The first pairing of Alexa with the Synchron BCI comes just weeks after the company linked its BCI with the Apple Vision Pro in July.
Mark, a 64-year-old man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), used the combination of the technology in both instances. In this case, he successfully used his direct thoughts to control his smart home via the “Tap to Alexa” feature on his Amazon Fire tablet. Mark managed to use his BCI to select customized tiles that perform pre-set Alexa actions. Those include turning lights on and off, making video calls and playing music and shows. He also could read books on Kindle or purchase items on Amazon entirely hands- and voice-free.
“The integration with smart technology and my BCI is something I’m really excited about. It’s hard to imagine living in our modern world without the ability to access or control connected devices like Amazon’s Alexa and Echo products that are so prevalent in my daily life,” said Mark, a trial participant living with ALS who is using Synchron’s BCI platform. “To be able to manage important aspects of my environment and control access to entertainment gives me back the independence that I’m losing.”
Synchron says its integration enables users to control their environment both inside and outside their home. It could make everyday routines more accessible and enhance independence for those with severe paralysis.
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More about the Synchron BCI
The Synchron BCI system is delivered through an endovascular approach. Synchron says its BCI is the only one tapping into blood vessels to capture signals from the brain. The implant goes on the surface of the motor cortex of the brain via the jugular vein.
Once implanted, it detects and wirelessly transmits motor intent out of the brain, potentially allowing severely paralyzed people to control personal devices with hands-free point-and-click.
Synchron completed enrollment for its COMMAND clinical trial in September 2023. It also won the first FDA investigational device exemption for assessment of a permanently implanted BCI. The company hopes to beat Neuralink to FDA approval and commercialization. Neuralink is in the midst of its own in-human trial, recently announcing plans for a second human implant.
“Synchron’s BCI is bridging the gap between neurotechnology and consumer tech, making it possible for people with paralysis to regain control of their environment. While many smart home systems rely on voice or touch, we are sending control signals directly from the brain, bypassing the need for these inputs,” said Tom Oxley, CEO & founder, Synchron. “We’re thrilled to utilize our BCI to access Alexa capabilities, so patients can interact with devices in their home hands and voice-free, using only their thoughts, to address a critical unmet need for millions of people with mobility and voice impairment.”
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