Neuralink, a Musk-owned neurotechnology venture founded in 2016, is making headlines again.
The California-based firm’s patient implanted with Neuralink’s brain technology can now control a computer mouse just by thinking.
Elon Musk expressed in a tweet on X: “The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well. Initial results show promising neuron spike detection.”
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First-in-human trials to fit Telepathy
This news comes after the venture opened recruitment for the first-in-human trials to fit in brain chip implants–Telepathy in September 2023 that aims to enable mind-machine connection via thoughts.
According to Interesting Engineering, Neuralink installed a cerebral implant in a human for the first time, marking the advent of brain-computer interfacing for humans.
Additionally, as it turns out, thousands of people signed up for the trial to insert this chip in the brain.
Identifying neuron spikes is essential for comprehending and deciphering brain signals in the domain of brain-computer interfaces.
On Monday, Neuralink's founder Elon Musk announced that the initial human recipient of a brain chip from the company seems to have achieved full recovery and can manipulate a computer mouse solely through their thoughts, reported Reuters.
Musk stated in a Spaces event on X: "Progress is good, and the patient seems to have made a full recovery, with no ill effects that we are aware of. The patient is able to move a mouse around the screen by just thinking."
The advancements in detecting neuron spikes and the promising nature of initial data showcased significant promise, especially for individuals with paralysis.
This patient was part of the firm's first clinical trial–The PRIME (Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface) Study involving Neuralink's pioneering medical device. The trial focused on the fully implantable, wireless brain-computer interface (BCI).
The objective was to assess the safety of their N1 implant and R1 surgical robot, along with evaluating the initial functionality of BCI in enabling individuals with paralysis to control external devices using their thoughts, as noted by the organization.
To aid cognitive faculties, use various tech devices
This technology has the potential to grant such individuals the ability to utilize their cognitive faculties to interact with various technological devices.
For instance, they could control smartphones, computers, and other gadgets by thinking, thanks to products like Neuralink's Telepathy.
This means individuals with paralysis could regain independence and functionality previously unattainable, enhancing their quality of life significantly.
Telepathy’s first user now illustrated controlling a computer mouse just by thinking. The creation of this device aimed to assist humans in utilizing their neural signals to manipulate external stimuli.
The firm employed a surgical robot tasked with accurately implanting the brain-computer interface device into the patient's brain.
The bot was also responsible for precisely placing the brain-computer interface implant within the specific region of the brain that controls the intention to move.
Neuralink alludes to the essential role of the robot explained on X: “The surface of the brain is highly vascularized, and avoiding blood vessels when implanting electrodes is no small feat! Fluorescent dye imaging can allow our robot to resolve smaller vessels and distinguish between arteries (red) and veins (blue).”
The surface of the brain is highly vascularized, and avoiding blood vessels when implanting electrodes is no small feat! Fluorescent dye imaging can allow our robot to resolve smaller vessels and distinguish between arteries (red) and veins (blue) in this false color image ???? pic.twitter.com/NB99OXgjFp
— Neuralink (@neuralink) October 10, 2023
The billionaire's company is on a mission to restore the lost capabilities of individuals, including vision, motor function, and speech, as per CNBC.
"The PRIME Study represents an important step in our mission to create a generalized brain interface to restore autonomy to those with unmet medical needs," stated Neuralink.
