Sydney-based Omniscient Neurotechnology has received the US FDA's 510(k) clearance for its brain mapping software. 

WHAT IT'S ABOUT

Quicktome is a digital brain mapping platform that provides clinicians with a visualisation of a patient's brain networks which are responsible for complex functions such as language, movement and cognition. 

Featuring intuitive browser interfaces, the platform analyses millions of data points drawn from a patient's MRI. Cloud computing is then utilised for processing big data. 

WHY IT MATTERS

Quicktome incorporates "connectomics", or the study of brain connections, into routine neurosurgical planning. 

The platform is designed by neurosurgeons and data scientists to assist clinicians in making informed decisions; it also reduces uncertainty by providing insights on a patient before and during life-changing brain surgery. The company says its solution can derive insights from various brain-related disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, depression, chronic pain and brain cancer. 

Moreover, the platform enables multidisciplinary collaboration in hospitals.

Quicktome was also recently granted approvals from Health Canada and Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration.

THE LARGER TREND

Just this Monday, Omniscient Neurotechnology closed a Series B funding round where it raised A$40 million ($29.4 million) from investors such as Gina Rinehart, executive chairman of Australian mining firm Hancock Prospecting and noted fund manager Will Vicars. 

The company will use its new funds to advance research and develop more medical devices and research solutions. The company also seeks to expand its science, engineering, and sales teams worldwide. The funds will be used to bring Quicktome and Infinitome, another research platform, to other markets.

ON THE RECORD

"Until now, the tools that neurosurgeons have relied on have been no match for the brain’s complexity. Quicktome breaks information down into actionable insights to inform the impact each incision will have on the patient. Since its authorisation, physicians are already relying on this technology to guide surgical planning. This is a significant milestone for Omniscient and, more importantly, begins a new era for neurosurgery for patients and physicians," Omniscient Neurotechnology CEO Stephen Scheeler said.

“Big data is changing everything we know about the brain. Modern neuroscience has shown that we are our brain networks, which control everything from movement to speech. Understanding how the brain is connected and what these connections mean will drastically help us better deliver healthcare, starting with neurosurgery," Stephane Doyen, the company's chief data officer, also commented.