Axorus is a French company that develops neuro-electronic interfaces for therapeutic applications.
We use a biomimetic artificial neuron as a link between the nervous system and electronic devices or medical implants.
Our goal is to use this technology to develop a wide range of medical implants to treat the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases and enhance quality of life.
Our vision is to launch a brand new bionic industry that makes it possible for people to recover their lost capabilities.
Our first product will be an artificial retina for patients suffering from diseases such as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) or Retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
Team
Jean-Damien CEO
Engineering & Business Degrees
Driving force: being at the frontier of technology.
Hélène, PhD VP Engineering
Engineering degree. PhD in physics applied to biology.
Driving force: inventing technologies that improve quality of life.
Clémence, PhD CTO
Engineering Degree. PhD in neurobiology.
Driving force: creating innovation to help people live better lives.
Scientific Advisory Board
Pr. Alain Cappy Professor in Electronics, Inventor
Pr. Virginie Hoel Professor in Electronics, Inventor
Sabine Defoort, MD Neuro-ophtalmologist
Partners
Product
Bionic Retina
We are developing an Artificial Retina aiming to restore sight for people with damaged retinas.
This medical implant is suitable for people who have damaged photoreceptors (cones and rods) but otherwise a functioning retina, as is the case for many patients suffering from retinitis pigmentosa or advanced dry AMD.
The implant will be inserted subretinally, where photoreceptors are located in a healthy retina. The artificial retina acts as a substitute for damaged photoreceptors by converting light into a signal the brain can interpret.
This artificial retina is standalone and self-powered by ambient light, using photovoltaic effect: it does not require external power sources or a glasses-mounted camera.
We are using a patented state-of-the-art analog electronic neuron developed by the CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research) and Lille University. It is currently manufactured using industrial processes.
This electronic neuron can detect and produce biomimetic spikes. It can consequently listen to and send signals to biological neurons. It is a CMOS circuit up to 1000x more energy-efficient and up to 10x smaller than a biological neuron. Its very high sensitivity makes it ideal for medical implants.
The first implant based on this technology will be an artificial retina. The artificial retina is a matrix of “pixels”. Each pixel is an electronic neuron connected to a photodiode in order to convert light into an electrical signal.
Axorus aims to use the electronic neuron as the main building block of a wide range of implants. These implants will be developed in-house or through collaborations with academic or industrial partners.
Contact us to use the electronic neuron for your next product or experiment.
Careers
You are looking for a start-up that tackles challenging and meaningful projects : Join Us - send your resume to jobs@axorus.com
CIFRE doctoral fellowship
This is a full time 3 years position (CDD) in Paris and Lille, France.
Who we are
Axorus wants to become the “Intel of Bionics”: provide a wide range of technologies for implants to treat neural diseases. Our first product will be a retinal implant.
We work at the crossroads of electronics and neurobiology, with the goal of helping people live in better health. We have partnerships with medical doctors, biologists, and electronics scientists.
We are a startup and expect to grow significantly in the upcoming years. As an early employee, you will find yourself in a dynamic and fast-paced environment where you have a strong voice, and will get to tackle challenging and meaningful projects.
We offer a competitive salary and benefits.
What you will do
You will be both an Axorus employee and a PhD candidate. The CIFRE PhD will be done in collaboration with Lille University. You will be part of the SPINE research group. You will develop new technologies to power and optimize Axorus’ neuro-electronic implants, such as the artificial retina.
The main building block of our implants is an electronic “neuron” : a CMOS analog circuit that mimics the action potentials (spikes) of a biological neuron. Your project will address two major challenges of neuro-electronic implant design and production:
▪ increasing the energy autonomy of the implants by storing and supplying power,
▪ making the electronic circuits to be integrated in the implants thinner and more flexible.
You will first do a state-of-the-art report on existing technologies while taking into account various industrial
constraints : industrialization process, compatibility with implantation in humans, biocompatibility, intellectual
property, and medical devices norms and regulations.
Using this report, you will then develop :
▪ a clean-room process for thinning electronic circuits (silicon-based) that will be based on previous work
done at Lille University,
▪ methods of power supply and storage (onboard battery source or other).
The results you will obtain will be incorporated into Axorus’ neuro-implants.
Who you are
▪ You have a Master’s degree, or an equivalent qualification, in engineering, physics, electronics, medical devices or a similar field.
▪ Your written and spoken English is very good. Conversational French is appreciated.
▪ You are motivated by ambitious and meaningful multidisciplinary R&D projects. Soft skills
▪ You are curious, resourceful and result-driven.
If you are interested, send us your resume at jobs@axorus.com
Who we are
Axorus wants to become the “Intel of Bionics”: provide a wide range of technologies for implants to treat neural diseases. Our first product will be a retinal implant.
We work at the crossroads of electronics and neurobiology, with the goal of helping people live in better health. We have partnerships with medical doctors, biologists, and electronics scientists.
We are a startup and expect to grow significantly in the upcoming years. As an early employee, you will find yourself in a dynamic and fast-paced environment where you have a strong voice, and will get to tackle challenging and meaningful projects.
We offer a competitive salary and benefits.
What you will do
You will design prototypes of Axorus’ retinal implant.
