Synchron, one startup brain-computer interface, reportedly implanted its first device in a patient in the US earlier this month.
The startup implanted a 3,81cm device into the brain of a patient with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or motor neuron disease) at Mount Sinai West Medical Center in New York on July 6, it first reported Bloomberg.
The purpose of the device is to allow the patient to communicate (he has lost the ability to move) by using his thoughts to send emails and messages. Το Bloomberg ανέφερε ότι η Synchron έχει ήδη εμφυτεύσει τη συσκευή σε τέσσερις ασθενείς στην Αυστραλία που μπόρεσαν να χρησιμοποιήσουν το εμφύτευμα εγκεφάλου για να στείλουν μηνύματα στο WhatsApp και να ψωνίσουν online.
Η Neuralink Elon Musk's has a similar mission, but is still awaiting FDA approval.
"Neuralink and Synchron's products have several key differences in size and installation," the publication states.
“The Australian startup's product can be inserted into the human skull without having to cut through a catheter that places the device through the jugular vein into a blood vessel in the brain. The procedure requires two separate surgeries.”
"Instead, Neuralink plans to build a much smaller but much more powerful device that will require removing part of the skull using a robot."
