Axoft FINESSE first-in-human study: Fleuron probes 10,000x softer than polyimide record single neurons without drift
Summary
Axoft announced preliminary results from FINESSE — its first-in-human clinical study — in April 2025. Neurosurgeons at The Panama Clinic implanted 128-channel Fleuron probes into four brain tumor resection patients, recording 20 minutes of stable high-density neural activity through cortical layers and subcortical regions. Key results: single-neuron recording without drift correction due to material softness, 1cm deep implantation with standard surgical tools, detection of consciousness biomarkers under sensory stimulation, and no tissue damage on explantation. Fleuron, 10,000x softer than polyimide used in existing BCIs, created 80% less scar tissue in animal studies at 3, 6, and 9 months. Total Axoft funding: $18.1M. A Stanford licensing deal for Fleuron material was also announced.
Why it matters
Axoft's FINESSE result — stable single-neuron recording without drift in four human patients using ultra-soft probes — is the most significant BCI materials science milestone since the first Utah Array clinical use. The no-drift result directly addresses the primary cause of long-term BCI performance degradation, and first-in-human validation of Fleuron's softness advantage over polyimide validates a decade of materials science investment.
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