AI tool helps paralysed patients communicate through blinks and focus; hospital to trial device

straitstimes.com Apr 19, 2026

AI tool helps paralysed patients communicate through blinks and focus; hospital to trial device

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Apr 19, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Tan Tock Seng Hospital will trial a neural-detection device created by local start-up Neural Drive, allowing patients with severe movement and speech impairment to communicate through blinks and focus. The device, a brain-computer interface, detects eye blinks and brainwaves using electrodes, enabling patients to navigate and select options from a menu. The 18-month trial starts in June with 30 patients, aiming to provide an affordable alternative to costly communication tools.💡

💡 Why It Matters

· Neural Drive's hospital trial is a critical commercial validation moment — brain-computer interface startups routinely fail at the transition from lab to clinical use, and a successful 18-month trial with 30 patients at Tan Tock Seng would give the company the evidence needed to compete against established but far more expensive communication tools.

AI Biotechnology Capsules

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