Neuralink Successfully Implants Second Trial Patient with Brain Chip, Reveals Musk
Neuralink successfully implanted a brain chip in the second patient. The technology allows paraplegic people to control digital equipment with their thoughts. First, the patient perceives increased independence and cursor control speed.
The technique seeks to enable paralysed people to operate digital devices using their minds. Musk said the technology is presently being evaluated to help people with spinal cord damage. Surprisingly, the first patient was able to perform tasks such as playing video games, browsing the internet, posting on social media, and operating a laptop cursor.
During an eight-hour podcast, Musk offered scant details about the second volunteer, stating that they suffered a spinal cord damage similar to the previous patient, who had been paralysed in a diving mishap. Notably, 400 electrodes from the implant in the second patient's brain are functioning, despite the fact that Neuralink's website states that their implant method uses 1,024 electrodes.
Expressing optimism, Musk remarked to podcast host Lex Fridman that the second implant procedure appeared to be highly successful, with a significant number of electrodes effectively functioning. Although the exact timing of the surgery for the second patient was not disclosed, Musk anticipates that Neuralink will extend this groundbreaking technology to an additional eight patients this year as part of its clinical trials.
The podcast also had Noland Arbaugh, the first patient, who discussed his experience with the implant. Before obtaining the device in January, Arbaugh had to interface with a tablet using a stick in his mouth. With the implant, he can now handle computer chores simply by thinking about them, giving him a new sense of independence and decreasing his dependency on carers.
Despite initial post-surgery issues owing to wire retraction interfering with electrode functionality, Neuralink quickly addressed the issue by improving the implant's monitoring capabilities. Arbaugh demonstrated the extraordinary advance made possible by the technique, surpassing his previous record for cursor control speed with only a fraction of the electrodes.
Neuralink successfully implants brain chip in second patient
Device enables paralysed individuals to control digital devices through thoughts
First patient experiences enhanced independence and improved cursor control speed
Source: REUTERS