The world’s first brain-chip startup, Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, has undergone trial and error with the chip implanted in its first human patient during a clinical trial. In a blog post, the company announced the result of the 100-day trial, which showed that the data collection efficiency of the implant slightly decreased after the first 100 days. Firstly, our trial outcomes indicated the ability to detect neuron action potentials.
Noland Arbaugh, an unfortunate case, a 29-year-old who was the victim of a diving accident and, as a result, was paralyzed below the shoulder, has become the most popular one recently, as he was caught playing chess on his laptop, controlling the cursor with the Neuralink device.
On the other hand, all is not alright; some cases don’t turn out as expected. The chip had problems 4-5 weeks after the patient underwent surgery to have it implanted in the brain. Neuralink confesses that the medical device had some threads pulling back, particularly leaving behind inefficient multi-electrodes and, similarly, data capture.
To address this issue, the company had to alter the recording algorithm, slightly improve the translation of the neural impulses into the cursor movement, and refine the user interface. When Neuralink received the green light from the US Food and Drug Administration in 2020, the company may just have achieved a critical milestone in its effort to help people who are paralyzed and those diagnosed with various neurological disorders.
This procedure is a trial of a cephalopod computer interface called BCI. The implant is placed where the brain zones that govern motor intentions are found, and the robot is used to perform. Neuralink’s main aim in the first phase is to give an individual the ability to control the cursor and keyboard through brain thoughts instead of the body.
However, the innovators of the company have been facing the criticism. Last summer, the US lawmakers of four urged the SEC to inquire about the safety of Neuralink’s tech after they had tracked down some problems in monkey’s records, citing the veterinarians.
