What It’s Like to Have a Brain Implant for 5 Years

Rodney Gorham, a 65-year-old man with ALS who has lost the ability to walk, talk, or move his hands, recently reached a significant milestone by living with Synchron’s brain implant, the Stentrode, for five years. The Stentrode is a minimally invasive device inserted via the jugular vein and positioned against the motor cortex to capture neural signals. These signals are transmitted to an external receiver, enabling Gorham to control digital devices using his thoughts. Over time, Gorham’s control has progressed from simple single clicks to complex two-dimensional cursor movements, demonstrating the implant’s evolving capabilities. Synchron, led by CEO Tom Oxley, is preparing for a larger pivotal trial to seek regulatory approval from the FDA, focusing on defining appropriate clinical endpoints to measure the device’s safety and effectiveness—a challenge unique to brain-computer interfaces. Gorham has played a crucial role in testing new decoding algorithms and interaction methods, contributing to innovations such as Apple’s Switch Control accessibility feature, which allows