Brain implant trials halted as Synchron restructures and shifts focus
Brooklyn-based Synchron, a company developing brain-computer interface technology, has paused enrollment in a key clinical trial and is undergoing a restructuring. The company, which aims to allow users to control digital devices with their thoughts, is shifting resources to San Diego while reducing its presence in New York.
Synchron’s technology, called the Stentrode, is designed to be minimally invasive. It involves inserting a mesh tube, resembling a stent, into a vein at the base of the neck, guiding it to the brain’s motor cortex. Previous generations of the Stentrode used an external wire, while the newer version is wireless, connecting via Bluetooth.
Ten volunteers in the US and Australia have already used the Stentrode to perform tasks like sending emails, browsing the internet, online shopping, and banking. They have also controlled devices such as Amazon Alexa, Apple iPad, and Vision Pro.
A multisite trial in the US, Australia, and Canada was launched earlier this spring to evaluate the latest Stentrode, but enrollment has been paused due to a performance issue with the device’s lead, the cable connecting the Stentrode to the implanted electronics. Synchron states that the issue does not involve the Stentrode itself and poses no safety risks. The company has brought lead design and manufacturing in-house and is upgrading the entire Stentrode system.
“We will continue to support participants with Stentrode devices across their lifetime. Our commitment to their care and well-being remains unchanged,” Synchron stated. Two of the five US trial sites confirmed the enrollment pause, attributing it to Synchron’s review of device performance, not safety concerns.
CEO Tom Oxley remains optimistic about the Stentrode’s potential, calling it a “first-line therapy.” Synchron is actively hiring in San Diego, with roles for engineers and scientists focused on the upgraded lead, Stentrode, and a future device designed to operate beyond blood vessels.
Synchron, backed by Khosla Ventures, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos, was recently valued at nearly $1 billion. The field of brain-computer interfaces is experiencing rapid growth, with competitors like Neuralink, which faced its own challenges in 2024 when an implant malfunctioned in volunteer Noland Arbaugh, also seeking to advance the technology. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence are accelerating development in this area, as exemplified by Merge Labs, cofounded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
Source
“Synchron Pauses Trials of Its Brain Implant Due to Performance Issues”
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