About
Synchron is pioneering the field of endovascular brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), building technology designed to restore autonomy and social connection for people facing the limitations of movement disorders and paralysis. Unlike traditional BCI approaches that require open brain surgery, Synchron's proprietary device is implanted via a minimally-invasive endovascular procedure — similar to how a stent is placed — making it significantly safer and more accessible for patients. At the core of Synchron's platform is its ability to decode neural signals and translate them into commands that control computers, smartphones, and other digital devices in real time, using only the patient's thoughts. This opens the door to independent communication, browsing, and digital interaction for individuals who have lost motor function due to conditions like ALS, stroke, or spinal cord injury. Synchron also envisions its platform as a data layer for a new field of medicine — providing unprecedented access to brain data that can drive research, diagnostics, and therapeutic insights. The company is currently conducting clinical trials in the United States and is backed by high-profile investors including NVIDIA and Jeff Bezos's Bezos Expeditions. Synchron is headquartered in Brooklyn, NY, and is positioned at the frontier of neurotechnology, AI, and personalized medicine, targeting patients, clinicians, and research institutions as its primary audience.
Key Features
- Minimally-Invasive Implant: Synchron's BCI is delivered via an endovascular procedure similar to stent placement, eliminating the need for open brain surgery.
- Thought-Controlled Device Operation: Users can control computers, smartphones, and other digital interfaces using neural signals decoded directly from brain activity.
- Brain Data Platform: Synchron's platform provides continuous, high-quality access to brain data, enabling new research, diagnostics, and medical breakthroughs.
- Active Clinical Trials: The device is currently undergoing FDA-regulated clinical trials in the United States, with real patients using it at home.
- Autonomy & Social Connection: Designed specifically to empower people with motor impairments to independently communicate, browse the internet, and engage digitally.
Use Cases
- Enabling individuals with ALS or paralysis to independently control a computer or smartphone using thought-based commands.
- Facilitating digital communication for people who have lost motor function due to stroke or spinal cord injury.
- Supporting clinical neuroscience research by providing continuous, high-fidelity brain data from implanted patients.
- Powering next-generation assistive technology that restores autonomy and social connection for severely disabled individuals.
- Building a medical data infrastructure platform that can inform diagnostics, treatment planning, and neurological research.
Pros
- Safer Than Traditional BCIs: The endovascular approach avoids open brain surgery, significantly lowering procedural risk and recovery time for patients.
- Real-World Patient Impact: Clinical trial participants are already using the technology at home, demonstrating tangible benefits for people with severe motor impairments.
- Pioneering Medical Platform: Synchron is building foundational infrastructure for a new field of medicine, with long-term potential far beyond assistive technology.
Cons
- Investigational Status: The device is currently limited to investigational use under U.S. federal law and is not yet broadly commercially available.
- Requires Medical Procedure: Even though minimally invasive, patients still require a clinical implant procedure, limiting accessibility compared to non-invasive alternatives.
- Narrow Patient Eligibility: Currently, only patients meeting specific clinical trial criteria are eligible to receive the device.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Synchron's brain-computer interface?
Synchron's BCI is a neural interface device implanted via a minimally-invasive endovascular procedure that decodes brain signals and allows users to control digital devices — like computers and phones — using only their thoughts.
Does Synchron require open brain surgery?
No. Synchron's device is delivered through the blood vessels using an endovascular approach similar to stent placement, avoiding the need for open brain surgery.
Who is Synchron's technology designed for?
The technology is primarily designed for people with motor impairments — such as those living with ALS, stroke, or spinal cord injuries — who have lost the ability to control their limbs and communicate independently.
Is the Synchron BCI available to the public?
Not yet. As of 2026, the device is still in clinical trials and is classified as an investigational device, limited by U.S. federal law to investigational use only.
What is the broader vision behind Synchron's platform?
Synchron envisions its BCI as a data platform that provides unprecedented access to brain data, enabling a new field of medicine with applications in diagnostics, research, and personalized neural therapies.
