Australia

A participant with severe upper-limb paralysis caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) wore an endovascular stent-electrode array and a scalp EEG cap at the same time, in the same session, while attempting ankle flexion and extension. Both recordings changed markedly during attempted movement, but the stent array showed stronger per-channel motor modulation and was unaffected by skull attenuation. Scalp EEG was more susceptible to eye blinks and jaw-muscle activity, while the stent array picked up prominent cardiac signals. Neither method reliably distinguished left from right ankle movement, leaving spatial localization an open problem.

The study was published in Journal of neural engineering on August 13, 2026, presenting the first strength-duration characterization of cortical evoked potentials elicited by endovascular stimulation adjacent to the cerebellum. The authors note that electrical stimulation and neural recording underpin neural prostheses for restoring function and treating neurological disorders, but that clinical adoption is limited by the invasiveness of implantation, while the Endovascular Neural Interface offers an alternative by accessing intracranial targets through the cerebral vasculature. A polymer-based stent-electrode array was deployed into the left transverse sinus of an ovine model, and biphasic current pulses targeting the cerebellum were delivered via the stent electrodes while a subdural electrocorticography grid recorded cortical responses. Endovascular stimulation consistently evoked time-locked cortical potentials with early and late components at approximately 40 ms and 100 ms post-stimulation, and impedance monitoring confirmed electrode functionality and stability throughout. Strength-duration analysis revealed rheobase and chronaxie values, providing a quantitative basis for parameter selection and comparison with established intracranial stimulation modalities.

The FDA approved a premarket approval (PMA) supplement, S039, from Saluda Medical Pty, Ltd. on June 29, 2026, covering the CAP24 Paddle Lead, Passing Elevator, Evoke CLS (REF 3042), Clarity Programming Application (CPA) and RECAP Viewer. The supplement is a labeling change touching indications, instructions for use, shelf life and trade name rather than an original approval of a new device; the products carry the generic name 'stimulator, spinal-cord, totally implanted for pain relief.' Saluda Medical is an Australian company whose Evoke system is one of the few closed-loop spinal cord stimulators on the market.

Synchron raised a $200 million Series D led by Double Point Ventures, taking its total funding to $345 million. The company plans to use the capital to commercialize its Stentrode endovascular BCI, prepare pivotal trials and expand its AI and engineering teams. Synchron said 10 people with paralysis had received the implant in U.S. and Australian trials at the time of the announcement.