Overview
- The study, published Monday June 15, 2026, reports that Casey Harrell used an implanted intracortical BCI at home for nearly 23 months and on 364 of 397 days.
- Surgeons implanted four 64‑electrode arrays (256 microelectrodes) in July 2023 to record speech motor‑cortex signals that the system decodes into text.
- Harrell logged more than 3,800 hours of use and produced 183,060 sentences with an average communication speed of about 56 words per minute and high self‑reported accuracy.
- Software and workflow changes let Harrell use the device largely without researchers present; features include cursor control for full computer use, a synthesized version of his pre‑illness voice, a privacy mode, and a profanity filter.
- Researchers caution that this result is for one user and that long‑term durability, electrode lifespan, and how well the system will work for other people with ALS remain uncertain but drive next steps toward clinical devices.