invasive facial surgeries with a minimally invasive, high-impact solution — tapping into a $10 billion market. Chad also reflects on his time at Stimwave [https://www.medtechdive.com/news/stimwave-ex-ceo-guilty-fake-implantable-device-component/709677/], a pioneering neuromodulation company that saw both innovation and controversy. He shares insights from testifying against Stimwave’s former CEO, lessons learned from the company’s collapse, and how those experiences shape Lunosa’s vision and execution today. This episode is sponsored by Black Swan IP – patent strategy and legal support for neurotech innovators. Learn more at www.blackswan-ip.com/ [https://www.blackswan-ip.com/] Top 3 Takeaways: * User feedback can vary drastically by region — while patients in Mexico and Europe reported positive results, U.S. participants were far more critical and vocal, revealing major usability issues that had been previously overlooked. * A major red flag in a startup is when experienced, well-tempered professionals leave quickly and repeatedly — it often signals deeper cultural or leadership issues that young founders may overlook until it's too late. * Lunosa developed a novel “nerve net” implant that works like a fishing net—capturing multiple nerve branches responsible for tongue movement in sleep apnea—offering selective stimulation to activate helpful muscles while avoiding unwanted ones. 1:30 Do you want to introduce yourself better than I just did? 3:00 How did your career start? 5:15 How did the founding of StimWave look like? 7:15 How did that ramp up look like? 12:15 How did things go wrong? 17:15 What exactly was the issue that caused all the problems? 20:15 Sponsorship by blackswan-ip [https://www.blackswan-ip.com/]  20:45 How did you find out that things had gone wrong? 26:15 What are some lessons learned from this process? 31:30 Do you want to talk about the misalignment of incentives often coming from VC funding? 35:30 Let's talk about LunOsa 44:00 What are some other exciting things coming from LunOsa? 47:00 Anything else that you wanted to mention?

In this special on-location episode recorded in Leuven, Belgium, we sit down with the co-founders and technical leaders of ReVision Implant [https://revision-implant.com/]—Frederik Ceyssens [https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederikceyssens/] (CEO), Maarten Schelles [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartenschelles/] (CTO), and Laurens Goyvaerts [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurens-goyvaerts-300851135/] (CSO). The team shares their journey developing a high-density, intracortical visual prosthesis aimed at restoring vision for the blind. From developing reliable insertion technology to achieving long-term biocompatibility in nonhuman primate models, ReVision Implant is at the forefront of neurotech innovation. Tune in to hear about their challenges, breakthroughs, and what’s next in the race to cure blindness through brain stimulation. This episode is sponsored by Black Swan IP – patent strategy and legal support for neurotech innovators. Learn more at www.blackswan-ip.com/ [https://www.blackswan-ip.com/] Top 3 Takeaways: * Future users of ReVision's visual prosthesis express diverse goals—from navigating unfamiliar cities independently to recognizing familiar faces—highlighting the need for customizable solutions with both wide fields of view and high resolution. * The team is exploring adaptive algorithms that could allow users to toggle between broad, low-resolution views and focused, high-resolution modes—such as reading letters or recognizing faces—offering personalized visual strategies even if only a few thousand stimulation points are achievable. * Restoring vision is one of the most challenging neurotech applications—far beyond simply upgrading existing DBS systems—but taking that bold leap sets ReVision Implant apart in a space where few dare to innovate at this scale. 1:00 Do you want to introduce yourselves and your company? 6:30 What is the device and how is it different than other companies? 11:15 How many pixels or phosphenes are you expecting to get? 16:00 How much processing will be required to handle that many channels? 17:00 What is the form factor of the device? 18:15 How long is the battery expected to last? 23:30 What kind of acceleration would you expect from investment? 26:00 How does your fabrication process look? 31:30 Sponsorship by blackswan-ip [https://www.blackswan-ip.com/]  32:15 Are you also looking at vision augmentation? 35:00 There's a large graveyard in this visual neuroprosthetics space, why do you think you will survive where others have died? 40:30 Did some of the other companies have technical issues that caused them to die? 45:30 Is there anything that we didn't talk about that you wanted to mention?

In this episode, we speak with Julio Martinez-Clark [https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliomartinezclark/], CEO and co-founder of Bioaccess [https://www.bioaccessla.com/], a contract research organization helping Medtech and Biopharma startups slash months off their clinical timelines. With a focus on Latin America, Bioaccess enables early feasibility and first-in-human trials to be conducted faster, more affordably, and with high-quality data suitable for FDA and EU submissions. Julio shares how their global site network—built over 20 years—helps startups navigate regulatory hurdles, reduce costs, and de-risk innovation, all while improving patient lives in emerging markets. This episode is sponsored by Black Swan IP [https://www.blackswan-ip.com/] Top 3 Takeaways: *   “The sites and IRBs in Latin America follow international ICH-GCP guidelines—Good Clinical Practice standards set by the World Health Organization. If you're a professional in clinical research, these are the standards you adhere to. As a sponsor, it's your responsibility to ensure that the sites you select, after rounds of interviews and vetting, comply with ICH-GCP. There's also a new development in the region: the Global Clinical Site Certification, an organization based in London that accredits clinical research sites internationally. They're expanding across the Americas, and countries like Colombia and Panama have been especially receptive. For example, we’re currently working on certifying CVAC, a site network in Panama.” * For FDA market clearance, sponsors typically need a large, U.S.-based pivotal study. But the FDA may accept up to 30% of that data from international sites—if it follows ICH-GCP standards. First-in-human trials in places like Colombia or Panama can help demonstrate safety and efficacy, supporting an FDA IDE application for a pivotal U.S. study. * Many FDA-approved therapies never reach Latin America, simply because manufacturers focus on larger markets like the U.S., Europe, or Japan. Clinical trials provide patients in Latin America with early access to innovative treatments they might otherwise never receive.   0:45 Do you want to introduce yourself better than I just did? 1:30 Why is Latin America better for clinical trials 4:15 How does the speed and cost compare to the US? 6:30 What standard of cleanliness, ethics, and quality can we expect in a country like Panama? 8:45 What kind of capabilities are in these countries? 10:15 Axsoft and Paul LeFloch, previous Neural Implant Podcast guests [https://neuralimplantpodcast.com/paul-lefloch-pioneering-neural-implant-materials-with-axoft], utilized your services, can you talk more about their study? 14:15 What was the timeline of that study selection all the way to the end of the study? 15:30 What kind of Institutional Review Boards look over the ethics? Are they internationally recognized? 16:15 Sponsorship by Black Swan IP [https://www.blackswan-ip.com/] 20:15 Could you also use this for FDA approval?  22:45 Do you want to talk about the willingness of the patients in Latin America to take part in these trials? 29:45 When should medical device developers reach out to you? 33:30 Is there anything else that we didn't talk about that you wanted to mention?