“Being independent is so exciting and liberating,” Mark says. “Some days can be more difficult, especially depending on my mood, but the layout of the Amazon tablet makes it so much easier to navigate and get the tasks I need done.”
Amazon did not respond to requests for comment.
Synchron also connected Mark’s BCI to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Apple Vision Pro, a mixed reality headset. Vision Pro, released earlier this year, requires hand gestures to select items. After integrating Synchron, Mark can now use his thoughts to control the cursor on Vision Pro to play solitaire, watch Apple TV, and send text messages. In addition to Mark, one of Synchron’s trial participants in Australia is also currently using these applications.
Both Alexa and Vision Pro connect to Mark’s BCI via Bluetooth. Synchron field engineers visit Mark’s home in Pennsylvania twice a week while he practices using the BCI. Mark says that while different platforms offer different features that can be used in daily life, the experience is not always smooth. “We’ve been working on accessibility challenges across all platforms to make it better for the next generation of users,” he says.
Synchron’s BCI resembles a mesh stent, dotted with electrodes that collect nerve signals. Rather than being implanted directly into the brain, it is inserted into the jugular vein at the base of the neck in a minimally invasive procedure. The surgeon pushes the device into the vein until it contacts the motor cortex, the area of the brain that controls voluntary movements. Once implanted, it is designed to detect motor intentions and transmit them wirelessly from the brain, allowing paralyzed people to control personal devices hands-free.
Virtual assistants are already helpful for people with disabilities, but their reliance on audible voice commands doesn’t always ensure privacy. “Restoring some independence is very important for people, but restoring independent private use is even better,” says Case Western Reserve University, who is working on restoring sense through BCI. says Emily Graczyk, assistant professor of biomedical engineering.
She said Synchron’s approach could also help give people with limited mobility a sense of normalcy, as it means they can use the same equipment as family and friends, rather than special aids. That’s what I think.
Ian Burkhardt, a quadriplegic who participated in trials of other companies’ BCIs, said Synchron’s work will be a positive for patients as long as the devices integrate seamlessly and allow users to interact with them in practical ways in their daily lives. I’m thinking. It’s alive. “It’s really interesting,” he says. “I see the future of BCI as a conduit for anything that can be controlled by a computer that can be controlled by flowing data from the brain.” Burkhardt received the BlackRock Neurotech implant in 2014. However, it was removed in 2021 after developing an infection.
Oxley said Synchron is working on developing additional capabilities and is in talks with other large tech companies about further integration. The most common thing people with paralysis want is to be able to multitask, he says.
“All the different actions we use our fingers to perform, such as scrolling, clicking, dragging, dropping down menus, and going back, we’re looking for ways to identify unique signatures from the brain that then control our actions. ‘system,’ says Oxley.
Mark hopes BCI will eventually allow him to perform more complex tasks. First, he wants to get back to painting.
