Synchron BCI

Synchron BCI

Overview

Synchron Inc. is a medical technology company developing the Stentrode, a minimally invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) that records neural activity from within the blood vessel of the motor [cortex](/brain-regions/cortex). Founded in 2012, Synchron is pioneering an endovascular approach to neural recording that combines the benefits of invasive recording with reduced surgical risk[@oxley2021].

The Stentrode represents a breakthrough in BCI technology by avoiding the need for open brain surgery while still providing high-quality neural signals from the motor cortex.

Technology Overview

The Stentrode

The Stentrode is a platinum-iridium electrode array mounted on a nitinol self-expanding stent. Key features include:

• Size: 8 cm flexible mesh with 16 electrode contacts distributed along its length
• Implantation: Minimally invasive procedure via the jugular vein, reaching the motor cortex through the blood vessel
• Recording: Records neural signals from the motor cortex with high fidelity
• Power: Wireless transmission to external receiver, eliminating the need for percutaneous connections
• FDA Status: Received Breakthrough Device designation from FDA

Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|--------------|-------|
| Electrode Contacts | 16 |
| Length | 8 cm |
| Material | Platinum-Iridium |
| Scaffold | Nitinol (self-expanding) |
| Implantation Route | Endovascular (jugular vein) |
| Data Transmission | Wireless |

Clinical Applications

Motor Restoration

Huntington's Disease

...

Synchron BCI

Overview

Synchron Inc. is a medical technology company developing the Stentrode, a minimally invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) that records neural activity from within the blood vessel of the motor [cortex](/brain-regions/cortex). Founded in 2012, Synchron is pioneering an endovascular approach to neural recording that combines the benefits of invasive recording with reduced surgical risk[@oxley2021].

The Stentrode represents a breakthrough in BCI technology by avoiding the need for open brain surgery while still providing high-quality neural signals from the motor cortex.

Technology Overview

The Stentrode

The Stentrode is a platinum-iridium electrode array mounted on a nitinol self-expanding stent. Key features include:

• Size: 8 cm flexible mesh with 16 electrode contacts distributed along its length
• Implantation: Minimally invasive procedure via the jugular vein, reaching the motor cortex through the blood vessel
• Recording: Records neural signals from the motor cortex with high fidelity
• Power: Wireless transmission to external receiver, eliminating the need for percutaneous connections
• FDA Status: Received Breakthrough Device designation from FDA

Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|--------------|-------|
| Electrode Contacts | 16 |
| Length | 8 cm |
| Material | Platinum-Iridium |
| Scaffold | Nitinol (self-expanding) |
| Implantation Route | Endovascular (jugular vein) |
| Data Transmission | Wireless |

Clinical Applications

Motor Restoration

Huntington's Disease

Synchron's technology for Huntington's:

• Motor symptom monitoring
• Communication for speech impairment
• Behavioral tracking

Motor Restoration

The Stentrode enables patients with paralysis to control digital devices through thought alone:

• Computer cursor control for navigation
• Text generation for communication
• Email and messaging functionality
• Smart home device control
• Robotic prosthesis control

Target Conditions

• [Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS](/diseases/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis)) - primary focus
• Spinal cord injury resulting in paralysis
• Stroke-related motor impairment
• [Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease) - future applications
• [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease) - future applications including memory and prosopagnosia research

Clinical Applications

Epilepsy

Stentrode applications for epilepsy:

• Seizure detection and prediction
• Responsive neurostimulation trigger
• Long-term monitoring

Clinical Trials

COMMAND Trial (NCT03834857)

Synchron has conducted the COMMAND trial to evaluate safety and efficacy:

• First Human Implantation: 2022
• Trial Phase: Early feasibility study
• Results: Demonstrated successful neural signal recording
• Performance: Patients achieved accuracy rates exceeding 90% for basic commands
• Safety: No serious adverse events related to the device

Future Trials

Planning for additional clinical studies including:

• Expanded patient cohorts
• Integration with assistive devices
• Home use studies

Advantages Over Invasive BCIs

Compared to other invasive BCI systems like [Neuralink](/technologies/neuralink) or [Blackrock Neurotech](/technologies/blackrock-neurotech):

| Feature | Synchron | Other Invasive |
|---------|----------|---------------|
| Surgery Type | Minimally invasive (endovascular) | Major craniotomy |
| Recovery Time | Days | Weeks |
| Scalability | High (leveraging existing cath lab infrastructure) | Limited by surgical capacity |
| Reversibility | Fully reversible | Limited reversibility |
| Hospital Stay | Overnight or outpatient | Multi-day hospitalization |
| MRI Compatibility | Yes | Depends on device |

Research Partnerships

Synchron collaborates with leading institutions:

• University of Melbourne (Australia) - original development
• Mount Sinai Health System (New York)
• Stanford University
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Various VA Medical Centers

Competitive Position

Synchron's endovascular approach offers unique advantages:

• Established Procedure: Uses existing neurointerventional techniques
• Rapid Adoption: Can leverage existing hospital infrastructure
• Lower Risk: Avoids open brain surgery complications
• Scalable: Potential for broader deployment than traditional BCIs

Relevant Mechanisms

Synchron's Stentrode technology interfaces with key neurodegenerative disease mechanisms:

• [Motor Cortex](/brain-regions/motor-cortex) — Primary target for movement intention recording from the motor cortex blood vessels
• [Neurovascular Unit](/mechanisms/neurovascular-unit) — Stentrode placement leverages the [blood-brain barrier](/entities/blood-brain-barrier) interface
• [Vascular Architecture](/mechanisms/cerebral-vasculature) — Endovascular approach utilizes existing cerebrovascular pathways
• [Neuroplasticity](/mechanisms/neuroplasticity) — Long-term neural recording enables adaptive brain-computer interaction
• [Excitotoxicity](/mechanisms/excitotoxicity-pathway) — Careful consideration of stimulation parameters to prevent neural damage

Related Diseases

• [Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS](/diseases/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis) — Primary target for communication BCI
• [Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease) — Motor restoration applications
• [Stroke](/diseases/stroke) — Post-stroke rehabilitation
• [Huntington's Disease](/diseases/huntington-disease) — Motor and cognitive therapy
• [Frontotemporal Dementia](/diseases/frontotemporal-dementia) — Communication aids
• [Multiple Sclerosis](/diseases/multiple-sclerosis) — Motor function maintenance

See Also

• [Brain-Computer Interface Technologies](/technologies/bci)
• [ECoG Brain-Computer Interfaces](/technologies/ecog-bci)
• [Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis](/diseases/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis)
• [Parkinson's Disease Treatments](/therapeutics/parkinsons-disease-treatments)
• [Neuralink](/companies/neuralink)
• [Blackrock Neurotech](/technologies/blackrock-neurotech)

References

[Oxley TJ, et al, (2021) (2021)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33268869/)

Pathway Diagram

The following diagram shows the key molecular relationships involving Synchron BCI discovered through SciDEX knowledge graph analysis: