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Dive Brief:
- The investment arms of billionaires Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates joined a $75 million investment round in Synchron, a Brooklyn-based firm building a brain-computer interface for people who are paralyzed below the neck.
- The investment will fund clinical trials and further development of the device, which is inserted into the brain through the jugular vein, removing the need for invasive surgery.
- Synchron implanted its first BCI in a U.S. patient in July, while Twitter CEO Elon Musk’s BCI startup, Neuralink, said it expectsto test its technology on humans by mid-2023.
Dive Insight:
Synchron’s “Switch” BCI is implanted in a blood vessel on the surface of the brain’s motor cortex through a minimally-invasive procedure that threads the device up the jugular vein to the brain. Once implanted, it can detect and wirelessly transmit what Synchron calls “motor intent” from the brain, enabling people with severe paralysis to control computers and smart phones with hands-free point-and-click technology.
“The problem of paralysis is much larger than people realize,” Tom Oxley, Synchron’sfounder and CEO,said in a statement. “100 million people worldwide have upper limb impairment.”
The investment, a Series C, was led by ARCH Venture Partners and brings the total raised since inception to $145 million, Synchron said. The funding will help the firm speed development of the device and fund a key clinical trial.
An ongoing clinical trial, called COMMAND, is assessing the impact of the device on daily tasks, including texting, emailing, online shopping and telehealth services. Synchron won Breakthrough Device designation from the Food and Drug Administration in August, 2020 and secured an Investigational Device Exemption in July 2021.
Human clinical trials also are underway in Australia and the University of Melbourne took part in the recent fundraising round.
Musk’s firm is currently the target of a federal investigation into mistreatment of animals on which it has been experimenting with CBI’s, Reuters reportedearlier this month.
In a recent article in The New York Times on CBIs including Musk’s Neuralink, Cristin Welle, a University of Colorado neuroscientist, noted that device makers will have to “surmount the challenge of operating electronics for years in the soggy milieu of the brain,” and will need to prove that the device “doesn’t generate heat or current that unduly injures the delicate brain tissue.”
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Filed Under: Clinical Trials, Medical Devices
As an enthusiast and expert in the field of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and neurotechnology, my depth of knowledge spans various aspects of this cutting-edge technology. I've closely followed developments in the field, and my expertise is underscored by staying abreast of the latest advancements, industry trends, and notable players. To validate my understanding, I'll draw attention to key concepts embedded in the provided article and offer additional insights.
The article discusses a significant investment round of $75 million in Synchron, a Brooklyn-based firm specializing in developing a brain-computer interface for individuals paralyzed below the neck. Notably, the investment comes from the investment arms of tech luminaries Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, indicating the growing interest of influential figures in advancing neurotechnology.
Synchron's BCI, named "Switch," stands out for its minimally-invasive insertion into the brain through the jugular vein, eliminating the need for traditional, more invasive surgical procedures. This innovative approach allows the device to be implanted in a blood vessel on the surface of the brain's motor cortex. The device, once implanted, can wirelessly transmit "motor intent" from the brain, enabling hands-free control of computers and smartphones for individuals with severe paralysis.
The investment, categorized as a Series C round, is led by ARCH Venture Partners and brings the total funds raised by Synchron to $145 million since its inception. This financial support is crucial for conducting clinical trials and further developing the Switch BCI. The ongoing COMMAND clinical trial evaluates the impact of the device on daily tasks, such as texting, emailing, online shopping, and telehealth services. Synchron has received regulatory recognition, including Breakthrough Device designation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2020 and an Investigational Device Exemption in July 2021.
Elon Musk's Neuralink is also mentioned in the article, emphasizing the competitive landscape in the neurotechnology sector. Neuralink aims to test its brain-computer interface technology on humans by mid-2023. However, it is highlighted that Musk's firm is currently under federal investigation for the mistreatment of animals in its experiments with brain interfaces.
A critical point raised in the article, supported by insights from neuroscientist Cristin Welle, pertains to the challenges faced by BCI developers, including Synchron and Neuralink. These challenges include the long-term operation of electronic devices within the brain's environment and ensuring that the devices do not generate heat or current that could harm delicate brain tissue.
In summary, the article showcases the dynamic landscape of BCIs, with Synchron making significant strides in its technology development and receiving substantial financial backing. The competitive nature of the industry is highlighted by the involvement of key players like Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk, and the challenges of ensuring safety and efficacy in long-term brain interface use are acknowledged.
