Synchron pauses brain-implant trials to fix hardware glitch, restructures team

Trials paused after performance issue found

Synchron has paused trials of its second-generation Stentrode brain-computer interface. The Brooklyn startup found a performance issue in the lead component, which carries signals from the implant to the device’s electronics. The company confirmed the pause was voluntary, with no safety concerns reported to the FDA. The Stentrode implant itself remains in use by existing trial participants.

How Synchron’s Stentrode avoids brain surgery

The Stentrode is inserted into the jugular vein at the base of the neck and guided to sit on top of the brain’s motor cortex. Unlike Neuralink’s surgical implant, Synchron’s device avoids brain surgery by using the blood vessels as a pathway. Ten volunteers with the first-generation Stentrode have already used it to control Amazon Alexa, Apple’s iPad, and Vision Pro—hands-free. They’ve sent emails, browsed the internet, and managed online banking using only their thoughts.

Upgrades underway as FDA approval looms

Synchron is overhauling the entire Stentrode system, not just the faulty lead. The company expects to resume trial enrollment once the upgrades are complete, though it hasn’t shared a timeline. Two of the five U.S. trial sites have already confirmed recruitment is on hold. These trials are essential for gathering data the FDA will need to review before the device can hit the market.

“These trials are critical for advancing the Stentrode toward a larger pivotal trial required for FDA marketing approval,” Synchron CEO Tom Oxley told WIRED.

Job cuts in New York, hiring in San Diego

Synchron is cutting jobs in New York while hiring in San Diego. The company’s website and LinkedIn page list about a dozen openings for engineers, microchip designers, and materials scientists. The San Diego team will focus on manufacturing the upgraded Stentrode and a new, undisclosed device.

Oxley has previously said the goal is to build a device capable of reaching multiple brain regions for more complex tasks. The shift reflects a broader push to scale production and refine the technology.

Synchron races against Neuralink and Merge Labs

Synchron faces stiff competition. Neuralink, valued as high as $42 billion this summer, struggled earlier this year when its first human implant malfunctioned. Meanwhile, Merge Labs, cofounded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, just raised $252 million to develop AI-powered brain-computer interfaces. Both companies are working to decode brain signals faster and more accurately than older algorithms.

Synchron’s $200 million funding round last fall, led by Khosla Ventures, valued the company at nearly $1 billion. Investors include the venture arms of Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

Synchron’s pause in trials signals the high stakes of refining hardware for FDA approval—small glitches can delay years of work, while competitors like Neuralink and Merge Labs race ahead with deeper pockets and AI-driven tools.

Key takeaways

• The pause in trials is a strategic move to address a specific hardware issue, not a safety concern or FDA mandate.
• Synchron’s restructuring—cutting jobs in New York and expanding in San Diego—reflects a shift toward scaling manufacturing and developing new devices.
• Despite setbacks, the company’s $1 billion valuation and backing from Khosla Ventures, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos highlight investor confidence in its long-term potential.
• AI is becoming central to brain-computer interfaces, with competitors like Merge Labs using it to speed up how devices interpret brain signals.

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