Synchron

Overview

Synchron is a neurotechnology company developing minimally invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) founded in 2012. The company is headquartered in New York City with operations in Melbourne, Australia. Synchron's flagship product, the Stentrode, is designed to record neural signals from within blood vessels adjacent to the motor [cortex](/brain-regions/cortex), avoiding the need for open-brain surgery[@synchron].

Company Information

• Founded: 2012
• Headquarters: New York City, USA
• Operations: Melbourne, Australia
• Funding: Over $60 million (Series B)
• CEO: Thomas Oxley

Technology Platform

Stentrode Device

The Stentrode is a minimally invasive neural interface:

| Specification | Details |
|---------------|---------|
| Diameter | 4mm (expands to 8mm) |
| Electrodes | 16 electrode contacts |
| Placement | Motor cortex (via jugular vein) |
| Recording | Motor cortex neural signals |
| Transmission | Wireless to external receiver |

Key Advantages

Minimally Invasive: No craniotomy required - implanted via blood vessels

Bilateral Capability: Can be placed in both brain hemispheres

Chronic Implantation: Designed for long-term use

MRI Compatible: Safe for magnetic resonance imaging

Scalable: Potential for widespread clinical adoption[@command]

Pipeline

Development Programs

...

Overview

Synchron is a neurotechnology company developing minimally invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) founded in 2012. The company is headquartered in New York City with operations in Melbourne, Australia. Synchron's flagship product, the Stentrode, is designed to record neural signals from within blood vessels adjacent to the motor [cortex](/brain-regions/cortex), avoiding the need for open-brain surgery[@synchron].

Company Information

• Founded: 2012
• Headquarters: New York City, USA
• Operations: Melbourne, Australia
• Funding: Over $60 million (Series B)
• CEO: Thomas Oxley

Technology Platform

Stentrode Device

The Stentrode is a minimally invasive neural interface:

| Specification | Details |
|---------------|---------|
| Diameter | 4mm (expands to 8mm) |
| Electrodes | 16 electrode contacts |
| Placement | Motor cortex (via jugular vein) |
| Recording | Motor cortex neural signals |
| Transmission | Wireless to external receiver |

Key Advantages

Minimally Invasive: No craniotomy required - implanted via blood vessels

Bilateral Capability: Can be placed in both brain hemispheres

Chronic Implantation: Designed for long-term use

MRI Compatible: Safe for magnetic resonance imaging

Scalable: Potential for widespread clinical adoption[@command]

Pipeline

Development Programs

| Program | Indication | Stage | Status |
|---------|------------|-------|--------|
| Stentrode | ALS/Paralysis | Phase 1 | Completed |
| Stentrode | Spinal Cord Injury | Phase 2 | Completed |
| Stentrode | Stroke Rehabilitation | Pivotal Trial | Ongoing |
| Next-gen | [Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease) | Discovery | Preclinical |

Clinical Applications

Primary Focus

• Paralysis: Restoring communication and control of digital devices
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Maintaining independence for patients
• Spinal Cord Injury: Enabling motor restoration
• Stroke: Rehabilitation and motor recovery

COMMAND Trial

| Phase | Status | Focus |
|-------|--------|-------|
| Phase 1 | Completed | Safety and feasibility |
| Phase 2 | Completed | Device optimization |
| Pivotal Trial | Ongoing | FDA approval |

Current Indications

ALS: Communication for patients with locked-in syndrome

Spinal Cord Injury: Motor function restoration

Stroke: Upper limb rehabilitation

Parkinson's Disease: Movement monitoring (future)

Funding

Synchron has raised over $60 million in funding, including:

• Series A: $15 million (2017)
• Series B: $45 million (2021)
• Backed by: NeuroTechnology Investors, M12 (Microsoft Ventures)

Competitive Advantages

Advantages over Invasive BCIs

No Brain Surgery: Minimally invasive (vascular approach)

Reversible: Can be removed if needed

Less Risk: Lower infection and complication risk

MRI Safe: Compatible with imaging

Challenges

Signal Quality: Lower than fully invasive arrays

Limited Placement: Only vascular-accessible regions

Newer Technology: Less clinical validation

Regulatory Status

• FDA [IDE](/entities/insulin-degrading-enzyme) Approval: Received for COMMAND trial
• FDA Breakthrough Device Designation: Granted
• Clinical Trials: Ongoing in US and Australia
• CE Mark: Under review for European market

Research Publications

Key Publications

Oxley TJ, et al. [Minimally invasive endovascular neural interface](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34041589/). Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery. 2021.

Opie NL, et al. [Chronically implanted neural electrodes](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36205678/). Nature Biomedical Engineering. 2022.

See Also

• [Brain-Computer Interface](/technologies/brain-computer-interface)
• [Neuralink](/companies/neuralink)
• [Precision Neuroscience](/companies/precision-neuroscience)
• [Blackrock Neurotech](/companies/blackrock-neurotech)
• [ALS](/diseases/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis)
• [Spinal Cord Injury](/diseases/spinal-cord-injury)

External Links

• [Synchron Website](https://synchroninc.com/)
• [COMMAND Trial ClinicalTrials.gov](https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05040191)

neurodegeneration" style="color:#4fc3f7;margin:1.5rem 0 0.6rem;font-size:1.15rem;font-weight:700;border-bottom:2px solid rgba(79,195,247,0.3);padding-bottom:0.3rem">Relevance to Neurodegeneration

Synchron's Stentrode is particularly relevant for neurodegenerative diseases because:

• [ALS**: Patients lose ability to communicate; Stentrode enables thought-to-text communication](/diseases/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis)
• [Parkinson's Disease**: Potential for monitoring and adaptive deep brain stimulation](/technologies/deep-brain-stimulation)
• [Stroke**: Rehabilitation applications for motor recovery](/genes/cat)
• [The minimally invasive approach is safer for patients who may not tolerate open-brain surgery](/genes/fer)

References

Unknown, Synchron Official Website (n.d.)

Unknown, COMMAND Trial Information (n.d.)