US brain-computer interface start-up tests implantable device on patients

Synchron, a US-based brain-computer interface (BCI) start-up, has successfully tested its technology on seven patients in the US and Australia. The company's implantable device, called a Stentrode, is fitted with sensors and delivered to a large vein that sits next to the motor cortex, with its antenna placed under the skin of the patient's chest. This collects raw brain data and sends it from inside the body to an external device. Synchron CEO Tom Oxley said that he had seen patients regain greater self-care capabilities and improved communication, leading to greater happiness. Synchron has raised $75m in funding from investors including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and was given "breakthrough device" status by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2020.

Synchron, a US-based brain-computer interface start-up, is testing a device on seven patients in the US and Australia, which allows them to control devices such as computer cursors and smart homes using their brains. Synchron's implantable device, called a Stentrode, is fitted with sensors and delivered to a large vein that sits next to the motor cortex, with its antenna placed under the skin of the patient's chest. This collects raw brain data and sends it from inside the body to an external device.

Synchron CEO Tom Oxley said that he had seen several moments when patients and their families feel incredible when they gain greater self-care capabilities, leading to greater happiness. "This technology helps them participate in communication in a more natural way," he added.

Founded in 2012, Synchron is developing emerging brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, which deciphers brain signals and translates them into instructions for external technology. The company has raised $75m in funding from investors including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Synchron's technology is less invasive than its competitors, relying on a less invasive approach that builds on decades of existing endovascular technology. The device is implanted through blood vessels, which CEO Oxley calls "natural highways" into the brain. This approach makes the procedure more scalable, as about 2,000 interventionist specialists can perform this type of surgery, compared to brain craniotomy or drilling that only neurosurgeons can perform.

For people who are severely paralyzed or suffer from degenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Synchron's technology can help them regain connection with friends, family and the outside world through typing, texting and accessing social media. Patients can use Synchron's brain-computer interface devices to shop online and manage their health and finances, but Oxley said they're most excited about sending and receiving text messages. He added that "losing the ability to send text messages puts a person in extreme isolation, and restoring that ability means a lot."

Synchron's technology has already attracted the attention of competitors. Elon Musk's Neuralink has also developed a brain-computer interface device that can be implanted directly into brain tissue. Although the company has not yet tested it on humans, Musk has said that he hopes to begin human testing this year.

In August 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) awarded Synchron's product "Breakthrough Device" designation. This means that its products have the potential to become medical devices that provide better treatment for life-threatening patients

Synchron's breakthrough device designation from the FDA means that the company's products have the potential to become medical devices that provide better treatment for life-threatening patients. The FDA's Breakthrough Devices Program is designed to speed up the development and review of medical devices that have the potential to offer more effective treatment for serious conditions. The program is intended to help patients gain faster access to breakthrough technologies that could improve their health and quality of life.

Synchron's brain-computer interface technology has the potential to do just that. The technology is designed to help patients with paralysis and other debilitating conditions regain some control over their lives. By allowing them to control external devices using their thoughts, Synchron's technology could help patients communicate more easily, perform daily tasks, and interact with the world around them.

The company's Stentrode device, which is implanted in the brain via blood vessels, has already shown promising results in early trials. By avoiding invasive brain surgery, Synchron's technology could be more scalable and accessible than other brain-computer interface technologies.

Investment from Bezos and Gates

Synchron's potential has been noticed by some of the tech industry's biggest names. In December 2020, the company announced that it had raised $75 million in funding from investors including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and the investment firm of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The investment is a significant endorsement of Synchron's technology and its potential to improve the lives of patients around the world. With the support of such high-profile investors, Synchron is well-positioned to continue its research and development efforts and bring its products to market as soon as possible.

Restoring communication and connection

For patients with paralysis and other debilitating conditions, Synchron's technology could be life-changing. By restoring the ability to communicate and connect with the world, the company's brain-computer interface technology could help improve patients' quality of life and reduce their sense of isolation.

The ability to send text messages, in particular, could be a game-changer for many patients. As Synchron CEO Tom Oxley notes, losing the ability to send text messages can be an extremely isolating experience. By restoring that ability, Synchron's technology could help patients stay connected with friends and family, manage their health and finances, and interact with the world around them.

Looking ahead

Synchron's breakthrough designation from the FDA and the support of high-profile investors like Bezos and Gates have put the company in a strong position to continue its research and development efforts. With promising results from early trials and a potential market of millions of patients worldwide, Synchron's brain-computer interface technology could be on the cusp of transforming the lives of patients with paralysis and other debilitating conditions. As the company moves forward with clinical trials and product development, it will be interesting to see how its technology evolves and how it can help improve the lives of patients around the world.

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