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In a major step forward for brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, startup Paradromics has successfully tested its brain implant, called Connexus, in a human for the first time. The temporary procedure, conducted on May 14 at the University of Michigan during an epilepsy-related brain surgery, confirmed the device’s ability to record neural activity. The findings, led by CEO Matt Angle, have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
The Connexus implant, smaller than a dime and tipped with 420 microscopic electrodes, is designed to decode brain signals and restore speech and communication in people with conditions like ALS, stroke, or spinal cord injury. Unlike some rival BCIs that sit on the brain’s surface or inside blood vessels, Connexus penetrates brain tissue to record signals directly from individual neurons—offering a higher-resolution readout.
Paradromics joins a competitive field that includes Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which uses a similar approach with even more electrodes, and other companies like Synchron and Precision Neuroscience, which are exploring less invasive options. The Connexus trial demonstrated that the device could function safely in a surgical environment, marking a critical step before longer-term human trials begin later this year.
This research builds on the momentum of recent successes in speech decoding BCIs, such as those at Stanford and UCSF, where implants enabled paralyzed individuals to “speak” at up to 78 words per minute via decoded brain signals. Paradromics hopes to achieve similar outcomes in upcoming trials—bringing the promise of restoring communication closer to reality for people living with severe paralysis.
