Elon Musk’s company Neuralink has reported that its brain chip implant, intended to empower paralyzed individuals to control digital devices through thought alone, has achieved a state of relative stability in its first human trial.
Neuralink’s executive Dongjin “D.J.” Seo indicated that the implant’s tiny wires had integrated well after initial adjustments post-surgery.
The implant was tested on Noland Arbaugh, who has been paralyzed from the shoulders down since a 2016 diving accident and experienced early issues with wire displacement. However, these have since stabilized as the tissues in the brain have anchored the threads, ensuring consistent performance.
Arbaugh remains the sole recipient of this pioneering technology, although Musk aims to expand the trial to include more participants within the year. The company is implementing additional safety measures, including skull sculpting to secure the implant better and optimizing patients’ blood carbon dioxide levels.
During a recent livestream, Matthew MacDougall, head of neurosurgery at Neuralink, explained the technical adjustments to enhance the implant’s stability and reduce strain on the connecting threads. He stated, “In upcoming implants, we plan to sculpt the surface of the skull very intentionally to minimize the gap under the implant, which will bring it closer to the brain and alleviate some of the tension on the threads.”
Neuralink’s technology operates by translating brain signals captured by ultra-thin wires into digital commands, allowing patients like Arbaugh to perform tasks such as playing video games and browsing the internet merely by thinking.
Despite initial safety concerns from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Neuralink received approval to commence human trials last year. The company continues to innovate, working on a next-generation device that is expected to be more efficient and powerful by requiring fewer electrodes.
