Nanochap Launches ENS001, a Programmable Platform SoC for Neural Modulation, Accelerating Commercialization

Rising Star in Biochip DevelopmentNanochap Electronics Co., Ltd.(Nanochap) recently released a brand-newA Chip System (SoC) Specifically Designed for Neuromodulation Applications - Yuanshen ENS001。

It is reported that this chip is the industry's first multi-channel, fully programmable stimulation parameters and waveform SoC chip, which supports various stimulation modes and can be flexibly applied to a variety of wearable, implantable nerve/muscle electrical stimulation, and neuromodulation applications.

Primordial Spirit ENS001 Chip

As a platform chip in the field of neuromodulation, this product not only helps manufacturers in the industry create unique and highly flexible system solutions for product design, but also promotes the downstream smart wearable companies to upgrade their products towards miniaturization, diversification, and high performance. It also marks another step forward in Nanochap's commercial journey!

Founded in early 2014, Nanochap is one of the earliest teams in China to engage in the research of "high-resolution artificial retina," with more than a decade of research accumulation and development experience. The company is committed to the research, development, and sales of ultra-high-density neural stimulator chips, biosensor chips, and related medical device products, filling the gap in China's related biochip fields.

Nanochap has currently established relevant R&D and sales centers in Hangzhou, Shanghai, Melbourne, and other places, and has built an international team. Among themHeadquartered in Hangzhou, with both R&D and sales;Shanghai R&D CenterFocus on the research, development, and application of brain-computer interfaces;Melbourne CenterFocus on capturing the most cutting-edge innovative technologies internationally, ensuring Nanochap Electronics Co., Ltd. navigates the technological wave by sifting through the sand to find gold.

Nanochap, which operates globally, focuses on key strategic areas including neural interfaces and biosensing. It has deep expertise in the acquisition, encoding/decoding, analysis algorithms, big data models, and high-precision control of bio-small signals and neural signals.

The newly released Metaverse ENS001 chip integrates a 32MHz ARM processor, multi-channel highly flexible stimulation driver circuits, on-chip charging circuitry, configurable boost DC converters, and temperature sensors, making it aHighly integrated programmable neuro/muscle stimulation and neuromodulation solution chip.

According to Lin Ke, Vice President of Nanochap, the Yuanshen ENS001 is a highly integrated, fully programmable neuro/muscle stimulation chip (with customizable stimulation waveforms and parameters). Its wide-range, high-precision adjustable output current amplitude and frequency, along with its multi-channel properties, make the ENS001 chip suitable for most known neuromodulation application scenarios.Provide flexible solutions for manufacturers.

Typical Application Scenarios of Nanochap ENS001 Chip

The chip comes with built-in detection and safety assurance systems for high temperature, high voltage, and high current, which can effectively meet the requirements of miniaturization and safety for implantable or high-performance neuromodulation devices. It also supports multi-mode stimulation and has strong scalability, minimizing the threshold for hardware design. With lower costs, higher precision, more comprehensive functionality, and broader application scenarios, it achieves a generational leap in overall product performance within the industry. This empowers downstream products to iterate and upgrade towards miniaturization, diversification, and high performance.

In terms of product development, Nanochap consistently focuses on the two fields of neural interfaces and biosensing to derive products based on underlying technologies.

Nanochap Technology Layout

High-Resolution Artificial RetinaIt is another core product of Nanochap. This is a product developed based on the company's own chip technology.

High-resolution artificial retina working principle diagram, image provided by Nanochap

According to Lin Ke, the imaging clarity of artificial retinas is proportional to the density of chip channels—the higher the density, the clearer the imaging. Nanochap's self-developed high-resolution artificial retina possesses320 Stimulation Channels, achieving a precision adjustment of 0.5μA and a charge balance rate of 0.5%, making it the product with the most stimulation channels among similar products currently on the market.

In order to better apply this product in clinical settings, Nanochap has not only partnered with several top domestic ophthalmology hospitals but also collaborated with multiple universities and research institutions, creating a full-chain connection between industry, academia, research, and medicine.

Commercially, Nanochap completed a Series B1 round of financing exceeding 100 million yuan in September 2021, and achieved the commercialization of several chips, including high-density neural stimulation chips, multifunctional stimulation chips, programmable stimulation chips, and biomolecular signal processing chips.

For Nanochap's future evolution direction, Lin Ke stated: "In the next 3-5 years, we will continue to deepen our expertise in the fields of neural interfaces and biosensing. On one hand, based on existing neural stimulation technology, we aim to achieve a closed-loop system for stimulation-treatment of nervous system diseases; on the other hand, we will enhance the accuracy of bioelectrical signal acquisition and analysis, making continuous health monitoring more effective. At the same time, we also hope to successfully enter the capital market and complete an IPO within the next 3-5 years."