Mind-Powered Brain Implant Empowers Users to control devices using brain signals

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 A new kind of brain implant that can help people control touchscreen devices with their mind is getting closer to reality. A company called Synchron, backed by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct the first human clinical trial of its brain-computer interface (BCI) device.


Video credit: @NewScientist

Synchron's BCI device, called the Stentrode, is different from other brain implants that require open brain surgery. The Stentrode is inserted through a vein in the neck and reaches a part of the brain that controls movement. The device can record and send brain signals to an app, allowing the user to manipulate a cursor or keyboard with their thoughts.

The company is recruiting patients with quadriplegia due to cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for the six-year-long study. The goal is to evaluate the safety and functionality of the device and to improve the quality of life of the patients. Interested people can sign up in the patient registry on Synchron's website.

Synchron is not the only company working on BCI technology. Neuralink, a startup founded by Elon Musk, is also developing a brain implant that can connect the human brain to a computer. Neuralink has also received FDA clearance for human trials and has started recruiting candidates for its first study. Neuralink's device, called the N1, is implanted in the brain through a small hole in the skull and can enable communication between the brain and external devices.

Both Synchron and Neuralink are aiming to create a new paradigm of human-machine interaction that can enhance human capabilities and overcome limitations. However, the path to commercialization and widespread adoption of BCI technology is still long and challenging. It will require rigorous testing, ethical approval, and public acceptance.




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