Iota Biosciences develops tiny, millimeter-wide implantable "motes" that harvest ultrasound to power a piezoelectric crystal and a chip that monitors and reflects electrophysiological activity. The devices can be attached to single nerves or muscle fibers to transmit continuous monitoring data and can also deliver voltage for potential therapeutic use. The team emerged from UC Berkeley research led by co-founders Jose Carmena and Michel Maharbiz and has demonstrated the technology in vivo. Initial applications will target the peripheral nervous system rather than the brain, and devices are contained in implant-safe materials and can be installed laparoscopically or via a tiny incision. The company is currently in a prototype phase and plans to use recent funding to reach a production-ready version suitable for FDA submission. FDA approval and longer clinical testing will be required before human use; broader deployment will likely need additional funding and multi-year trials.

Total raised

$15M

Funding rounds

1

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Dec 2018