Neural Device to Assist Severely Impaired Patients in Communication

Patients in Singapore suffering from significant movement and speech impairment will soon gain quicker communication capabilities through a neural detection device. This artificial intelligence powered unit was developed by a local start up. Tan Tock Seng Hospital is scheduled to commence a trial of this new technology.

Credit: NEURAL DRIVE

The device enables patients unable to speak clearly, write, type, point, or maintain eye contact to communicate using blinks and focused thought. This brain computer interface functions by detecting eye blinks and brainwaves. Electrodes are positioned behind the patient's ears and above one eye to capture this input. The system then allows navigation and selection of options from a digital menu.

But this menu offers personalised tasks. Patients can request food, indicate a desire to watch television, or ask for lights to be switched on. It also connects with external applications such as YouTube and WhatsApp, permitting users to watch videos or send simple prewritten messages. The start up, Neural Drive, co founded by two graduates and two current students from Singapore Polytechnic, developed this device.

Credit: NEURAL DRIVE

The Neural Drive unit aims to provide an affordable communication alternative. Existing communication tools can cost up to SGD 25,000 each. This new system seeks to meet the needs of those with severe impairments at a reduced cost. A clinical trial lasting 18 months will begin in June.

This trial will include approximately 30 patients from Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Participants will comprise stroke survivors with speech and physical difficulties, individuals diagnosed with motor neurone disease, and those with cerebral palsy. Mr Khambhati Mohammed Huzefa, a co founder aged 22 years and a computer engineering diploma graduate from 2023, stated the objective was to create a portable, affordable, and easy to use device. He likened its ease of use to wearing a headset.

Users interact with the system by blinking twice to cycle through selections. A selection is confirmed by concentrating on an item for a few seconds. The device functions via a connection to external hardware, such as laptops and tablets. It will be sold to hospitals for SGD 2,500 per unit.

So, this pricing model allows hospitals to acquire units without needing specific funding allocations. Ms Zenne T'ng, a senior principal speech therapist at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, noted that more expensive systems often require careful budget planning. Alternative advanced assistive technologies, like Tobii Dynavox's eye gaze systems, can cost up to SGD 15,000 each.

These pricier alternatives are often unsuitable for patients who experience difficulty sustaining visual attention or head stability. Other options involve intracortical interfaces, which may necessitate surgical implantation of microelectrodes directly into a patient's brain cortex. Neurotechnology start ups, such as Neuralink, founded by entrepreneur Elon Musk, develop such chip based systems.

Such surgically implanted systems are capable of detecting individual neuron activity with high accuracy, allowing users to control computers and phones. However, they carry surgical risks and demand extensive technical support. Ms T'ng expressed the goal of integrating Neural Drive into standard speech therapy practice across acute care, rehabilitation, and home settings.

Neural Drive was established in early 2025. The four co founders, Mr Khambhati, Mr Kaushik Manian, Mr Nyan Lin, and Mr Raymond Loong Ng, met at various hackathons. Mr Khambhati's inspiration for the device stemmed from his national service as a medic with the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

He observed a recurring communication issue among stroke patients. "The patient would be fully aware of everything happening around them, but the families would be standing around and desperate to understand if they were in pain," Mr Khambhati, currently a first year undergraduate at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, explained. Doctors in critical care settings encountered the same communication barriers.

And the team combined their academic backgrounds in artificial intelligence and engineering with Mr Khambhati's self acquired neuroscience knowledge. They then developed a device the size of a palm. This unit employs an artificial intelligence model to interpret user intent by analysing brainwaves and eye blinks.

While designed for reliability and accessibility, the Neural Drive device does not perform full diagnostics of brain activity. More expensive alternatives achieve this with sophisticated hardware, a greater number of electrodes, and proprietary clinical software. Mr Khambhati stated their focus was on reliable communication and independence for patients at home.

The start up has secured funding from the Singapore University of Technology and Design and innovation competitions. The team received USD 150,000 after winning first place in the Asia Pacific category of the Entrepreneurs Next Star & Million Prize Global Challenge, held in Shenzhen, China. This support has enabled them to conduct home trials lasting two weeks with approximately 60 users, gathering feedback.

One such user was the uncle of Mr Nick Tyi Ki Kyaw. The uncle, aged 67 years, suffered a stroke three years prior in Myanmar, resulting in partial paralysis and impaired speech. "He could not really form proper words, and we relied on his grunts to try to understand what he needed," Mr Tyi Ki Kyaw stated, noting the experience was challenging for his family who provided care while his uncle sought treatment in Singapore.

The family experienced relief after initial adjustments to Neural Drive's system. It alleviated the mental exertion of interpreting his uncle's requirements. Mr Tyi Ki Kyaw, now a first year computer science student at NUS, commented on the device's compact nature and lower cost compared to other market offerings.

Once Neural Drive receives approval for hospital use, the team intends to sell a more affordable version directly to consumers. Mr Khambhati reported ongoing discussions with local organisations to donate one thousand units to individuals. According to The Straits Times, the developers believe the technology necessary for restoring dignity and enabling connections exists but requires accessible implementation.

• Tan Tock Seng Hospital will trial a neural detection device for patients with severe movement and speech impairment.

• The device, developed by Neural Drive, uses eye blinks and brainwaves for communication.

• It offers an affordable alternative to existing tools, costing SGD 2,500 per unit for hospitals.

• The 18 month clinical trial will involve approximately 30 patients, including stroke survivors and individuals with motor neurone disease.

• Neural Drive plans to offer a more affordable version directly to users and donate one thousand units to individuals.