Neuralink has been given the go signal by the Food and Drug Administration to perform the brain chip implantation on the company's second patient. This could happen as early as next month.
Fixing Issues Faced by First Recipient
The agency was notably satisfied by the proposals of Neuralink to fix issues that were reported in the first patient of the company. The first patient was Noland Arbaugh, 30, a quadriplegic who gained control over a cursor on a computer screen. He mainly used his thoughts to manage the cursor. He was able to communicate with friends and play games thanks to the technology.
Abraugh had the brain chip implantation done in January. He reportedly lost movement from his shoulders below due to a driving accident in 2016.
Months after the brain chip implantation surgery, Arbraugh observed that the device was not working as well. THe majority of the threads that were implanted on his brain ended up loose, no longer picking up electric signals necessary for translating thoughts into movement of the cursor.
Neuralink told Arbaugh that roughly 15% of the threads that were inserted stayed in place. Arbaugh also shares that these have stabilized. The company's software changes also helped him regain several of the device's capabilities.
Because such a brain chip device has never undergone human implantation, the company did not know the brain's movement within the skull. Neuralink found that Arbaugh's brain moved up to three times what was expected.
Based on the animal testing that the company conducted before its US approval, the company knew of the wire retraction. It was deemed by the company that the risk was low enough not to merit any redesign.
According to the company, they managed to restore the ability of the implant to monitor the brain signals of the patient by having changes that covered the modification of the algorithm for it to become more sensitive.
Now, in order to keep the brain chip's thread in place, one of the proposed solutions of Neuralink that has gained FDA approval would be to implant them eight millimeters into the motor cortex of the brain. This is in comparison to the three-to-five millimeters in the case of Arbaugh.
ALSO READ: Neuralink Successfully Implants Brain Chip in First Human, Elon Musk Announces
Neuralink's Brain Chip Implantation
As the company has gotten the approval of the FDA, Neuralink aims to perform a second implantation surgery around June. A person who is familiar with the company has also shared that over 1,000 quadriplegics have signed up for the registry, though there are just under 100 who qualify.
Musk has also shared that they are still accepting applications.
The company aims to perform ten implantations on ten people this year. Neuralink also hopes that they may have a diverse recipient set in order to look into behavior variety.
Neuralink also reportedly hopes to pass applications to regulators in Britain and Canada in the months to come so that similar trials can start in these countries. The patient registry has now opened in Canada and will open in Britain in the days to come.
RELATED ARTICLE: Are Neuralink Brain Chips Really Safe For People? Experts Question Safety of Technology as 1,500 Animals Die Due To Rushed Trials
Check out more news and information on Tech & Innovation in Science Times.
