Synchron, a company specializing in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), has shared encouraging findings from its COMMAND study, which assessed the safety and effectiveness of its BCI device in six participants over a year.

The results were unveiled at the 2024 Congress of Neurological Surgeons in Houston, Texas.

The COMMAND study was conducted across three clinical sites: Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, UB Neurosurgery/Gates Vascular Institute, and UPMC, with support from Carnegie Mellon University and the NIH BRAIN Initiative.

It focused on six patients suffering from severe chronic paralysis in both arms, who had not responded to other therapies and received BCI implants.

All participants successfully met the main goal of the study, showing no serious adverse events related to the device that resulted in death or increased disability within the year following the implantation. Importantly, there were no complications related to the brain or blood vessels throughout the study period.

The study highlighted the ability to capture brain signals related to motor intent and convert them into digital actions. Participants could perform various digital tasks effectively.

The Stentrode device was successfully deployed in each case, ensuring optimal coverage of the motor cortex, with a median deployment time of just 20 minutes.

These results represent a significant milestone for BCI technology, confirming that the Stentrode BCI can be safely implanted without any reported neurological complications during the year-long follow-up.

This minimally invasive approach could make BCI technology accessible to millions facing paralysis and mobility issues.

The study also demonstrated that users could generate Digital Motor Outputs (DMOs) through thought, allowing them to control computers and other devices without physical movement.

By making these outputs user-friendly and stable over time, patients can regain greater independence and autonomy in their daily lives.

As the first FDA-approved investigational device exemption trial for a permanently implanted BCI, the COMMAND study underscores the potential of Synchron’s BCI system.

This innovative device is implanted within a blood vessel on the surface of the motor cortex through a minimally invasive procedure. Once in place, it detects and wirelessly transmits signals from the brain, enabling individuals with severe paralysis to control personal devices hands-free.





Source: businesswire.com

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