Elon Musk, the owner of Neuralink, announced that the company has successfully implanted a device in a second patient to help paralyzed individuals use digital devices through their thoughts. This breakthrough is a part of Neuralink’s efforts to assist people with spinal cord injuries in tasks such as playing video games, browsing the internet, and moving a cursor on a laptop.
The second patient, whose spinal cord injury was similar to the first patient, has had 400 functioning electrodes implanted in their brain, out of a total of 1,024 electrodes according to Neuralink’s website. Musk shared during a podcast that the second implant seems to be functioning extremely well.
Neuralink plans to offer implants to eight more patients this year as part of clinical trials. The first patient, Noland Arbaugh, who received the implant in January, showcased the device’s capabilities in enhancing his independence and reducing his reliance on caregivers.
Following the surgery, Arbaugh experienced issues with the implant’s thin wires retracting. However, Neuralink made modifications to restore the implant’s effectiveness and enabling Arbaugh to control a cursor with only a portion of the electrodes activated, setting a new world record.
Musk also discussed the possibility of establishing a commission to improve government efficiency with US President-elect Donald Trump, expressing his belief that current regulations hinder innovation.
Source: www.theguardian.com
