The Stentrode is a revolutionary endovascular brain-computer interface (BCI) developed by Synchron Inc. Unlike traditional invasive BCIs that require open brain surgery (craniotomy), the Stentrode is implanted through the blood vessels, making it the first minimally invasive neural interface to achieve chronic brain recording capabilities.
The Stentrode is a mesh-like electrode array designed for long-term implantation in the motor cortex:
flowchart TD
A["Internal Receiver<br/>Chest Implant → BTranscutaneous<br/>Wireless Link"]
B --> C["Stentrode<br/>Motor Cortex"]
C --> D["Blood Vessel<br/>Superior Sagittal Sinus"]
D --> E["Jugular Vein<br/>Implant Route"]
E --> F["Minimally Invasive<br/>Endovascular Access"]
- Dimensions: 8mm diameter, 40mm length
- Electrodes: 16 electrode contacts arranged in a cylindrical array
- Material: Nitinol mesh with platinum-iridium electrode tips
- Implantation route: Jugular vein → Superior sagittal sinus → Motor cortex
- Recording capability: Local field potentials (LFP) and single-unit activity
The Stentrode connects to an internal receiver implanted in the chest:
- Device name: Synchron Switch
- Wireless transmission: Transcutaneous inductive coupling
- Data transmission: 48 Mbps wireless link
- Power: Inductive charging from external coil
- Battery life: Rechargeable, 24-hour runtime
The endovascular implantation procedure avoids open brain surgery:
- Venous access: Catheter insertion via jugular vein (minimally invasive)
- Navigation: Fluoroscopy-guided navigation through venous system
- Placement: Deploy Stentrode in superior sagittal sinus adjacent to motor cortex
- Fixation: Self-expanding mesh anchors to vessel wall
- Connection: Wire to chest-implanted receiver
- Recovery: Same-day or overnight procedure
¶ COMMAND Trial (First-in-Human)
The COMMAND trial was the first-in-human study evaluating Stentrode safety and feasibility:
| Parameter |
Result |
| Enrollment |
6 patients with severe paralysis (ALS, spinal cord injury) |
| Implantation |
2022, Australia |
| Primary endpoint |
No device-related serious adverse events |
| Recording duration |
Up to 12 months post-implantation |
| Key finding |
Successful motor intention decoding |
Published Results: The 2024 publication in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery demonstrated:
- Safe implantation with no procedure-related complications
- Stable neural signal quality over 12 months
- Patients could control digital devices using motor intention
The SWITCH study is the FDA-approved investigational device exemption (IDE) trial in the United States:
- Status: Enrolling patients
- Indication: Severe paralysis due to ALS, spinal cord injury, or stroke
- Sites: Multiple U.S. medical centers
- Primary outcomes: Safety, usability, and communication performance
The Stentrode addresses critical communication needs for patients with ALS who lose motor function:
- Target population: Patients with locked-in syndrome or severe paralysis
- Function: Decode neural signals from motor cortex to control communication software
- Applications: Text entry, email, smart home control
- Cross-link: ALS Communication Brain-Computer Interfaces
Patients with cervical spinal cord injuries can benefit from motor intention decoding:
- Restoration of basic communication abilities
- Control of assistive technology devices
- Potential for future limb prosthesis control
The Stentrode may support stroke rehabilitation:
- Motor intention detection for neurofeedback
- Brain-computer interface therapy for motor re-learning
- Potential integration with rehabilitation robotics
| Feature |
Stentrode |
Neuralink |
Utah Array |
| Implantation |
Endovascular |
Craniotomy + robotic |
Craniotomy |
| Channels |
16 |
1024+ |
100-200 |
| Surgery type |
Minimally invasive |
Invasive |
Invasive |
| FDA status |
IDE trial |
IDE trial |
Approved (limited) |
| **Cross-links |
Neuralink |
Neuralink |
Utah Array |
| Feature |
Stentrode |
EEG-based BCI |
fNIRS BCI |
| Signal quality |
High (LFP) |
Low |
Low-Medium |
| Invasiveness |
Minimal |
None |
None |
| Portability |
Implanted |
Portable |
Portable |
| Bandwidth |
Medium |
Low |
Low |
| **Cross-links |
ECoG BCI |
fNIRS BCI |
- |
- No craniotomy required: The endovascular approach avoids open brain surgery, reducing surgical risks
- Reduced immune response: Blood vessels provide a more immunologically tolerant environment
- Scalability: Potential for broader patient access due to less invasive procedure
- Chronic stability: Vascular placement may provide long-term signal stability
- Same-day procedure: Potential for outpatient implantation
- MRI compatibility: Device designed for MRI compatibility with appropriate protocols
¶ Challenges and Limitations
¶ Bandwidth Limitations
- Channel count: 16 electrodes provides lower bandwidth compared to Utah Array (100-200) or Neuralink (1000+)
- Signal type: Limited to local field potentials; no single-unit resolution
- Information transfer rate: Lower than high-density invasive arrays
- Vessel access: Requires suitable venous anatomy (some patients excluded)
- Signal degradation: Potential for venous occlusion or tissue response
- Limited spatial resolution: Compared to intracortical arrays
- Decoder development: Requires sophisticated machine learning for motor intention decoding
- Long-term safety data still being collected
- Patient selection criteria may limit applicability
- Regulatory pathway still being established
| Jurisdiction |
Status |
| Australia |
TGA approved for first-in-human (COMMAND trial) |
| United States |
FDA IDE approval for SWITCH study (2023) |
| European Union |
CE mark application in progress |
| Breakthrough Device |
FDA Breakthrough Device designation (2020) |
| Parameter |
Details |
| Headquarters |
New York, New York, USA |
| Founded |
2012 |
| Funding |
$130 million (Series C, 2023) |
| CEO |
Thomas Oxley, MD, PhD |
| Employees |
~100 |
| Cross-link |
Synchron Company Page |
- 2012: Company founded based on research from University of Melbourne
- 2016: First successful sheep implantation
- 2020: FDA Breakthrough Device designation
- 2022: First human implantation (COMMAND trial)
- 2023: $130M Series C funding, FDA IDE approval
- 2024: Publication of 12-month COMMAND trial results
- Mount Sinai Health System: Clinical trial site
- University of Melbourne: Research partnership
- Microsoft: Technology development collaboration
- Increased channel count: Next-generation devices with more electrodes
- Bidirectional interfaces: Adding stimulation capability for closed-loop systems
- Enhanced decoding: Improved AI/ML algorithms for motor intention
- Smaller form factor: Reducing device size for broader applicability
- Indications: Potential applications in epilepsy monitoring, Parkinson's Disease
- Pediatric: Future consideration for pediatric neurological conditions
- Combination therapies: Integration with neurostimulation devices
Synchron's stentrode technology interfaces with several key neurodegenerative disease mechanisms:
- Motor Cortex — Primary target for neural signal recording and movement intention decoding
- Neurovascular Unit — Stentrode placement near blood vessels leverages neurovascular coupling
- Cerebral Vasculature — Vascular anatomy critical for stentrode deployment and long-term stability
- Neuroplasticity — Cortical plasticity enables adaptation to neural interfaces
- Excitotoxicity — Understanding stimulation parameters to avoid excessive neural excitation