New Yorker implanted with a chip in the brain: this should help him fight the disease

The computer-brain interface startup Synchron implanted its first device in the brain of an American earlier this month, surpassing Elon Musk's Neuralink in this matter. Insider.

Synchron implanted a 3,8 cm device into the brain of a patient with ALS - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (you can read about this disease here). here) at Mount Sinai West Medical Center in New York on July 6.

The purpose of the device is to allow the patient to communicate using their thoughts to send letters and text messages, even after they have lost the ability to speak and move due to illness. Synchron has already implanted the device in four patients in Australia. And they were able to use the brain implant to send WhatsApp messages and shop online.

Last year, an Australian startup received approval from the FDA to start testing a brain chip on 6 paralyzed American patients. In 2019, the company implanted its device on its first patient in Melbourne, Australia.

On the subject: Affordable housing on Mars: how Elon Musk could help New York

Meanwhile, Neuralink has not yet received FDA approval for such trials. In 2021, Musk said he plans to start implanting his chip in humans in 2022. At the same time, the billionaire shared a video of a monkey playing a video game using only his mind with the help of a Neuralink brain chip.

Former Neuralink president Max Hodak said he invested in Synchron after leaving Musk's startup.

Synchon and Neuralink implants have similar applications

Both are designed to translate human thoughts into computer commands. And can help patients with neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease or ALS.

However, Musk's goals for Neuralink seem more ambitious. Musk has claimed in the past that his brain chip could give people telepathic abilities. And also to make people symbiotes with artificial intelligence, calling the device “fitbit in your skull”.

Neurolink and Synchronous products have several key differences, namely size and installation. An Australian startup's product can be inserted into a human skull without cutting it open. The catheter feeds the device through the jugular vein into a blood vessel in the brain. This process requires two separate steps.

In contrast, Neurolink plans to build a much smaller and more powerful device. And for installation, you will need to remove part of the human skull.