The main building block of this implant is an electronic “neuron”: a CMOS analog circuit that mimics the action potentials (spikes) of a biological neuron. To obtain a functional retina prototype, we design chips that are first manufactured in a foundry, then post-processed in a clean room environment.
■ You will take part in the full fabrication process (CMOS 180nm, Cadence Virtuoso design platform) : design, simulation, layout, verification, interactions with the foundry, and post-silicon testing.
■ You will interact with the post-processing engineers and, depending on need and your own preferences, take part in some post-processing steps.
The prototype that you will have designed and validated will then be tested on biological models and, later, during clinical trials. For human testing, the artificial retina will have to meet medical implant standards.
Who you are
✓ You have a MSc or an Engineering degree in Analog IC Electronics or a similar field, and master the physics of transistors, capacitors, photodiodes & amplifiers. Experienced technicians/BSc may also apply.
✓ You have at least 2 years experience in analog or mixed CMOS design.
+ Experience with Cadence design flow and Calibre tools is a significant plus. Soft skills
✓ You are curious, resourceful and result-driven.
✓ You are excited to work with and learn from electrical, biology, and materials engineers.
Microfabrication Engineer
This is a full time, permanent position (CDI) in Paris, France.
Who we are
Axorus wants to become the “Intel of Bionics”: provide a wide range of technologies for implants to treat neural diseases. Our first product will be a retina implant.
We work at the crossroads of electronics and neurobiology, with the goal of helping people live in better health. We have partnerships with medical doctors, biologists, and electronics scientists.
We are a startup and expect to grow significantly in the upcoming years. As an early employee, you will find yourself in a dynamic and fast-paced environment where you have a strong voice, and will get to tackle challenging and meaningful projects.
We offer a competitive salary and benefits.
What you will do
You will post-process silicon dies into biocompatible retinal implants.
The main building block of this implant is an electronic “neuron”: a CMOS analog circuit that mimics the action potentials (spikes) of a biological neuron. To obtain a functional retina prototype, we design chips that are first manufactured in a foundry, then post-processed in a clean room environment.
■ You will develop robust and manufacturing compatible processes. The processes will initially involve mainly die-wafer bonding, dicing, thin film deposition, and 3D micro-electrode fabrication.
■ You will design the protocols, test & troubleshoot them.
■ You will interact with the rest of the prototype design team, in order to ensure compatibility between post-processing and the previous steps.
The prototype will then be tested on biological models and, later, during clinical trials. For human testing, the artificial retina will have to meet medical implant standards.
Who you are
✓ You have an MSc or an Engineering degree and at minimum 2 years of relevant experience in microfabrication, preferably in electro-stimulation, or the semiconductor or medical devices industries.
Experienced technicians/BSc may also apply.
✓ Knowledge of atomic layer deposition (ALD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), reactive ion etching (RIE), and die-to-wafer bonding techniques is highly desirable.
+ Ability to model multi-physics devices using simulation tools is a plus. Soft skills
✓ You are curious, resourceful and result-driven.
✓ You are excited to work with and learn from electrical, biology and materials engineers.
Who we are
Axorus wants to become the “Intel of Bionics”: provide a wide range of technologies for implants to treat neural diseases. Our first product will be a retinal implant.
We work at the crossroads of electronics and neurobiology, with the goal of helping people live in better health. We have partnerships with medical doctors, biologists, and electronics scientists.
We are a startup and expect to grow significantly in the upcoming years. As an early employee, you will find yourself in a dynamic and fast-paced environment where you have a strong voice, and will get to tackle challenging and meaningful projects.
We offer a competitive salary and benefits.
What you will do
You will design prototypes of Axorus’ retinal implant.
The main building block of this implant is an electronic “neuron”: a CMOS analog circuit that mimics the action potentials (spikes) of a biological neuron. To obtain a functional retina prototype, we design chips that are first manufactured in a foundry, then post-processed in a clean room environment.
■ You will be responsible for the full process (CMOS 180nm, Cadence Virtuoso design platform) : design, simulation, layout, verification, interactions with the foundry, and some post-silicon testing.
■ You will interact with the post-processing engineers and, depending on need and your own preferences, take part in some post-processing steps.
■ You might supervise, and train if needed, a small number of designers.
The prototype that you will have designed and validated will then be tested on biological models and, later, during clinical trials. For human testing, the artificial retina will have to meet medical implant standards.
Who you are
✓ You have a MSc or an Engineering degree in Analog IC Electronics or a similar field, and master the physics of transistors, capacitors, photodiodes & amplifiers. Highly experienced technicians/BSc may also apply.
✓ You have experience with Cadence design flow and Calibre tools.
✓ You have at least 5 years experience in analog or mixed CMOS design, ideally from pre-silicon simulation to post-silicon validation. Soft skills
✓ You are curious, resourceful and result-driven.
✓ You are excited to work with and learn from electrical, biology and materials engineers.
+ Experience in design of medical implants & regulatory implications of ISO13485 specifications is a plus.
If you are interested, send us your resume (CV) at jobs@axorus.com
US
FR
Jean-Damien
Hélène, PhD
Clémence, PhD
Pr. Alain Cappy
Pr. Virginie Hoel
Sabine Defoort, MD
