Things are moving fast in cyborg-ville. Here’s the latest on three companies, which I believe are closest to commercializing clinically useful brain computer interface (BCI) technology.
Neuralink: On March 20th, 2024, Elon Musk’s BCI venture was prominently in the news. A livestream (on X) of the first human to receive a brain implant was nothing less than inspirational. Nolan Arbaugh, unable to move arms or legs, chatted amiably while directing computer game cursors with thought alone, even going so far as to play chess on a laptop.
Blackrock Neurotech: Though not as flashy as Elon’s shop, BN continues to rack up clinical experience, with 19 years of clinical research and more than 1700 scientific articles published.
Synchron: This BCI innovator must be sitting on a mountain of cash. They’ve raised $145M thus far. In February, 2024 it was reported that Synchron used some of their ample funds to acquire a stake in German manufacturer Acquandas. Synchron’s unique device (the stentrode) doesn’t require a hole to be drilled in the skull for implantation. Instead it’s floated into the brain via blood vessels. The manufacturing of the stentrode requires a metal layering technique. That’s where Acquandas comes in: the synergy between the companies may facilitate production.
For the last update, check out https://brain2mind.substack.com/p/brain-computer-interface-update
Inspiring but also scary. But I suppose they could be detected relatively easily if needed.
"It’s floated into the brain via blood vessels" Whoa!! That is a tiny interface.