Leading the BCI Race: How Xi'an Leading XinDong Tech Pioneers Key Innovations to Restore Vision for the Blind

Brain-computer interface, as the next major medical battleground for the fusion of biotechnology and information technology, is currently mainly applied in the medical and education fields, with broad development prospects.

According to the World Health Organization, there are approximately 140 million visually disabled people globally, including more than 50 million blind individuals. China has the largest population of visually impaired patients in the world, with over 17 million people suffering from visual impairments and about 5 million who are blind—accounting for 18% of the world's blind population. Moreover, this number is increasing by 450,000 people each year.

Many pioneers have thrown themselves into the innovative wave of brain science. Among them is a company listed on the New Third Board that has been established for 14 years.Xi'an Lingpao Network Media Technology Co., Ltd.(Stock Code: 839453, AbbreviationLINGPAO MEDIA) caught the attention of VCBeat.

LINGPAO MEDIA was established in 2008 and is located in Tsinghua Science Park, Xi'an High-tech Zone. It is committed to the research of brain science and brain-computer interface technology as well as the development of brain-inspired intelligent chips, and is a national high-tech enterprise.

The company owns more than 300 independent intellectual property rights, maintaining an industry-leading level in the fields of brain science, brain-computer interface, brain-inspired intelligence, flexible sensors, and artificial intelligence. It also has rich research and development experience and a complete industrial application system, providing customized closed-loop brain-computer interface application systems and data solutions based on user demand scenarios.

LINGPAO MEDIA's team brings together several top scientists in the industry, with over 30 doctors, researchers, and senior engineers. It maintains close cooperation with prestigious universities and research institutes such as Tsinghua University, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xidian University, Northwest University, and the Fourth Military Medical University. Additionally, it has formed tight collaborative relationships with more than ten well-known research institutions both domestically and internationally.

In addition, LINGPAO MEDIA has collaborated with the Center for Brain Science at Northwestern University to establish a joint laboratory for brain-computer interfaces and human-computer interaction. This lab features functions such as chip design and supercomputing centers, a private cloud platform for big data on brain electricity intelligence (BrainElec IntelliCloud), neural electrode manufacturing processes, a production base for Class III medical devices, a medical device performance testing center, and a brain-computer interface model animal experimental center.

Chips, as the weakest link in China's brain-computer interface industry chain, are constrained by foreign manufacturers such as Texas Instruments (chip TI AD1299) and STMicroelectronics (programmable microcontroller STM32).

"Only by breaking free from the constraints of foreign vendors' monopoly can a solid foundation be laid for the development of brain-computer interfaces in China." The core team of LINGPAO MEDIA understands this well.

Six years of relentless research and development, coupled with the advantages of industry-academia-research-medical collaboration, LINGPAO MEDIA has fully independently mastered key common core technologies and successively developedHigh-performance neural signal processing chips and high-throughput flexible neural electrodes.The former addresses the substitution of domestically produced alternatives, while providing solid hardware support for product optimization, upgrades, and industry technology iteration. The latter, developed based on integrated circuit manufacturing processes, has thousands of channels and is used in conjunction with chips. Together, they provide solutions for a bidirectional closed-loop wireless brain-computer interface system.

Solid independent technology, profound industry insights, and a keen grasp of clinical pain points provide an inexhaustible driving force for LINGPAO MEDIA's product innovation.

LINGPAO MEDIA initially entered the market by providing customized sleep system solutions, and has since developed a diverse product lineup targeting individual users, medical institutions, transportation organizations, and more.

Sleep Era Series Products, centered on an AI-driven personalized sleep aid system solution, supplemented by the EnjoySleep Device and SootheSleep Device, providing users with non-pharmacological, personalized sleep aid solutions such as sleep music prescriptions, digital dream analysis and intervention plans, brain health assessments, and early warnings for potential major brain diseases.

Sleep Age

Brain State Health Assessment and Intervention SystemCan help users objectively and quantitatively understand their current brain health status, ability foundation, psychological emotions, and mental state, and detect the accumulation of negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, tension, and hypervigilance as early as possible. It can also help children understand brain development, whether the left and right brain development is balanced, and predict autism and ADHD. For adults, it can help warn of other nervous system diseases and neurodegenerative diseases.

Brain State Health Assessment and Intervention System

In addition, LINGPAO MEDIA also providesMilitary, Medical InstitutionsProvidePortable Sleep Management System, Brain Health Detection All-in-One Machine, forSchoolProvided by institutions such asMind Growth System Series Products. A wide range of products with a broad audience.

At this stage, LINGPAO MEDIA is focusing on the development of new products——Blind Vision Restoration System。This product is a head-wearable medical device, primarily targeting visually impaired individuals and the blind, capable of achieving visual function reconstruction to help them "regain sight." Its principle involves bypassing the eyes of visually impaired individuals to form a brain-like system through optic nerve and system feature model acquisition. It encompasses multiple internationally advanced cutting-edge technologies, including in-body unit energy supply technology, intra- and extra-body data communication technology, and bionic technology.

The product is currently under development and is expected to obtain a medical device license and enter the market in 2024. Meanwhile, this technological achievement can also be applied toMetaverse, High-end Equipment, Vision Enhancement, Autonomous Driving, Proactive Service RobotsSuch scenarios have enormous social and economic benefits.

According to the person in charge of LINGPAO MEDIA, the company has initially achieved profitability by relying on the above products, and will subsequently focus on...Smart Home, Medical Institutions, Scientific Research InstitutesThree major scenarios continue to advance the commercialization process and persist in innovative technology research and development.

In terms of market strategy, LINGPAO MEDIA is also taking steady steps. According to the relevant person in charge, before April 2024, the company will still focus on technology research and development to stabilize its foundation. Afterward, it will concentrate on promoting in the Chinese market and aims to achieve full coverage of the Chinese market within three years.

Currently, LINGPAO MEDIA is seeking financing for marketing, capacity expansion, and accelerating product development and upgrades.