Synchron has developed a non-invasive brain-computer interface to control devices like Apple Vision Pro, and it has been running successfully for a year without causing serious adverse effects to patients.
Physically challenged people can now operate device like the Apple Vision Pro
For those unfamiliar, a brain-computer interface (BCI) is a device that allows a person to control an external device using their brain signals. It can be used to help people with disabilities, such as paralysis, and can also be used for scientific research.
Synchron’s minimally invasive brain implants, which began clinical trials in 2022, were initially designed to control iPhones and iPads, but have now evolved to control more complex devices such as the Apple Vision Pro.
According to Synchron, six patients who received brain-computer interface implants did not experience serious adverse events related to the device within the first year. In short, the implanted device did not cause any problems and performed stably in capturing brain movement intention signals.
Notably, the COMMAND study is the first FDA-approved trial of a permanently implanted brain-computer interface. Unlike other brain implants that require dangerous, invasive surgery, Synchron’s implant is placed via a minimally invasive endovascular procedure through the jugular vein.
“The results of the COMMAND study mark an important medical milestone, confirming the safety of the Stentrode BCI, with no neurological safety events reported during the 12-month study period,” said Dr. Levy, co-principal investigator of the COMMAND trial and president of UB Neurosurgery (UBNS), in the statement. “This minimally invasive approach has the potential to unlock BCI technology at scale for the millions of patients with paralysis and other mobility impairments.”
The use case
The goal of this implant is to help people who have been paralyzed by causes such as stroke and have severe brain damage to regain a degree of functional independence. The patients participating in the initial trial all reportedly had severe, chronic bilateral upper limb paralysis that was unresponsive to traditional treatments.
In summary, a brain-computer interface can interpret brain signals and translate them into actions needed to operate devices like the Apple‘s devices, allowing users to perform certain tasks even if they are physically unable to do so.
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