The neurointerface is designed to help paralyzed patients control digital devices with the power of thought.
Synchron, an American company based in New York, has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to test brain implants in humans.
As reported by the news agency Bloomberg, Synchron was ahead of other companies in this area, including Elon Musk’s Neuralink, being the first to receive permission to test its commercial product.
Synchron has already performed several different tests, including an early trial involving four patients in Australia.
“There are a number of security issues not previously addressed, including cybersecurity, which is an important part of our discussions,” said Synchron CEO Tomas Oxley.
During the tests, a device called the Stentrode, smaller than a match, will be implanted in the human brain. The device is designed to help paralyzed patients control digital devices with their minds. The implant works by binding to a second implant in the breast. The transmitter then sends signals to a computer next to the patient.
Unlike many other implanted brain-computer interfaces, which require brain surgery, the Stentrode device is inserted through a blood vessel at the base of the neck and travels to a vessel in the brain.
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