San Francisco, California – Neuralink, a startup founded by Elon Musk, encountered a setback when a brain implant malfunctioned in a human patient for the first time. The company’s innovative brain-computer interface technology aims to assist patients with paralysis by allowing them to control external devices using neural signals.
The system, known as the Link, comprises 1,024 electrodes embedded in 64 ultra-thin “threads” within the brain. In a recent study, Neuralink successfully implanted the device in a 29-year-old patient named Noland Arbaugh as a safety test. Despite early success, the company faced challenges when a portion of the electrodes retracted from the patient’s brain, reducing the device’s functionality.
As a response to this issue, Neuralink implemented adjustments to the recording algorithm and user interface, as well as enhanced signal translation techniques. While the company contemplated removing the implant, no immediate risks to the patient’s safety were identified. Arbaugh continues to utilize the BCI system for extended periods each day, expressing how it has positively impacted his life.
Neuralink’s development of a BCI system is part of a broader exploration of the technology in academic and medical circles. The company must undergo thorough testing for safety and effectiveness before seeking regulatory approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for commercial use. Despite this setback, Neuralink remains at the forefront of research and innovation in the field of brain-computer interfaces.