Elon Musk’s rival company Neuralink is moving ahead, for now, at a faster pace. His implant allows the user to control a computer using only thought.
A critical step for the integration of brain implants in humans . The company Synchron obtained in 2021 permission from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to start its tests on people residing in the United States. As of today, it is officially hiring a clinical trial director, which means it is all set to test next-generation brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).
Stentrode
His product is called Stentrode, a motor neuroprosthesis focused on helping patients with severe paralysis. If it works, it could be the beginning of a new era of re-immersion of the senses for countless patients with neurological disorders, brain damage, paralysis and much more.
Synchron has therefore begun human testing of its paperclip-sized brain implant. In total, it will be implanted in six patients in New York and Pittsburgh who have severe paralysis. The implant will allow patients to control digital devices with their thoughts alone and restore the ability to perform daily tasks such as texting, emailing and shopping online.
A milestone
If all goes as expected and is successful, the Stentrode brain implant could be sold as a commercial product aimed at paralyzed patients to regain their independence and quality of life.
The trial represents a milestone for Synchron and also puts it ahead of Neuralink, which is better funded but still recruiting a test manager. Neuralink raised 205 million dollars (194 million euros) last year and Synchron has raised a total of 70 million dollars (about 66 million euros).
How does this implant work?
The Synchron device, once implanted, travels to the brain through blood vessels. (Neuralink’s is implanted directly into the skull). After reaching the brain, Stentrode translates brain activity into signals designed to enable a plethora of activities such as sending an email. Thus, instead of perforating the skull, something much more invasive, the Stentrode is fed through the patient’s vein until it reaches the brain. The device, made of a web-like material with 16 attached sensors , expands to line the vessel wall. That device is connected to an electronic device on the chest that then transmits brain signals from the motor cortex, the part of the brain that generates movement signals, into commands for a laptop.
“These results are a great advance for the field of BCI ( Brain-computer interface ) or brain-computer interface. We have shown that our endovascular BCI approach is safe and allows patients to perform daily tasks over the internet without invasive brain surgery, ” said Thomas Oxley, CEO and co-founder of Synchron. “Years of research and technology development culminated in this moment and as we continue to develop our technology, it has the potential to change the lives of millions of patients around the world suffering from paralysis and other debilitating brain and neurological diseases.”
In previous trials, researchers followed participants for a year and found the device to be safe, with no adverse events leading to disability or death.
We will be very aware of the progress of both companies.
Referencia: Synchron: Unlocking the natural highways of the brain.
