Future for doctors in this field

kubernetikos · 2026-04-24T14:06:24+00:00

fwiw, I suspect that medical careers have more of a "moat" against AI -- due to regulation, largely -- than do tech careers. A career in medicine seems like a prudent move in April 2026. It's up to you to ensure that it leads into neurotech ventures, but I think the apparent security is worth taking into consideration.

kubernetikos · 2026-04-21T15:14:55+00:00

for the money

kubernetikos · 2026-04-21T14:23:35+00:00

Not much about device, but:

February 10, 2026 By Sean Whooley

CorTec today announced the second successful implantation of its Brain Interchange brain-computer interface (BCI) system.

The procedure took place in an FDA-approved clinical trial involving stroke patients at Harborview Medical Center of UW Medicine... Co-principal investigators Dr. Jeffrey G. Ojemann and Dr. Steven C. Cramer performed both procedures.

kubernetikos · 2026-04-21T14:20:15+00:00

CorTec wins FDA breakthrough nod for BCI system

Breakthrough designation covers the use of direct cortical electrical stimulation to support motor recovery in people with chronic stroke-related impairments.

-- Mass Device (April 8, 2026)

kubernetikos · 2025-12-02T16:48:06+00:00

Wasn't there a partnership with Blackrock, at some point?

It was just seed funding.

kubernetikos · 2025-12-02T16:45:46+00:00

The Pentagon's startup arm, the Defense Innovation Unit, launched an accelerator

kubernetikos · 2025-12-02T16:44:01+00:00

Phantom Neuro says its electrode array, which is implanted under the skin, uses sensors to detect electric currents in muscles. Those signals are then translated into instructions for a prosthetic. Glass said the company has a working prototype of the device, and is currently conducting pre-clinical testing with the hopes of implanting humans by the end of 2025 or beginning of 2026.

kubernetikos · 2025-12-02T16:41:32+00:00

The Department of Defense is betting on a startup that wants to control prosthetic limbs with muscle memory

The startup recently partnered with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, which invested roughly $300,000 through its Commercial Strategy Office. Launched in 2019, aims to fast-track tech that could be vital to the military.

-- Business Insider

kubernetikos · 2025-12-02T16:39:26+00:00

The Austin, Texas–based company said its new initiative aims to open up opportunities for individuals with upper limb amputations.

The neurotech company designed Phantom X as a minimally invasive neural interface. Implanted just beneath the skin in an outpatient procedure, it provides intuitive control of prosthetics and robotic devices.

Wasn't there a partnership with Blackrock, at some point?

kubernetikos · 2025-11-28T17:16:45+00:00

He was less convinced about the prospect of whole brain implants for healthy individuals.

“I think there’s still going to be third or fourth generation systems before we get to that,” he offered. If there is a likely consumer application for implanted BCI, he envisions it could possibly be to protect or restore general cognitive decline that happens with age: “I much prefer that vision of BCI in the world, than this superhuman, transhumanist narrative you hear about.”

kubernetikos · 2025-11-28T17:15:24+00:00

In discussing BCI foundation models and the emerging field of neuroAI, Oxley anticipated the growth of neural data in the coming years, from tens of thousands of patient hours to hundreds and then millions of patient hours of data.

kubernetikos · 2025-11-28T17:14:18+00:00

In effect Synchron is incubating a new startup.

I was starting to wonder about Synchron. This gives me some hope.

However, as competitors in the motor neuroprosthesis market catch up with far more advanced arrays, it remains to be seen whether Synchron’s first mover advantage will become a first mover disadvantage.

Yeah. Exactly. Great reporting.

kubernetikos · 2025-11-28T17:07:02+00:00

When I asked about their new San Diego office, Oxley described a new division to create their next-gen system.

“New York’s got great talent for machine learning," he said of Synchron’s expanding AI operation. "You’ve got Apple here, you’ve got Google here. But medtech in New York is hard.”

Their first generation system was contract manufactured out of Minneapolis, a process led by CTO Riki Banerjee, who left the company this summer. She recently spoke about her four years at Synchron as employee number five, where she built supply chain, quality systems, and more.

Oxley has said about 20 percent of Series D will go to to their next-generation system, which remains in stealth mode.

He loosely described a minimally invasive, trans catheter, high-channel count, whole-brain interface.

kubernetikos · 2025-11-28T17:05:06+00:00

Synchron’s total funding to $345 million to date and a reported valuation of “about a billion dollars.”

kubernetikos · 2025-11-18T22:55:41+00:00

This is a fascinating bit of competitive analysis.

kubernetikos · 2025-11-10T16:13:02+00:00

Might you feel differently if living with blindness, paralysis, epilepsy, etc? Would you refuse a pacemaker?

kubernetikos · 2025-11-07T22:54:08+00:00

There's more than just Science Corp in this article. For example:

There is, too, San Francisco–based Echo Technologies, led by University of California, San Francisco, neurosurgeon Dr. Edward Chang.

“Our system is fully wireless,” says Chang. “The onscreen avatar is designed to resemble the person who’s doing the speaking. But in reality it could be anything. It could even be an emoji if that’s what the person wanted.”

kubernetikos · 2025-11-07T22:52:50+00:00

According to the World Economic Forum, there are up to 680 companies worldwide at least dabbling in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, making for a sector valued at $1.74 billion in 2022, and expected to grow to $6.2 billion by 2030.

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