American business tycoon Elon Musk proudly announced that Neuralink has finally completed its first-ever brain chip implant in a human. Excitingly, the initial results seem “promising.”
About the first trial
Neuralink’s Clinical Trial “Prime Study” completed its first brain chip implant in a human participant on January 28.
As indicated in the American billionaire’s announcement, the first human patient is now recovering well from the operation.
In fact, the subject’s response to the brain chip shows “promising neuron spike detection.” For context, spikes refer to neurons’ activity that transmits messages around the brain and to the human body through electrical and chemical signals.
Neuralink received the necessary clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration in 2023, enabling the company to initiate its first implant trial on humans. In September 2023, the company secured the permit to recruit an interested participant for the trial for paralysis patients.
How does it work?
According to Reuters, the Prime Study employs a robot that surgically implants a brain-computer interface (BCI) chip in a specific part of the brain that controls movement.
Neuralink claims that this groundbreaking technology will enable paralyzed people to control a computer cursor or keyboard by simply thinking. The BCI features “ultra-fine” threads that send signals to the human brain.
Neuralinks will call its first product “Telepathy,” as announced by the American billionaire.
Safety concerns
Despite this remarkable innovation, US regulators remain dubious of Neuralink’s brain chip implant in humans.
Last month, Neuralink faced a fine for disregarding the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) rules and regulations in terms of hazardous materials’ movement.
In addition, four lawmakers reportedly urged the Securities and Exchange Commission to initiate a probe into whether Elon Musk deluded investors about the technology’s safety.
This opposition apparently occurred after veterinary records revealed complications in monkeys, such as paralysis, seizures, and brain swelling.
Neuralink’s Prime Study basically serves as the trial for its wireless BCI to assess the safety level of the implant and the robot that performs the surgery. Therefore, the company has yet to face numerous hurdles and reach more discoveries for the concept to actually achieve large-scale applications.
