Our LUMO device is featured in this article from The Engineer, which discusses the advantages of fibreless fNIRS technology.

UCL-led researchers have demonstrated a wearable, baby-friendly brain mapping technology likely to lead to a better understanding of developmental conditions including autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy.

The technology, developed by UCL spinout company Gowerlabs Ltd, is said to use harmless levels of red and near-infrared light delivered via a wearable cap to generate detailed 3D images of babies’ brain activity. It means doctors and neuroscientists can image a baby’s brain without needing MRI, which is expensive and difficult to apply while babies are awake.

It also means researchers can study the infant brain in almost any environment, including in the home.

Dr Cooper explained via email that current state-of-the-art HD-DOT systems rely on optical fibres to carry light to and from the participant.

“These fibres are heavy and cumbersome and tether the participant to the bench,” he said. “Furthermore, applying enough fibres to make good quality images is really difficult in any participant and nearly impossible in infants.”

He added that the current breakthrough came from Gowerlabs’ Dr. Nick Everdell who realised that to move the electronics to the head, and still allow the devices to be wearable and to conform to the curve of the scalp, required a modular design architecture with multiple independent modules providing emitters and detectors of near-infrared light.