The biological and the technological do not naturally intermingle, but several biotech startups are trying to change that by developing a brain-computer interface (BCI). Elon Musk's Neuralink is possibly the most well-known brain chip company, but a competitor called Synchron may be closer to commercial success. Having completed a small-scale human study, Synchron is now seeking volunteers for a full clinical trial that could earn the company regulatory approval to begin selling the chips.
Computers can help anyone get things done, but the stakes are higher for disabled people who can't use a mouse or touchscreen efficiently. Simply being able to move a cursor can open up a world of technological assistance, and a BCI can help even those with no limb mobility interact with a computer. Synchron has thus far implanted its chip in 10 patients (six in the US and four in Australia) and has seen them gain the ability to type up to 16 words per minute using the BCI link.
According to CEO and founder Tom Oxley, a large-scale study is the next step, and Synchron is ready to undertake this effort as soon as the FDA gives the green light. The company has set up a registry for patients and medical institutions that are interested in taking part. So far, about 120 clinical trial centers have contacted Synchron. The firm hopes to attract dozens of viable candidates for the trial, which could run for several years before results are reported.
BCI chips could be life-changing for patients with all manner of mobility disabilities, but Synchron's first major test will focus on people who are paralyzed due to ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), stroke, or multiple sclerosis. Synchron uses an implantation technique that it claims is less invasive than competing methods. The chip is delivered to the brain via the jugular vein. This endovascular surgery is easier and safer to perform compared to the open brain surgery required for Neuralink. After being connected to the brain's motor cortex, the Synchron BCI can read and wirelessly transmit commands to move a computer cursor.
There's nothing aside from common sense that limits these early BCIs to people with severe paralysis. After all, interacting with a computer hands-free would be useful to just about anyone living in the modern world. Elon Musk has openly hypothesized about how healthy people could use Neuralink chips to interact with the digital world. For example, he says the chip could stream music directly to the brain regardless of whether your arms and legs work. However, the long-term effects of having a chip sewn into your head are unknown. This is one of the things Synchron will investigate in its new clinical trial, but the science-fiction applications will have to wait.
