Neuralink, the pioneering brain-computer interface (BCI) company founded by Elon Musk, has successfully implanted its chip in a second patient with a spinal cord injury. This development follows the successful implantation in the first patient earlier this year. The device empowers paralyzed patients to operate digital devices using only their thoughts.
Neuralink implantation details
Elon Musk shared the update during a recent podcast, revealing that the second patient was paralyzed in a diving accident. “I don’t want to jinx it, but it seems to have gone extremely well with the second implant. There’s a lot of signal, a lot of electrodes. It’s working very well,” Musk stated to podcast host Lex Fridman. He added that 400 of the implant’s electrodes are already functioning effectively. Neuralink’s implants are designed to record neural activity through 1,024 electrodes distributed across 64 flexible leads, or “threads.” Each thinner than a human hair, these threads can be independently placed in the brain. The company aims to revolutionize how paralyzed patients interact with digital devices, restoring a level of independence and connectivity.
Plans for future implants
Musk disclosed that Neuralink plans to implant the device in eight more patients within the year as part of ongoing clinical trials. The first recipient of the implant, Noland Arbaugh, received the device in January. Post-surgery, Arbaugh’s neural signals were detected, and he has since utilized the BCI for various applications, including playing online chess and Sid Meier’s Civilization VI.
Patient experiences and outcomes
“Progress is good, and the patient seems to have made a full recovery, with no ill effects that we are aware of. The patient is able to move a mouse around the screen by just thinking,” Musk announced on X, formerly known as Twitter. Arbaugh expressed his gratitude for the technology, stating, “The Link has helped me reconnect with the world, my friends, and my family. It’s given me the ability to do things on my own again without needing my family at all hours of the day and night,” as cited in a Neuralink blog post. Before receiving the implant, Arbaugh relied on a stick held in his mouth to tap the screen of a tablet device. Now, he only needs to think about his desired actions on the computer screen, significantly enhancing his quality of life and autonomy.
Neuralink’s advancements in brain-computer interface technology mark a significant step forward in medical science and patient care. As the company continues its clinical trials, the potential for broader applications and improved quality of life for paralyzed individuals grows ever closer.