Musk’s Brain Chip Rival Starts Manned Tests [Video]

Neuralink, which was founded in 2016 by Elon Musk and eight neurologists, continues its activities with the aim of implanting a chip in the brain. But Neuralink is not the only company operating in this field. Here is an important news today from Synchron, one of Musk’s biggest competitors in this regard.

Synchron, in the announcement it shared today, announced that the first manned tests will begin on the territory of the United States, within the scope of its work called ‘COMMAND’. In this context, the company stated that the first patient participated in the tests at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. The new study aims to demonstrate the viability of the company’s technology.

The skull does not need to be opened to place the device in the brain

Synchron aims to help severely paralyzed patients with its Stentrode device. The company aims to give patients the ability to think and control digital devices with the endovascular brain implant. The device is made of a mesh-like material with 16 sensors that can expand to align the vessel wall and is connected to an electronic device that transmits brain signals from the motor cortex in the chest.

The biggest difference of Synchron from Neuralink and similar companies is that its device does not require any operation such as opening any skull. Instead, the device is inserted into the brain using an intravenous line. Signals received in the brain are sent to the device in the chest and commands are given through the signals. Thus, it is possible to really ‘use a device by thinking’.

If the tests are successful, the device can be approved for long-term use

If the manned tests that started in the USA are successful, Synchron has a chance to obtain the necessary approval from the USA and the Drug Administration (FDA) for long-term use of its device. Will have. Within the scope of the new study, the device will be implanted in the brains of 6 patients. Once these tests are successful, studies will begin to test the effectiveness of the device. If all goes well, Synchron will have a chance to launch this device in a few years.

Initial tests were successful

The company had previously performed successful ‘SWITCH’ tests on four different patients in Australia. Within the scope of this test, the patients were observed for one year, and no side effects were observed in the patients. The patients were able to send messages, shop, and perform similar activities on the Internet just by thinking.

Video showing how the device is placed in the brain and how patients use it