Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain technology startup, made an announcement on Wednesday regarding a setback that occurred weeks after the first human brain implant was inserted into a patient.
In a blog post released by the company, it was revealed that following the surgery in January, many of the implant’s connecting threads retracted from the brain, impacting the device’s signal capturing capability.
Neuralink did not provide extensive details about the issue or the reason behind the threads retracting. However, they mentioned changing the algorithm to enhance sensitivity to neural population signals, improving detection and transformation of patients’ brain signals.
The first human patient of Neuralink, 29-year-old Noland Arbaugh, who had lost movement and sensation in his limbs due to a diving accident in 2016, was implanted with the N1 device, a smaller version designed for complete skull implantation. The device connects to the brain’s motor cortex through 64 ultra-thin threads with tiny electrodes that receive nerve signals from the patient.
Uncertainty remains regarding whether the retracted thread poses a safety risk for Arbaugh. However, previous demonstrations showed Arbaugh using his brain chip to control a cursor on a laptop screen, play online chess, and even play Mario Kart.
The recent update follows co-founder Dr. Benjamin Rapoport’s departure from Neuralink due to safety concerns, as hinted on a podcast episode of The Wall Street Journal’s “The Future of Everything”. Rapoport, a neurosurgeon, left to start a new company called Precision Neuroscience, emphasizing the importance of safety in medical technology.
Despite past controversies, including allegations of mistreatment of animals in experiments, Neuralink received FDA approval for its first human clinical study last year. The company aims to develop brain implants enabling individuals, particularly those with severe paralysis, to control external devices using their thoughts.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
