Highlights

• Control Bionics has been making life-changing connections for people with movement and speech disabilities.
• The company’s world-class patented NeuroNode technology is serving as a lifeline for many patients diagnosed with ALS.
• NeuroNode with eye gaze feature further simplifies communication, enabling patients to express themselves with significantly faster speed and less fatigue.

Control Bionics (ASX:CBL) is an assistive technology device company creating life changing connections for people living with motor impairment and speech difficulties. The company’s solutions help disabled people to control communication and movement through wireless wearable technology connected to their body.

CBL has developed ‘NeuroNode’ technology, a world leader in electromyography (EMG), allowing patient population with movement and speech disabilities to control communication devices such as smartphones, tablets, computers, and robotics, using their neuroelectric signals.

The technology captures and processes those neuroelectric signals into electronic commands to do everything a person would normally do with a keyboard, mouse, joystick, or touchscreen.

Among other disabilities, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been affecting a huge percentage of population worldwide. A nervous system disease, ALS impacts physical function and weakens muscles. People with ALS eventually lose control of their movements. Control Bionics’ NeuroNode Trilogy can be a great help for them even if they have minimal movement.

With such innovative technology device, Control Bionics strives to emerge as the global leader in the innovative augmentative communications and control (ACC) devices space.

Do read: Control Bionics' NeuroNode Trilogy: A powerful access method for communication challenges

Functioning of NeuroNode

The electrodes fitted on the bottom of the NeuroNode are attached to small wires that can attach to the facial muscles using lead wire adapters to receive even the slightest EMG signal that activates the device.

NeuroNode amplifies and interprets the users’ signal, and then sends it to the CBL communication device.

 
Image source: Company website

Do read: How Control Bionics (ASX:CBL) can ease the lives of disabled patients

Becoming someone’s only lifeline

One of the CBL clients has been suffering from ALS since September 2015. In April 2018, he was intubated and received a tracheotomy.

In the initial days in the hospital, he was given an eye gaze-only speech generating device by the ALS Association. But he could not use it. He was not able to focus his eyes. So, for almost a year or so, it was only through lip reading and alphabet board that the family could communicate with him.

However, sometime later his mom came to know about the NeuroNode technology through Facebook. She connected with one of the local Control Bionics representatives and got her hands on the unique AAC device.

 Image source: Company website

By this time, the patient had reached a stage where he had control only over his facial muscles. He was completely bedridden. The team at Control Bionics helped the family in setting up the NeuroNode system at the hospital, right from attaching the lead wires on his facial muscles to activating the switch.

Control Bionics counts this as a successful story as NeuroNode is serving as a lifeline for the patient now. It’s the only mode of communication for him that keeps him connected with his family and rest of the exterior world.

Also read: How Control Bionics is set to make a strong mark in assistive technology market

A step higher: NeuroNode with Eye Gaze

The latest product range includes NeuroNode Trilogy using eye gaze technology. With just a little eye movement, user can control the cursor/mouse while his/her facial movement will activate the NeuroNode. The combination of NeuroNode with eye gaze helps user in faster communication.

Thus, ALS patients have an option to use the communication device connected with NeuroNode with or without eye gaze in a day as per their stamina and abilities.

Stock information: CBL shares were trading at AU$0.130 on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in the early hours of 23 June 2022. The company has a market capitalisation of AU$11.29 million.

Related read: NeuroNode Trilogy: A powerful access method for communication challenges