Biotech company Synchron have conducted their first U.S. human BCI (brain-computer interface) implant as part of a clinical trial.

That's fascinating in its own right but when looking for information about the company, we discovered that they formed in Australia and conducted trials here first.

With the first human brain-computer interface implanted in 2019 in Melbourne.

As our title hints, procedurally this is extraordinary for not being brain surgery.

Rather the interface is implanted in the motor cortex via the jugular vein.

Similar technologies being developed by competitors require opening the skull and puncturing the brain.

How did the Australian trial go?

Two ALS (amytrophic lateral sclerosis) patients achieved an average mouse click accuracy of 92% and could type between 14 to 20 characters per minute.

In addition to the obvious immediate applications of this to vastly improve the quality of life of patients with a range of conditions, this could be the foundation of cybernetic technologies.

Which began here in Australia with funding from our government and also the US's DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency).

Though Synchron moved their headquarters to New York last year, they still have a Melbourne office.

[ Main Image: Stentrode BCI. Credit: Synchron via Business Wire. ]

References

Golden.com. Synchron, Inc. (viewed July 20, 2022)

Miller, Ben (June 3, 2021). Brain implant company Synchron moves HQ to New York, raises $40 million. New York Business Journal.

Park, Andrea (August 27, 2021). Synchron bags $10M NIH grant to kick off U.S. trial of brain implant that uses thoughts to navigate digital apps. Fierce Biotech.

Synchron (September 20, 2019). Synchron Achieves First Successful Human Implantation of Brain Computer Interface. PR Newswire.

Synchron (July 19, 2022). Synchron Announces First Human U.S. Brain-Computer Interface Implant. Business Wire.

Synchron (July 23, 2020). Synchron Secures Further Funding from the Australian Government to Advance Commercialization of Stentrode. Business Wire.

Synchron - Official Website. Homepage. (viewed July 20, 2022)