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Initial concerns regarding the stability of Neuralink’s brain implant are gradually alleviating following the apparent success of the first transplant, performed in January. The brain implant’s wires have anchored well within the tissue of 30-year-old Noland Arbaugh’s brain, who became paralyzed from the shoulders down after an accident. This development is key for long-term functionality and safety.
Concerns surrounding the stability of the implant were first recognized in May, when some of the fine electrodes within Arbaugh‘s brain became dislodged. To address this issue, Neuralink added modifications that enhanced the implant’s interface with Arbaugh’s nerves.
Additionally, in order to minimize risks, Neuralink will be implementing changes to the surgical procedure. These include sculpting the skull for a better fit and optimizing CO2 levels in the blood during surgery. “In upcoming implants, our plan is to sculpt the surface of the skull very intentionally to minimize the gap under the implant… that will put it closer to the brain and eliminate some of the tension on the threads,” Said Matthew MacDougall, Neuralink’s head of neurosurgery, according to Interesting Engineering.
The implant, currently undergoing human trials, is designed to allow paralyzed individuals to control digital devices with their minds – an incredible advancement in brain-computer interface technology. Neuralink’s implant, the size of a coin, uses over 1,000 hair-thin wires to read signals transmitted by the brain and translate them into actions on a computer screen. The device is charged by a small, wireless charger and is convenient to use anywhere.
While only one patient currently has the implant, Neuralink aims to enroll a likely sum of 6-9 people by the end of the year.
Safety remains of most importance to the company, and Musk stated that the implant is not harmful to the brain. Approved for human trials after a thorough examination in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the implant seems to be well-tolerated so far.
Early results seem to be promising, as Arbaugh is now able to use his thoughts alone to play video games, control a cursor and even send a tweet.
Reuters reported Neuralink is already advancing and are working on a more efficient implant design with less number of electrodes, which could make brain-computer interfaces even more powerful in the coming years.
The company is also aiming to develop technology for vision restoration in the future. Their “Blindsight” product is being developed to offer artificial vision to blind individuals.
