A New York-based neurotech startup, Synchron, has successfully implanted its brain-computer interface (BCI) in a blood vessel on the brain of Mark, a 64-year-old man suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS. The first person in the world to control an Amazon Alexa digital assistant through his thoughts, Mark is now capable of using his mind to control an Amazon Fire tablet. He can stream shows, make video calls, play music, control smart home devices, shop online, and even read books by mentally tapping on icons on the tablet, as announced in a press release by Synchron.
The implant, which did not require open brain surgery, allows Mark to “wirelessly transmit motor intent” from his brain to personal devices with hands-free point-and-click technology. Tom Oxley, CEO and Founder of Synchron, said the integration with smart technology is an important step for people with paralysis, as it bridges the gap between neurotechnology and consumer tech, making it possible for them to regain control of their environment without relying on voice or touch inputs.
Synchron’s BCI was implanted in a blood vessel on the surface of the motor cortex of Mark’s brain via the jugular vein, utilizing a “minimally-invasive endovascular procedure.” The company plans to expand its technology for smart home automation purposes for people with severe paralysis and aims to address the critical unmet need for millions of people with mobility and voice impairment.
Several other neurotech startups are also making significant progress in this field. In August, Elon Musk’s Neuralink announced plans to insert a BCI designed to allow paralyzed patients to use digital devices by thinking alone into a second human test subject. Researchers at Switzerland’s Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne unveiled a brain implant that converts thought-to-text with 91% accuracy and is even smaller than Neuralink’s chip in the same month. The rapid pace of progress in this field has led the FDA to hold a workshop on clinical outcomes assessments for BCIs in late September.
