Phantom Neuro

Phantom Neuro is a Houston-based, venture-backed startup pioneering a novel muscle-machine interface to bridge the gap between advanced robotics and human control. Its core technology, the Phantom X, is an implantable sensor system that uses AI to decode muscle signals for intuitive control of robotic limbs, targeting the significant unmet need in the amputee and mobility-impaired populations. Founded in 2020 as a spin-out from Johns Hopkins University, the company has secured $19M in Series A funding led by Ottobock and is actively building its patient registry in preparation for clinical studies.

The Phantom X: A minimally invasive, implantable muscle-machine interface (MMI) system. It consists of an implanted sensor array that captures electromyography (EMG) signals from residual muscles, proprietary AI/ML software for real-time signal decoding and intent translation, and a wireless link to control external robotic devices like prosthetic limbs and exoskeletons.

Phantom Neuro competes with advanced surface EMG control systems from established prosthetic companies (e.g., Ottobock, Össur) and other neural interface startups pursuing more invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) like Synchron and Precision Neuroscience. Its key differentiation is its minimally invasive surgical approach targeting the peripheral nervous system via muscles, aiming to offer more intuitive control than surface EMG without the high risk of brain surgery.