Report: Company Plans Major Human Testing of Brain-computer Device
2024-04-17
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1A U.S.-based developer of a brain-computer implant is reportedly preparing to carry out major testing of its device on humans.
2The company is called Synchron.
3The Reuters news agency reported that Synchron recently launched on online system that permits patients to express interest in taking part in a large research study, or trial.
4The company has also been in contact with more than 100 research centers that want to support the study, Synchron chief executive Thomas Oxley told Reuters.
5Synchron's device is known as a brain-computer interface.
6It is designed to treat individuals who experience paralysis caused by injury or disease.
7The device contains a small computer built to electronically communicate with the brain.
8The first tests aim to use the brain-computer interface to process brain signals to help paralyzed patients type on a computer.
9Synchron's interface is similar to a device currently being tested by its American competitor, Neuralink.
10One difference is that Neuralink's device is designed to be implanted inside the skull.
11Synchron's device uses a less invasive implant method known as endovascular.
12The company says this involves a vein carrying the device into a part of the brain known as the motor cortex.
13This part of the brain produces signals to direct body movements.
14Synchron is farther along in the development of its implant than Neuralink, Reuters reports.
15Neuralink's progress has mainly been announced by company chief Elon Musk on the X social media service that he owns.
16So far, Neuralink has said its device has been implanted in one paralyzed patient.
17Testing implants in patients with brain damage can be difficult.
18This is because an individual's brain may be so severely damaged that there is not effective signaling to record.
19Synchron's Oxley said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked his company to test stroke patients using a non-invasive method to see if they would be good implant candidates.
20In 2020, Synchron said experiments involving paralyzed patients in Australia found the individuals could use its device to type letters into a computer at a higher rate than in earlier studies.
21Synchron received U.S. approval in July 2021 to carry out early testing.
22It has implanted its devices in six patients so far.
23Tests involving four patients in Australia showed no serious side effects, the company has reported.
24Synchron says it will be examining data from its current testing to prepare for the larger study.
25The company must still receive FDA approval to move forward with the new study.
26Several U.S. hospitals have cooperated with Synchron on its current testing program.
27These include Mount Sinai in New York, the University at Buffalo Neurosurgery and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).
28The company has said it hopes to involve these same medical centers in the larger trial.
29Dr. David Lacomis is chief of UPMC's Neuromuscular Division.
30He told Reuters his team is still involved in the current testing program and said "the study is going well."
31The Department of Neurosurgery in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo has two patients in the current test program.
32The head of that effort is department chief Dr. Elad Levy.
33He told Reuters, "the first and only stroke patient" is taking part in the study.
34Levy said he feels that is important because this is a large population that might see improvements from Synchron's device.
35He added that he was hopeful and excited about the new research and future deployment of the technology.
36I'm Bryan Lynn.
1A U.S.-based developer of a brain-computer implant is reportedly preparing to carry out major testing of its device on humans. 2The company is called Synchron. The Reuters news agency reported that Synchron recently launched on online system that permits patients to express interest in taking part in a large research study, or trial. 3The company has also been in contact with more than 100 research centers that want to support the study, Synchron chief executive Thomas Oxley told Reuters. 4Synchron's device is known as a brain-computer interface. It is designed to treat individuals who experience paralysis caused by injury or disease. The device contains a small computer built to electronically communicate with the brain. 5The first tests aim to use the brain-computer interface to process brain signals to help paralyzed patients type on a computer. 6Synchron's interface is similar to a device currently being tested by its American competitor, Neuralink. One difference is that Neuralink's device is designed to be implanted inside the skull. 7Synchron's device uses a less invasive implant method known as endovascular. The company says this involves a vein carrying the device into a part of the brain known as the motor cortex. This part of the brain produces signals to direct body movements. 8Synchron is farther along in the development of its implant than Neuralink, Reuters reports. Neuralink's progress has mainly been announced by company chief Elon Musk on the X social media service that he owns. So far, Neuralink has said its device has been implanted in one paralyzed patient. 9Testing implants in patients with brain damage can be difficult. This is because an individual's brain may be so severely damaged that there is not effective signaling to record. 10Synchron's Oxley said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked his company to test stroke patients using a non-invasive method to see if they would be good implant candidates. 11In 2020, Synchron said experiments involving paralyzed patients in Australia found the individuals could use its device to type letters into a computer at a higher rate than in earlier studies. 12Synchron received U.S. approval in July 2021 to carry out early testing. It has implanted its devices in six patients so far. Tests involving four patients in Australia showed no serious side effects, the company has reported. 13Synchron says it will be examining data from its current testing to prepare for the larger study. The company must still receive FDA approval to move forward with the new study. 14Several U.S. hospitals have cooperated with Synchron on its current testing program. These include Mount Sinai in New York, the University at Buffalo Neurosurgery and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). The company has said it hopes to involve these same medical centers in the larger trial. 15Dr. David Lacomis is chief of UPMC's Neuromuscular Division. He told Reuters his team is still involved in the current testing program and said "the study is going well." 16The Department of Neurosurgery in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo has two patients in the current test program. 17The head of that effort is department chief Dr. Elad Levy. He told Reuters, "the first and only stroke patient" is taking part in the study. Levy said he feels that is important because this is a large population that might see improvements from Synchron's device. 18He added that he was hopeful and excited about the new research and future deployment of the technology. 19I'm Bryan Lynn. 20Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. 21__________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23implant - n. a device placed inside the body in a medical operation 24paralysis - n. being unable to move all of part of your body because of injury or disease 25type - v. to write something using a keyboard 26skull - n. the structure of bones that form the head and face of a person or animal 27invasive - adj. done by cutting into or putting something into the body 28vein - n. a tube that carries blood to the heart from other parts of the body 29stroke - n. a sudden change in the blood supply to a part of the brain that sometimes causes a loss of movement in the body 30optimistic - adj. hoping or believing that good things will happen in the future